In a small town in California, full of young, horny teenagers (I suppose this is true of any town really), a meteor hits nearby and the townspeople are instantly intrigued by what is taking place. As the residents go out of their way to determine what exactly has touched down on Earth, Killer Klowns from Outer Space begin picking them off one by one. These aliens (who look like clowns), continue to terrorize the town and people living in it. Can these townspeople find a solution to their alien problem, or will these visitors annihilate everyone in their path?
How much can someone expect from a late ‘80’s slasher/comedy? The answer: not much. Like many horror/comedies, the plot is ridiculous, and, in all honesty, it does not hold much weight. The story is fractured, and, in the grand scheme of things, the storyline makes little to no sense. However, I cannot help but feel surprised that I have not heard about this film sooner. Killer Klowns from Outer Space has all the makings of a cult classic. It is incredibly cheesy, the plot is wonky and the acting is horrific. Nothing about the 1988 film lends itself to being a good film, but, even today, audiences adore ridiculousness with little to no meaning. Films like Zombeavers and Sharknado have ridiculous followings for no reason other than how terrible they are. Killer Klowns from Outer Space has a very similar feel and ultimately lives up to what little expectations audiences might have had going in.
Killer Klowns from Outer Space is, in every way, absurd. However, the amount of work that goes into manning the puppets is incredible. Much of what takes place over the course of the film is thanks to the puppeteers and the crew whose job it is to create these monstrous clowns. Sadly, the puppeteers are not even credited (which is absurd), but they deserve a serious amount of credit for what success this film did have.
Audiences should not expect much from Killer Klowns from Outer Space, however, I feel that they know this going into a film with such a name. However, oddly enough, the oddities that fill the screen seemingly endlessly are enough to entertain some seriously stingy audiences. There is little to no substance to the film, and audiences are sure to get very little out of the story, but, all in all, audiences are able to kick back and appreciate the fact that the Chiodo brothers are able to create a feature-length film about aliens that look like clowns.
Prepare yourselves for a series of insane images, rudimentary dialogue and acting that most can find in a middle school performance. The acting is atrocious, but it fits with the themes of Killer Klowns from Outer Space and it provides audiences with a series of proper belly laughs. If you have a phobia of clowns, I suggest you stay as far away as possible, but otherwise, I believe that Killer Klowns from Outerspace is a film that everyone should be forced to watch at least once in their lifetime. If you can appreciate the failures, I think you can, with some sincerity, appreciate what the Chiodo brothers are able to accomplish with such a ridiculous idea and a minuscule budget.
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