Clown

I would ask any up-and-coming special-effects artist: Just because you can mold a convincing replica of a 6-year-old's severed arm, does it necessarily mean that you should?

It comes apart about halfway through, losing a very difficult tonal balance. Having said that, there's more to like here than the studio burial would have you believe.

"Clown" has the goods. Refreshingly dark and sick, this is a movie for those who like cinematic monsters that hit so hard they leave a mark.

Jon Watts does nothing with the scarily funny notion of a respectable professional who suddenly refuses to shuck a party costume.

The film cuts both ways, with its clownish killer part Stephen King's Pennywise, part reality's John Wayne Gacy, & though the material comes with its own inherent ridiculousness, Watts sticks to the harder route of never playing it for laughs.

Despite dealing with a demon, the film is very grounded. [Full review in Spanish]

While competently made and demonstrating Watts' assured talent, the story and characters fail to engage in any way outside of disturbing us.

It was a great... take on a devil clown and it wasn't cheesy.

There isn't much here by way of narrative to justify a feature length title, hampered by a repetitive and vague third act which negates the surprisingly serious fortitude instilled in the set-up.

Clown is an impressive feat... but sadly it's not nearly as rough as it needs to be to justify its existence.