I stated this in my "Jeepers Creepers" reviews, but it definitely also counts for this "Clownhouse": Victor Salva knows what frightens people! All the felonies that brought him in the news are not really my business. My only interest goes out to his directing skills and I can safely say he's one of the few directors out there that approach the genre with the right attitude. "Clownhouse" was a remarkable debut, mainly depending on atmosphere and suspense rather than on gruesome butchering. The plot handles about 3 escaped lunatics terrorizing 3 siblings in their house when they're home alone around the Halloween season. One of the brothers the youngest suffers from a severe clown-phobia and, since the madmen are all dressed up as clowns (they killed the clowns of a traveling circus), it will be one spooky fight for survival.
Salva uses some clever camera angles and a ghastly soundtrack in order to increase the tension and this works perfectly. Also, the costumes and clown-grimaces are efficiently creepy even better than Pennywise, still the prototype of clown-terror. The petrifying portrayal of the clowns will unquestionably cause some viewers to develop phobias, too. The acting performances are overall decent. Adolescent Sam Rockwell, who's very popular nowadays, plays the oldest of the three brothers. It's always intriguing to see successful actors in their earliest roles. Well, what are you waiting for?!? Send in the clowns!
Salva uses some clever camera angles and a ghastly soundtrack in order to increase the tension and this works perfectly. Also, the costumes and clown-grimaces are efficiently creepy even better than Pennywise, still the prototype of clown-terror. The petrifying portrayal of the clowns will unquestionably cause some viewers to develop phobias, too. The acting performances are overall decent. Adolescent Sam Rockwell, who's very popular nowadays, plays the oldest of the three brothers. It's always intriguing to see successful actors in their earliest roles. Well, what are you waiting for?!? Send in the clowns!