While working on Killjoy Goes to Hell, writer/producer/editor/effects supervisor/director John Lechago started planning the next film. For the next installment, Lechago wanted to explore Killjoy and Batty Boop’s relationship, mortality, and life on Earth. However, Charles Band seemed reluctant to keep the series going, emphasizing Unlucky Charms and Gingerdead Man vs. Evil Bong more. Around this time, Full Moon launched fundraising campaigns to finance future movies while giving back to the fans. Through IndieGogo, Full Moon was able to fund 2016’s Evil Bong: High-5 and 2017’s Puppet Master: Axis Termination. The company decided to run a campaign for fans to contribute towards the 5th Evil Bong and Killjoy movies. After raising over $30,000, Lechago got to work on the 5-day shoot, mostly on sets at Full Moon Features. So, sixteen years after the original film, Killjoy’s Psycho Circus premiered on the El Rey Network in 2016.
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Synopsis
After escaping judgment in Hell, the demonic clown Killjoy (Trent Haaga) now runs a late-night talk show. Dubbed Psycho Circus, he runs the show with his old troupe mates Freakshow (Tai Chan Ngo) and Punchy (Al Burke). In Hell, Beelzebub (Stephen F. Cardwell) is stripped of his rank as an archdemon for failing to bring Killjoy back. Beelzebub asks for a second chance, so he’s given a spaceship and a co-pilot named Jezebel (Lauren Nash). Meanwhile, Killjoy’s old girlfriend, Batty Boop (Victoria De Mare), catches the show and is shocked to see her replacement. After getting rid of her imposter, Luanne (Robin Sydney), Batty gets Killjoy to take her back, which he reluctantly does. During all this, Beelzebub challenges Killjoy, sending his Six Psychos and threatening to destroy Earth’s major cities. With his spaceship and an arsenal of weapons, Killjoy sets out to confront Beelzebub once and for all!
Review
Of John Lechago’s trilogy, Killjoy’s Psycho Circus is by far the most ambitious and significant film, though not without issues. To start with what works, the acting is still as wildly entertaining as in past movies. Trent Haaga, again, is the highlight of the film, spouting off tons of vulgarities while adding a devilish charm. Likewise, Victoria De Mare is having a blast playing the seductive yet plucky Batty Boop with her squeaky accent. Despite her minor role, Robin Sydney is also fun reprising her character from Evil Bong as a Batty Boop knockoff. Tom Devlin’s makeup effects are fantastic as always, and the CGI, while not the greatest, is decent, given the budget. It’s about on par with the CGI in Sharknado, but I feel it wasn’t meant to be intentionally bad. This isn’t going to win any Oscars, but I doubt Lechago is a lazy filmmaker.
While ostensibly a B-movie, Lechago tries injecting some social satire, poking fun at commercialism and humanity. There are gags with Killjoy arguing with a sponsor, Killjoy mentioning his merchandise, and Killjoy meeting his ravenous fans. They even poke fun at themselves with a memorable scene of Killjoy arguing with Trent Haaga over Ángel Vargas. Admittedly, many of the jokes tend to fall flat, but a few made me chuckle here and there. Also, some of the acting does come off either bland or annoying, particularly from Lauren Nash and Tim Chizmar. Plus, even at just slightly under ninety minutes, several scenes go on for way longer than necessary. Still, considering this is the fifth installment in a franchise about a demonic clown, it’s not half bad. Overall, Killjoy’s Psycho Circus is on par with the last few films, for better or worse.
Buy Killjoy’s Psycho Circus from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3LDXbTk.
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