The Chiodo brothers' Killer Klowns From Outer Space gave audiences a whole different reason to fear clowns - but why choose clowns as a villain?
Though the villains in Killer Klowns certainly border on more comical in appearance, the sci-fi horror comedy has become a cult classic. The catchy theme song, the neon-splattered costumes of the "klowns", and the quirky humor all are nicely juxtaposed with the violent chaos that the alien invaders unleash on a small town. All these elements result in the perfect formula for longevity and popularity with genre fans. While fans of the movie and the Chiodo brothers have been waiting patiently for a sequel, it has been tied up since the '80s. Killer Klowns would have fit perfectly within the parameters of an '80s horror franchise, as many of its elements overlap with more ridiculous slasher franchises of the same era like Child's Play, which introduced a menacing killer doll to audiences.
Killer Klowns may not have continued past the original movie, but coulrophobia - the fear of clowns - has continued in prominence with horror audiences, and has been featured in everything from film and television adaptations like Stephen King's It, American Horror Story, and the Eli Roth produced Clown, among others. Although the fear of clowns have always been present in society, the Chiodo brothers made a smart decision to risk it all on their more ridiculous elements for the titular villains.
Killer Klowns: Why Are The Alien Creatures Clowns?
Though a lot of movies that feature killer clowns tend to focus on the more severe aspects of the villains, the Chiodo brothers took a distinctly comedic angle with the "klowns". From their choice of weapons, like popcorn guns, candy bazookas, and how they encased their victims in cotton candy cocoons, the premise was utterly ridiculous. Even so, the menacing faces and colorful exterior of the villains added to a sort of strange familiarity that conjured up memories of childhood birthday parties where a clown was present, overly cheerful, and kind of terrifying in an unsettling way.
The nostalgic elements was where Killer Klowns truly embraced its unconventional approach, and beyond that, the Chiodo brothers used some smart logic to iron down why their fictional alien race would look the way they do. The clowns were born out of two of the most common fears that human beings experience: coulrophobia (the fear of clowns) and xenophobia (the fear of aliens). The combination of the two is particularly effective, and while the movie doesn't necessarily hold up as being particularly terrifying - and it could be argued that Killer Klowns never really was for people who weren't already afraid of clowns - it's still a unique thought.
Beyond that, the choice to make everyday items that create feelings of childlike joy and wonder, like cotton candy, popcorn, and the circus into something dark and twisted is a commonly used trope in horror. After all, the reason why Pennywise the Dancing Clown is so effective is because, on the surface, he seems friendly and charismatic until he's got his victims in his grasp. Killer Klowns From Outer Space may not be the scariest horror movie, but for those who already fear clowns, it's a potent mixture of nightmare fuel that certainly paved the way for other killer clowns in modern media.