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The Worst Film Ever

Simply A Masterpiece

hyped garbage

It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

After spending almost thirty years in the Hollywood circuit, Sam Rockwell finally won his first Academy Award in acting at the 90th installment. Reaching that pinnacle had to begin somewhere. This pathetic piece of cinematic rubbish known as "Clownhouse" served as Rockwell's first stepping stone on his way to an Oscar win. Granted, I have not seen all of Rockwell's performances. But I have seen enough to know that he's an ideal candidate for the role of a cocky alpha bully, revealed here in his earliest cinematic effort. However, despite Rockwell's competence, Clownhouse is a sad failure. Everyone else onscreen seemed like they were at a casting audition which led me to think that the producers must have chosen the performers on a first-come, first-cast basis. Director Victor Salva failed in coaching the performers to be more natural, less robotic and overall complementary to the film's best actor. The music was well composed, but needed to be performed by an arrangement of instruments and not on a synthesizer. Also, I was let down by the clowns themselves as the idea of coulrophobia, or the fear of clowns, was built up so much. Furthermore, the jump scenes were not surprising. The violence content was rather mild and lacked much blood for a horror title. I guess that the R-rating was awarded for the generous amount of profanity, spewed mostly from Rockwell's mouth. Otherwise this would have garnered a PG-13 or softer rating.This could have been a much better production and would undoubtedly do good as a remake. As stated above, Sam Rockwell was a solid character in this particular selection which is the only reason I recommend sitting through it.

First saw this on a VHS in the early 90s. Found it to be creepy. Saw this recently on you tube. It hasn't aged well. But there is something creepy bah the clowns n their masks. The story is bah 3 brothers who r alone since their parents r away. The youngest one has coulrophobia. The eldest one, a very young Sam Rockwell takes the middle n the youngest brothers to a circus. Meanwhile 3 escaped mental patients r on the loose. Made on a shoe string budget, Salva did some good job. The body count is low n the gore/violence is minimum but the movie plays more on the fear. Clownhouse does show that Salva actually has talent when it comes to putting together an effective horror movie. The movie has lingering shots of the young actors in their underwear, shirtless, and even changing clothes. N aft knowing Salvas child molestation history, i found those scenes disgusting. What Salva did is truly unforgivable and despicable. People may relate this film to Stephen kings IT n Alone in the dark.

I was a little apprehensive about seeing this film, considering the controversy that stands alongside it, but I was able to track down a copy and decided it was time.First and foremost I am scared of clowns, but I do not have a phobia of them. With that being said, this film really didn't scare me, made me feel a little unnerving. What I really found in this film to be amazing was the tension that was handed to me throughout the film. It has been a long time since a movie presented so much tension to me, I seem to get it more in older films such as this one.The acting isn't great and some of the characters are a little silly if not over dramatic. I do see why this is a cult film, it has all the standard qualities to become one. If you do get a chance to see this film, then please do check it out.It is a little dated, but it's still a very good film that is if you can steer your mind away from the controversy behind the film.

When three brothers(with sibling dynamics that, like everything else, especially the aspects concerning the characters, are credible, developed and human) have to spend the night without their parents(both busy with work - middle class; the father is home the least), even their seemingly safe, suburban house(a lot of this is spent there, only in the company of our 3 leads, making for a very isolated and claustrophobic slasher) can't protect them.Casey(Winters, still afraid - and the theme here is how to deal with that, and whether everyone feels it), the youngest, Geoffrey(McHugh, sympathizes with him and is in general the favorite of the three - that of the parents, and aforementioned kid) the middle one, and Randy(Rockwell in his debut(and yes, you can sense his quirk in a little of it), resents having to be responsible for the other two), the eldest.What is the fear of? Vivid, pale-faced performers. What? No, not KISS... that would risk the boys' souls. They're only at risk of being killed, so calm down, Christians. Yes, your circus-variety harlequin(be honest, they *are* inherently creepy - particularly when completely silent, communicating via miming, using their vastly expressive faces, as is done here) is the threat. Or, rather, a trio of escaped mental patients dressed up as them(and before donning the three distinct sets of make-up and bright, vibrant colors, we only see close-ups of their manically staring eyes). Yes, you *will* be terrorized by the Insane Clown Posse, demanding to know how magnets work.Yes, I know of the director's crime; I will not be going into it in this review. He served his time and I feel we should separate a man's personal life from their career. Of what I've watched(the others being the first two Jeepers Creepers), this is Salva's best, by far. This is quite grounded, and a welcome departure from where horror movies were at this point in time. Rather than outlandish, it sets everything up and it all feels genuine, authentic. This is primarily build-up, low on "action". Death scenes are small-scale but effective. There is almost no blood or violence, it's usually the threat and that which is implied that gets to us, the suspense and atmosphere. What's just off-screen, what's in the dark.This does use clichés, such as the eerie fortune teller - they do tend to work, and this thankfully isn't as loudly 80's as a lot of flicks from the decade. There are few jump-scares, instead we have consistent tension(such as in the use of close-ups, often of hands). In general it's well-filmed, with the opening shots setting the mood and tone impeccably. This is tightly paced and keeps moving throughout, with no scene wasted. It's an hour and 18 minutes sans credits, an hour and 21 minutes with. There is some humor, typically in the dialog - in fact, that's about the only place where it works, as several of the "the guys are having fun" bits are completely off(each time, I honestly thought something else, entirely, was going on), as one of the only things in this. The acting is good from all concerned, with almost no "crappy child actor" curse. Score is well-done.There is some strong language and brief underage male rear nudity in this. I recommend this to any fan of this kind of film. 6/10