Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Killer Klowns from Outer Space 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 18, 2024

Box office reports are a little hazy with 1988’s “Killer Klowns from Outer Space,” but one source lists a $352 gross for the feature. And yet, while offered no opportunity to prove itself during its limited theatrical release, the picture has managed to build an incredible fan base thanks to early video offerings and cable showings. The brand weirdly keeps getting bigger as the years pass, with plenty of merchandise for sale to maintain “Klowns” visibility, and there’s even a video game due for release in 2024, allowing the faithful to return to the source, offered a chance to go head-to-head with the multicolored menace. And why does this endeavor remain so beloved? The Chiodo Brothers. The creators of “Killer Klowns from Outer Space,” the siblings display their technical expertise with special effects and show their love of B-movies with the effort, which offers a sometimes wonderful level of genre invention. And now, after many Blu-ray releases, the circus aliens with a wild sense of dark humor return to disc with a UHD presentation that’s meant to bring out the best of this colorful, playful dosage of nightmare fuel.

In the peaceful town of Crescent Cove, a circus tent spaceship has landed. The only witnesses to the visitation is a pair of young lovers, Mike (Grant Cramer, “Hardbodies”) and Debbie (Suzanne Snyder, “Weird Science”), who impulsively decide to investigate the glowing transport on their own. Inside, the duo discovers a bizarre collection of circus-inspired machinery, along with bulbs of cotton candy filled with dissolving human remains. Panicking, the couple triggers the attention of the ship’s inhabitants, the Killer Klowns, a distorted band of painted ghouls who’ve come to Earth to collect bodies for feeding purposes. Ready to storm Crescent Cove and collect a wealth of victims, the Klowns head off into the night, armed with weapons and tricks employed to subdue easily amused humans. Hoping to thwart a community calamity, Mike and Debbie attempt to enlist help from Sheriff Dave (John Allen Nelson, “Hunk”) and his doubting, bullying partner Curtis (John Vernon, “Animal House”) before the Klowns devour the town with their specialized hunting skills.

For additional information and analysis, please read Jeffrey Kauffman’s 2018 Blu-ray review.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Screencaps are taken from the Blu-ray

After years on Blu-ray, "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" makes the jump to UHD, listed in press information as a "New 4K scan of the original camera negative." The Dolby Vision viewing experience works very well with the movie, which offers a defined palette to explore when it comes to circus-based horror. The Klowns look terrific, retaining distinct pinks, yellows, and blues throughout, creating a defined appearance when situated around more Earthly locations. Human activity remains natural, including skin tones and costumes, which delivers brighter primaries. Blacks remains deep, preserving frame information with evening adventures. Highlights are tasteful, offering a richer glow for spacecraft tours. Detail is strong, exploring rubbery Klown textures. The softness of cotton candy cocoons is also inviting. Skin particulars are secure on the cast. Interiors retain decorative additions and spaceship expanse. Exteriors are deep. Grain is fine and film-like. Source is in good condition.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA track is primarily a frontal affair, with clear dialogue exchanges from panicking humans, while alien chirps are also defined. Scoring favors a simple synth sound, but dramatic support is present, with some moments of sharp emphasis. Soundtrack offerings provide a more volatile rock presence, with decent instrumentation and vocals. Surrounds explore musical moods and some atmospherics, but remain mild. Low-end has a few moments of alien ship rumble, but it's rarely challenged in full. There's a brief, awkward audio edit at 1:43, but this appears to be an inherent issue.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Commentary with the Chiodo Brothers is conversational and entertaining, with the guys open to discussing all facets of production, looking to sustain a sense of humor about the whole endeavor. While teeming with BTS information concerning frame details (props were built out of dollar-store purchases) and budgetary limitations, the best parts of the chat emerge from movie mistakes, which the brothers happily point out as the feature unfolds. There are plenty of marvelous stories from the creation of "Killer Klowns," and thankfully the Chiodos are willing to revisit their filmmaking debut with honesty and, at times, genuine pride.

• "The Making of 'Killer Klowns'" (21:40, SD) is a terrific summary of the production experience, combining a 2001 interview with the Chiodos with 1987 BTS footage, revealing the passion and occasional tension that fueled the shoot. The filmmakers walk through several stories already covered in the commentary, yet the visual evidence keeps the repetition compelling.

• "Komposing 'Klowns'" (13:15, SD) sits down with composer John Massari, who talks about his participation in the project, covering his inspirations and intentions with the film's oddball score.

• "Visual Effects with Gene Warren Jr." (14:52, SD) isolates the work of the supervisor, who brought scale to a climactic battle between our human heroes and "Klownzilla," while spreading his considerable expertise around to other areas of the movie.

• "Kreating Klowns" (12:50 SD) chats with Charles Chiodo, who discusses the technical challenges of the shoot, from preserving balloon animals in a pine-laden forest to the trials of maintaining Klown feet, soon joined by creature fabricator Dwight Roberts to further the BTS education.

• "Chiodo Brothers' Earliest Films" (7:10, SD) joins the brothers as they look back on their first special effects-intensive productions.

• Deleted Scenes (4:36, SD) cover Debbie's fear of clowns (shared while inside the tent ship) and reveal an extended moment of climatic survival involving some careful tightrope crossing. They can be viewed with or without commentary from the Chiodo Brothers.

• "Killer Bloopers" (2:49, SD) returns to the VHS footage to highlight blunders and accidents, a few looking more horrifying than hilarious.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (1:53, HD) is included.

Killer Klowns from Outer Space 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The cult audience for "Killer Klowns from Outer Space" has been loyal over the years, following the feature's journey on home video for decades. 4K is the next level of presentation for the movie, and the inherent colorfulness of the cinematography and imagination of the filmmakers does very well here, offering fans a brighter, richer study of oddball alien activity and broadly performed human panic.