Best of the Bad … ‘Killer Klowns from Outer Space’

Best of the Bad features films that are so gloriously bad that they fall into a truly unique category all their own, typically only appreciated by the most devoted of movie geeks. These movies live on eternally as the most enjoyable bad movies of our time.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space… It’s so wonderful it just rolls off the tongue. This 1988 gem, directed by Stephen Chiodo, meets my first criteria for great bad movies before the title sequence even rolls. Great bad movies tend to have great bad titles. I remember first seeing this great piece of sideshow/sci-fi/horror schlock when I was a young lad, staying up too late watching USA Network’s Up All Night, which featured movies of such caliber as to liquefy ones brain if not processed carefully. Actually, my early interest in movies began in part as a result of stumbling upon movies like Killer Klowns and late night programs hosted Joe Bob Briggs and Sandra Bernhardt. (I have a theory; if you start with the bad, you appreciate the great even more.)

Killer Klowns centers around a small town (go figure) whereas a few teenagers are the only ones who realize the invading dangers (go figure) and must survive long enough to get the rest of the town’s heads out of the sand. The aliens who invade just happen to look like evil clowns, use weapons and technology based on clown/circus items and have, in a twisted way, a clown’s sense of humor. What are you moaning about? This all makes perfect sense. I mean, if you’re going to invade a town and conquer its residents for food, why wouldn’t you use popcorn shooting guns and cotton candy bazookas that cocoon your victims? Surprisingly, the special effects really aren’t too bad for this type of film. I believe, between the uniquely odd plot and the above average b-movie special effects, you will enjoy it as much as I have.

* WARNING: For anyone with a fear of clowns, you’ve been warned!