Killer Klowns from Outer Space: The Beloved Cult Classic Gets an Upgrade (4K/Blu-ray)

The Film:

The '80s horror scene may have been dominated by slashers, with the likes of Jason, Freddy, Chucky, and others doing their usual bit throughout several sequels, but that didn't mean that there wasn't room for different types of films within the popular genre, films that arguably got a little more creative than just having their main baddies stab victims over and over. This is a decade that also saw various kinds of demons, zombies, and other creatures kill in different, though also fairly predictable ways, with tearing/ripping & eating/biting victims also being rather common methods.

However, it seems fairly reasonable that one method no one could've possibly seen coming was to have alien clowns from outer space land on Earth, kill people by encasing them in cotton candy, and ingesting the resulting product. As crazy as it sounds, this is the exact premise that Charles & Stephen Chiodo came up with for their beloved cult classic "Killer Klowns from Outer Space," a film that recently had its 35th anniversary just last year. To celebrate, Shout! Studios released a brand new special edition earlier this year, featuring the film in a remastered transfer on both 4K & Blu-ray, filled with bonus features, so now it's time to see why this cult favorite has remained so popular over the last few decades.

Taking place in and around the small town of Crescent Cove, the film starts with Mike Tobacco (Grant Cramer) and his girlfriend, Debbie Stone (Suzanne Snyder), hanging out in a popular spot for lovers. When they notice what they think is a shooting star landing nearby, they decide to go look for it, except what they find instead is what looks like a large circus tent. They go in and discover that it's actually a spaceship containing cotton candy cocoons with people inside, and that aliens that look like clowns are behind it.

One of these creatures spots them and gives chase, but Mike and Debbie are able to escape back to town, where they attempt to warn the local police, Officers Dave Hansen (John Allen Nelson) and Curtis Mooney (John Vernon). Soon after, the clowns start attacking the town, continuing to collect people for sustenance. With stern Officer Mooney believing the entire thing to be a hoax, it's up to Mike, Debbie, and Dave to help save the town.

As mentioned, "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" is one of those films that, while it may not have been particularly embraced by critics, was heavily embraced by the fans, who loved its bizarre mix of goofy horror and comedy, leading it to become a rather significant cult favorite over the last 35 years. The film most definitely has a certain charm and nostalgia to it, especially to those of us who've grown up with it over the decades, but the question becomes... is it actually a decent movie?

To start answering that question, it seems only fair to start off with the fact that it is certainly a wildly creative film. From every aspect of its crazy premise to the nightmarish designs of the clowns & all of the elements that come with them, you have to admit that it took quite a lot of imagination to cook up something this strangely unique. No doubt those designs gave many youngsters nightmares, while generally creeping out many other viewers over the years, especially those with coulrophobia (a fear of clowns). If nothing else, the film is a fascinating visual experience in which the filmmakers clearly took a lot of time & care to give us something that would be hard to forget afterward.

On the downside, while the premise is rather inventive, it does get somewhat stuck in a rut throughout its middle portion. That is to say that, between the introduction to the clowns and the climax at the fair, the film is basically a series of scenes in which the clowns attempt to capture various people in the town, while periodically showing us the main characters running around trying to figure out what to do and how to stop them. It's fair to say that the Chiodo Brothers didn't really develop the story all that far, and opted instead to spend much of its 80-ish minute runtime putting the designs & effects in the spotlight. After all, they're the most memorable parts of the film, so it stands to reason that they wanted to show them off. It may have the side effect of making the story a little too repetitive, but at least you get a good dose of what made the film stand out in the first place.

Overall, "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" ends up being a bit of a mixed bag. It's a very creative film, with lots of intriguing designs to see within it, but the underdeveloped story falls a little short of providing it a solid enough foundation to put it all on top of. That said, it's still a rather amusing film, even if you're just watching for its sheer silliness and/or its imaginative visuals. It's not hard to see why it became such a cult favorite so quickly upon its release. It's a bizarre little outing, and it's pretty amazing that something like this was even made in the first place. Even with its flaws, it's one of those films that you should experience at least once, because who knows, you could be the next member of its impressive cult fanbase, for whom this dazzling new edition was no doubt made.

Video/Audio:

Shout! Studios' 35th Anniversary Edition of "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" comes with the film on both 4K (2160p UHD) and Blu-ray (1080p HD) in 1.85:1 transfers of outstanding quality. The film looks absolutely marvelous throughout, appearing sharper and clearer than ever before. Likewise, the 5.1 & 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks sound fantastic, giving you all of the dialogue, sound effects, and music in excellent quality. Overall, Shout! Studios has gone above & beyond for this new edition of the popular cult favorite.

Special Features:

Audio Commentary with the Chiodo Brothers

The Making of Killer Klowns (22 Minutes)

Komposing Klowns (13 Minutes)

Visual Effects with Gene Warren Jr. (15 Minutes)

Kreating Klowns (13 Minutes)

Deleted Scenes (2 Scenes, 5 Minutes)

Bloopers (3 Minutes)

Chiodo Brothers' Earliest Films (7 Minutes)

The film comes with a fantastic collection of featurettes and other bonuses, totaling about 80 minutes, including a commentary and several vintage "Making ofs" that have the filmmakers taking you behind the scenes. Highly recommended for fans that want to delve further into this bizarre classic.

Conclusion:

"Killer Klowns from Outer Space" may not have as well-developed a story as it should to support its wildly creative designs & effects, but it still makes for a fascinating experience that one could easily call a rather silly guilty pleasure. With Shout! Studios' new 35th Anniversary Edition, fans of the beloved cult classic have been given everything they could possibly want: the film beautifully restored from the original camera negative and a hefty portion of extras, making it an ideal release for those who've fallen under its spell over the years.

Score: 3/5

Now available on 4K/Blu-ray.

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