31 (film)
A survival game where carnies face murderous clowns.
Wikipedia / Wikimedia Commons
31 is a 2016 American action horror film written, directed, and produced by Rob Zombie. The film features an ensemble cast including Sheri Moon Zombie, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Meg Foster, Richard Brake, Jane Carr, Judy Geeson, E.G. Daily, and Malcolm McDowell. Set in 1976, the story follows five carnival workers who are kidnapped by a gang of homicidal clowns called 'The Heads' and forced to play a survival game named '31' over 12 hours.
- Budget
- Crowdfunded online via a single campaign on Fanbacked.com (extended or relaunched)
Lore & Background
Filming began in March 2015 and wrapped in April 2015. The film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on January 23 as part of the 'Park City at Midnight' section, which is not part of the official Sundance lineup. Saban Capital Group acquired theatrical distribution rights from Alchemy for a limited release on September 16, 2016. A special Fathom Events premiere on September 1 included the world premiere of the 'Gore Whore' music video. The film was submitted to the MPAA three times, receiving an NC-17 rating each time, but was granted an R rating on January 5, 2016, after an appeal.
Reader's Guide
31 received mixed reviews, with a 47% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 47 reviews and an average rating of 5.43/10. The site's consensus noted that the film delivers high-energy gore but lacks fresh ideas and likable characters. Metacritic gave it a score of 35 out of 100, indicating generally unfavorable reviews. Critics such as Variety found it forced and unoriginal, while Bloody Disgusting praised it as 'Rob Zombie's The Running Man'. Fangoria gave mixed reviews, with one critic calling it rushed and another placing it on a year-end top ten list. The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray on December 20, 2016, with a behind-the-scenes documentary directed by Josh Hasty.
Did You Know?
- The film was crowdfunded online via a single campaign on Fanbacked.com (extended or relaunched).
- Zombie compared 31 to his 2005 film The Devil's Rejects at a test screening.
- The film was submitted to the MPAA three times and received an NC-17 rating each time, but was granted an R rating on January 5, 2016, after an appeal.
- The home release included a behind-the-scenes documentary directed by Josh Hasty, with a two-hour version on DVD/Blu-ray and a four-hour version on VOD.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 31 (film)?
31 is a 2016 American action horror film that Rob Zombie wrote, directed, and produced. It centers on five traveling carnival workers who are taken hostage by a gang of killer clowns and forced to endure a twelve-hour survival game.
Who directed 31 (film)?
Rob Zombie served as writer, director, and producer on the project. The film was notably crowdfunded twice through the platform fanbacked.com before it went into production.
What happens in 31 (film)?
Set in 1976, the story follows five members of a traveling carnival who are abducted by a group of murderous clowns known as 'The Heads.' The captives are made to play a deadly survival game called '31' that unfolds over twelve hours, with the clowns hunting them in escalating waves of violence.
Who are 'The Heads' in 31 (film)?
The Heads are the film's antagonists, a gang of homicidal clowns responsible for kidnapping the carnival workers and orchestrating the brutal survival game. They are the primary source of threat throughout the entire ordeal.
Who is in the cast of 31 (film)?
The ensemble cast features Sheri Moon Zombie, Jeff Daniel Phillips, Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs, Meg Foster, Richard Brake, Jane Carr, Judy Geeson, E.G. Daily, and Malcolm McDowell. The five carnival workers who face the clowns are played by the main cast members.
More in Horror films about clowns 1-24
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