Growing up in the suburbs of Albuquerque, friends Philip H.R. Gunn and David Carlos Valdez found ways to avoid boredom. At some point, Valdez’s mother gave him a camcorder which he and Gunn used to shoot various short films. Their first homemade feature was 1994’s Edwin: The Tragic Story of the Clown Who Couldn’t Make Anybody Laugh. Over the years, the two worked together on numerous short projects before they decided to try making a feature film. Being huge fans of horror films like Friday the 13th and A Nightmare on Elm Street, they decided on that. They took the character Edwin and put him in a slasher film where he goes around killing other clowns. On a shoestring budget, filming lasted 15 days on a cattle ranch outside Cuba, NM, in 2009. Troma acquired the rights the following year and released Klown Kamp Massacre on DVD.
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Synopsis
In 1991, Edwin the Clown (Jared Herholtz) went on a murder spree at Clown Camp and was never found. It’s now 15 years later, and the camp’s owner, Bonzo (Mike Miller), has decided to reopen despite the horrible tragedy. Brothers Vinnie (Nick Lopez) and Lenny (Reuben Finkelstein) decide to attend along with Tipsy (Matt Sanford) and Brandi (Tara Hahn). Also arriving are Philbert (Ross Kelly), Puff (Chris Payne), Squirts (Sandor Gattyan), Buzter Pie (Isaac Kappy), and Gerald (Daniel Gutierrez). These clowns are put through the wringer in learning to be funny, unaware that Edwin has returned to kill. While all this is happening, a romance between Philbert and Bonzo’s granddaughter Valerie (Kerri Duabe) starts blossoming. Unfortunately for our lovebirds, their fellow clowns are stabbed, shredded, beaten, melted, and even blown up increasingly gruesomely. Who will be the next victim and survive this Klown Kamp Massacre?
Review
If you go into a movie called Klown Kamp Massacre expecting an intelligent, thought-provoking experience, look elsewhere. Gunn and Valdez wanted to make a goofy film about a clown killing other clowns, and that’s what we get. This movie isn’t trying to be the next great horror movie; there’s nothing wrong with that. Sometimes, an 84-minute slasher about clowns getting killed in absurdly gruesome ways is all you need. To the filmmakers’ credit, they accomplished quite a lot with a minimal budget, like impressive practical effects and decent camerawork. Two kills in particular that stand out involve a seltzer bottle filled with acid and an exploding pie. Also, the night scenes are filled with fog and colored lighting, giving them a spooky feeling. Plus, a few dynamic camera angles help keep the action moving without getting too overwhelming. Gunn and Valdez show a lot of potential here.
Given the subject matter, the acting is intentionally goofy, and while it isn’t great, there are a few standouts. Jared Herholtz sells the part of a struggling clown who ended up snapping because he couldn’t be funny. Kerri Duabe is likable as Valerie, who gets a whole backstory about childhood abuse, which adds some depth. Granted, this kind of film trying to handle such a sensitive subject might seem distasteful, so proceed with caution. Admittedly, most of the humor is pretty juvenile, relying on gross-out gags and sex jokes, but that’s Troma for you. The ending threw me for a loop without going into spoilers, so I must give them credit. As I alluded to early on, this isn’t the next great horror film, but it’s not trying to be. Overall, Klown Kamp Massacre is one of those movies best enjoyed with friends and your ideal substances.
Buy Klown Kamp Massacre from Amazon: https://amzn.to/40BxdUL.
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