Terrifier and 4 Other Most Horrifying Movies About Creepy Clowns
They will not make you laugh – they will make you scream in fear.
Coulrophobia, the fear of clowns, is one of the most common fears among millennials. It is associated with the film industry's tendency to demonize clowns. The best horror films featuring cheerfully creepy circus performers came out in the 90s.
1. House of 1000 Corpses, 2003
Captain Spaulding is one of many clowns created by trash horror master Rob Zombie, but he is the only one named after comedian Groucho Marx, who left his mark on the character.
Played by actor Sid Haig, Captain Spaulding first appears in the film House of 1000 Corpses, where he portrays the owner of a gas station and fried chicken restaurant.
2. Poltergeist, 1982
The film follows a family trying to survive in a haunted house. A clown doll becomes part of the paranormal nightmare, taking on the scariest scenes.
There's hardly anything more frightening than a clown sneaking up on you when you least expect it. From start to finish, Poltergeist is filled with a quiet menace that can be felt in the rustling of trees and the static on the TV.
However, it is only with the possessed clown that real horror enters the frame.
3. Terrifier, 2016
Released in 2016, Terrifier is an independent horror film with an abundance of sickening scenes of violence and gallons of fake blood, which quickly found its audience.
Art the Clown's success can be attributed to his extraordinary charm, which is noticeable even through dozens of layers of makeup. Additionally, Art is a rare clown who does not speak throughout the entire film, compensating for his silence with creepy grimaces.
4. Killer Klowns from Outer Space, 1988
The clowns in this film are not just villains – they are real alien invaders that only resemble cheerful circus performers in appearance.
They are cruel and merciless creatures who use popcorn cannons and cotton candy to enslave humanity. The clowns' makeup and the film's visual effects are ridiculous and far from realistic.
However, for children who grew up in the '80s, Killer Klowns from Outer Space is a movie that created internal anxiety.
5. It, 2017
Pennywise, from the horror duology It and the prequel series Welcome to Derry, is one of the most popular killer clowns who has firmly entered the annals of modern pop culture over the past decade.
He has become a recognizable archetype of ancient, all-consuming evil hiding behind a bright smile.
It's no surprise that such a colorful character originated in literature. Pennywise was first created as the main villain in Stephen King's 1986 novel It.