The first time I viewed this acclaimed cult classic, John Mussari's ominous circus synth soundtrack, grizzled Officer Mooney (John Vernon) turned into a klown merrionette, and the corrosive cream pie death of the security guard each made a frightful impact on me! Not only that, I developed a short-lived repulsion to cotton candy after seeing the homicidal Klowns in action! Now, that I'm older, wiser, and even more desensitized, I've begun to see "Killer Klowns From Outer Space" as 70% comedy/30% horror since this film does boast some of the most baffoonish dialogue and action I've seen in a B-movie. Mike (Grant Cramer), Officer Mooney, and the hilariously inept Terrenzi Bros. (Peter Licassi & Mike Siegel) give just the right amount of comedic chemistry needed against the story's spooky premise. The Klowns themselves do offer a couple of cheesy chuckles via the duplicitous "child's play" antics they use to capture and expunge the town populace for their own vampiric food supply. And one just cannot get over the elaborately designed circus tent sets, props, and klown costumes! The theme song video feature by The Dickies is also pretty darn cool. All in all, this indelible pic proves that 1988 was a gem year for the horror genre.

I have been fortunate enough to obtain a previously-viewed copy of KKFOS this year after a near-exhaustive search on the Web! I found it through Amazon's zShop site, which may still have some English-version copies left (knowing that this film has become a rare find both in retail and rental). I wish Media Home Entertainment/HVG Video would get off their languid behinds and re-release the Klowns on VHS widescreen or DVD seeing that the Killer Klowns cult is bigger than they probably realize.

Believe it or not, a Klown sequel is in the planning stages according to the Chiodo Bros' official website (as well as a coveted email I received last year from Stephen himself)...so keep on watching the skies for more intergalatic Big Top mayhem and laughs!


PAN-N-SCAN defect   June 20, 2001
 24 out of 52 found this review helpful

The wonderful joy that is created by the DVD release of this movie is ruined by the fact that this is currently a fullscreen-only version of this movie. No letterbox - pretty much ruins it in my book.

I give the movie 5 stars for being so great.

I give this DVD 1 star for being a lame, fullscreen-only release.

Please say you found this review helpful if you wished there was a letterbox version! Maybe it'll get noticed and fixed before they actually release it.


SEQUEL PLEASE!   April 8, 2000
 22 out of 24 found this review helpful

Anybody who says all the best B-movies came from the fifties obviously hasn't seen this little gem. It really is an admirable piece of film making which is actually very clever and inventive. It is reminiscent in someways of The Blob (50s version)in that a teenage couple witness a "comet" fall from the sky and then spend the movie running around trying to get people to believe them. However, this is far more "tongue in cheek" than most movies in its genre and could almost be passed as a black comedy rather than a horror.

The movie isn't particularly scary, although I do remeber finding it very freaky when I was younger. People who have a phobia of clowns should probably stay away from this movie though, because as the title suggests thay are the stars of the show. It is worth watching for the inventive and amusing ways in which the "Klowns" Kill and cocoon their victims alone. But as it happens the film also has a lot more to offer as well. Try as hard as you can to get hold of this movie because it really is a classic. It took me a couple of years of searching but now i've got it and it was definately worth the effort.


Silly title but good story   August 14, 2003
 14 out of 16 found this review helpful

Being afraid of clowns is a very common occurrence. This movie gives new reasons to be afraid. The entire idea of clowns is explored and twisted into a wonderful story of alien clowns invading a small town.

Balloons, popcorn, cotton candy, shadow puppets, pies in the face, and even the big top are all twisted into sinister ideals. One character makes a statement wondering if the Ancient Astronaut idea could be applied and these aliens are the basis for our whole idea of clowns.

In a typical B-movie move, a pair of teens at a make-out location are the first to encounter the aliens. They are not believed by the local police (one older officer who hates college kids and the other who dated one of the first witnesses). But the truth soon comes out as the aliens step up their invasion.

The DVD has a clear picture and a couple of interesting deleted scenes (just leave the main menu on your screen for a few minutes and the Easter Egg menu will pop up), making of features, other short animated films and other stuff. The one this I was disappointed about was it did not include the music video for the title song (available on one of the VHS editions). The video has some further scenes of "Big Top Burgers" and the clown with the big hammer (and we get to see just what it does).

A wonderful film that is pretty seamless and follows its internal logic well. Funny and creepy. A real must-see.


Learn to read...   June 30, 2001
 13 out of 14 found this review helpful

Don't be put off by the incorrect reviewer claiming this DVD will be pan-and-scan fullscreen. It will not. The product description confirms this. If you actually read it, it does say "Widescreen".

According to the press releases from MGM, the DVD will be a full Special Edition and presented in anamorphic widescreen (16:9 enhanced) in the 1.85:1 theatrical aspect ratio.

Additional features on the DVD: deleted scenes, a storyboard gallery, a photo gallery, the original theatrical trailer, a "making-of" documentary (supposedly with "home-movie" footage), director's commentary by the Chiodo Brothers, behind-the-scenes material on composing the film's score, a visual effects commentary, a "director's reflection on the film", English/French/Spanish Mono Audio (it was mono in the theaters), and French/Spanish subtitles.

Maybe the VHS is 1.33:1 full frame. I don't know because I don't buy VHS any more. Regardless, the DVD should be quite nice for fans of the film.

The fullscreen version is probably just unmatted anyway (not really P&S). Wait for the disc to compare.