The Clown Murders

This movie is really quite pathetic. It is a movie about a murderer. The plot is confusing and jumps around so much it is hard to follow. The only reason to actually watch this movie is because John Candy is in it. It is his first of only two dramatic roles that he ever did. There is an embarrassing scene where John's character has a nervous breakdown, and he is seen rolling in the mud in his underwear, blubbering like a baby. The movie aside, I thought John pulled that scene off quite well.

At any rate, if you are a real John Candy fan, then you have probably already seen this movie. If you are not a fan, don't waste your time.

The only reason why this dud of a film hasn't disappeared into complete obscurity just yet is because it features an early role of John Candy; - the proudly Canadian actor/comedian who would become very popular throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, and die at the far too young age of 43. Fans of John Candy shouldn't bother to track down "The Clown Murders", though. In fact, nobody should bother to track it down, because it's one of the single most boring, uneventful and inept thrillers of the entire 70s decade. Four pathetic losers, including Candy, joke about kidnapping their attractive friend Alisson, simply because they can't accept that she's now married to a successful businessman and busy selling the farming estate where they all played whilst growing up. They execute their plan during a Halloween party, dressed as clowns, and lock her up in her own farm. The opening sequences and character introductions were already tedious, but the actual kidnapping and hostage situation are downright dreadful. Absolutely nothing happens, except for arguing between the four losers mutually and shots of John Candy shoving fast-food down his throat. The plot promised another mysterious clown killer coming after them, but he only pops up during the finale and doesn't do a lot of murdering, neither. One to avoid at all costs, that's the only sane and righteous recommendation I can make.

Another early film role for a then-unknown John Candy in this psychological drama/horror film about a kidnapping prank gone horribly wrong. If you're expecting Candy to be funny, look elsewhere. His character is a pathetic wuss who is caught in the middle of the situation, but his acting is pretty good in a non-comedic role. The film itself is decent, but goes in several directions, throughout.

Canadian horror icon Stephen Young stars alongside John Candy, in this 70's slasher flick.

Where a group of friends plan to stop one of their more douchey brethren, from exploiting his wife, in order to cash in on a lucrative land deal.

Knowing that she owns the property, and must sign over the deed...they plan to dress up like clowns, and kidnap her, until the deadline passes at midnight, on Halloween.

However, none of them expected that what starts off as a joke will end up progressing to murder.

One mistake leads to another, they all start turning against each other.

Just as the cops are beginning to hone in on them.

Because on top of the scuffed kidnapping...a nefarious actor is hiding amongst them...trying to kill them off one-by-one...

While the woman they've kidnapped is doing whatever she can, in order to survive.

Things go from bad to worse as paranoia sets in amongst the group.

Will any of them make it out alive?

Or has this sick joke gone too far already?

Either way, it looks like they've stopped the land deal from going through...

It's certainly not your average slasher flick.

Because, while the motives of each character are pretty clear...the way the plot plays out is really quite bizarre, and slightly confusing.

Because even though the end game of each player is effectively the same...it becomes a kind of proxy war to control- even possess- the victim.

As they've all desired her, at one point, or another.

Luckily for her, she is clearly more grounded than any of them.

And, having realized this, she uses it to her advantage...to play them against one another.

So, while the men all end up bruised and broken...if not dead...she walks out of the whole ordeal generally unscathed...arguably, even stronger than she was before.

Thus, hidden beneath the layers of drama is a moral tale with an underlying feminist message.

A very interesting little flick, indeed.

5.5 out of 10.

John, svelte, John Candy in a horror film!

Very very cheaply made. Set in Canada. The movie was never released theatrically in the US (VHS then later DVD)

It's not a very good movie.

I have no idea why John Candy is in this. Very strange. But not in a good way.

The plot A group of young professionals decides to play a practical joke on one of their ex-girlfriends who married a rich man who is about to close a major real estate deal.

They plan to kidnap her and mess up the deal.

Unfortunately, the joke becomes deadly serious.