Clown (film)

Clown is a 2014 American supernatural horror film and the feature directorial debut of Jon Watts. Watts co-wrote the screenplay with Christopher Ford, and the film was produced by Mac Cappuccino, Eli Roth, and Cody Ryder. The cast includes Eli Roth, Laura Allen, Andy Powers, and Peter Stormare. The story centers on a real estate agent who puts on a clown costume for his son’s birthday party, only to discover the outfit is cursed and begins fusing to his body, transforming him into a monster. Visual effects for the clown creature were handled by Jagdeep Khoza, Alterian, Inc., and Tony Gardner. Principal photography took place in Ottawa starting in November 2012. The film debuted in Italy on November 13, 2014, followed by a UK release on March 2, 2015, and a US release on June 17, 2016, through Dimension Films. Critical reception was mixed.

The plot follows Kent McCoy, a real estate agent who fills in as entertainment for his son Jack’s birthday after the booked clown cancels. He finds an old clown costume in a basement he is renovating and wears it to the party. Afterwards, Kent cannot remove the costume; the fabric sticks to his skin, the nose fuses to his face, and any attempt to take it off causes injury. Over the next few days, Kent experiences disturbing physical and behavioral changes, including an uncontrollable hunger. He contacts Herbert Karlsson, the former homeowner, who explains the costume is made from the skin and hair of an ancient Nordic demon called the Clöyne. The demon possesses the wearer and must feed on five children—one for each month of winter. Karlsson says the only way to stop the transformation is suicide or decapitation, then drugs Kent and tries to kill him but fails. Kent’s own suicide attempts fail as the Clöyne’s influence grows. He hides in an abandoned property, accidentally kills a child who finds him, and then devours the boy. Realizing the danger, Kent begs his wife Meg to chain him in the basement. After Jack confides he is being bullied, Kent persuades his son to release him and murders the bully to satisfy the demon. Meg learns from Karlsson that the only way to free Kent is to let the demon consume five children. Karlsson admits he once wore the suit and, with his brother, fed children to the demon to free himself; they tried and failed to destroy the suit. Kent, now fully possessed, kills two more children at a Chuck