Aliens, Clowns and Geeks Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		2.5

Aliens, Clowns and Geeks Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman June 27, 2022

Richard Elfman strikes me as the sort of guy you might warn your kids to be careful of if your family were going to a party at the Elfman abode, not because of any inherent "danger" the man might pose, but simply because he's so out of control he might not be the best role model for impressionable young minds. Elfman is back in a supplement on this release providing more than ample "evidence" for this gut feeling (and of course this is all said in jest), delivering a sometimes scabrous account of both his filmmaking efforts in general and Aliens, Clowns and Geeks in particular. This is another totally gonzo Elfman effort which in this instance may not be able to completely escape memories of Killer Klowns from Outer Space.

Elfman's long sojourn in Hollywood provides ample grist for the comedic mill in this story, which revolves around an out of work actor named Eddy Pine (Bodhi Elfman). Eddy "passes" a painfully large obelisk during a panicked trip to the bathroom, which makes his prior assault by an extraterrestial clown in search of the object make a little more sense. Attempts to figure out what exactly is going on leads him to a partnership of sorts with gorgeous "scientist" Helga Svenson (Rebecca Forsythe), as attempts to escape the clutches of arch villain Emperor Beezel- Chugg (the late Verne Troyer) ensue. It's delightfully off the charts from virtually the get go, and arguably has a bit more narrative follow through than Elfman's Forbidden Zone (which looks like it may be getting a re-release soon).

Aliens, Clowns and Geeks Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Aliens, Clowns and Geeks is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of MVD Visual with an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in 1.78:1. I kind of have to laugh sometimes when the IMDb has nary a technical spec of data on big releases, and yet is able to provide the fact that a film like this was captured with Red cameras. Unfortunately the IMDb doesn't list the resolution of the DI, but detail levels are strong enough here that I frankly wouldn't be entirely surprised if it's a 4K DI. Fine detail on the exaggerated perception of facial pores under the heavy clown makeup is just one clear example of how precise this presentation can be, and frankly it's not always to the complete benefit of the film, as evidenced by some pretty cheesy looking CGI and other "special effects". The palette is really robustly suffused and is especially vivid in its presentation of some primaries.

Aliens, Clowns and Geeks Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Aliens, Clowns and Geeks features DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and LPCM 2.0 options. For such a low budgeted "family" made movie, Elfman's family is at least insanely qualified to add to the film's sonic pleasures, and Danny Elfman and Ego Plum's daffy score gets a really nicely spacious accounting in the surround track. Some sound effects related to the "alien invasion" also achieve more directionality in the 5.1 mix. Both tracks feature excellent fidelity and perhaps surprising dynamic range. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and clearly throughout. Optional English subtitles are available.

Aliens, Clowns and Geeks Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Aliens, Clowns & Geeks: Behind the Scenes Interviews with the Cast and Crew (HD; 33:52) include Danny Elfman doing a ventriloquism bit, which is probably worth the price of admission alone.


• Interview with writer / director Richard Elfman (HD; 4:11) is a short moment with the auteur, which may suffice more than adequately for many (and, yes, that's another joke).


• Mambo Diabolico Music Video (HD; 1:29)

Additionally, packaging features a slipcover.

Aliens, Clowns and Geeks Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

If you're a fan of Richard Elfman, you're going to be at least somewhat prepared for what Aliens, Clowns and Geeks has in store. The film probably tries too hard to deliver consistent laughs, but the goofiness of the enterprise helps it to elide some of the punchlines that don't quite land. Technical merits are perhaps surprisingly strong for those who may be considering making a purchase.