Killer Klowns From Outer Space, a sci-fi comedy horror from 1988, has hit Netflix, and fans are suitably excited at the prospect of revisiting this kult klassic (bite me). The story sees a pair of teenage lovers investigate a comet crash site, only to discover a spaceship that looks like a circus tent and a band of murderous aliens with the appearances of freakish clowns, and must put a stop to their designs of preying on the nearby townsfolk for food.
That premise makes it sound like a generic horror movie that could have been released any time in the last 50 years, and so it might have been were it not for the iconic handiwork of the Chiodo brothers, Charles, Edward and Stephen, talented physical effects artists and puppeteers who have worked on the likes of Critters, Elf, Team America: World Police and claymation sequences in The Simpsons.
The klowns are hideously mesmerizing creations, like someone had to sculpt an image of a clown without having seen one but had the concept verbally described in detail. Their ridiculous appearances hide deadly power and they’re armed with an arsenal of comical yet lethal weaponry such as ray guns that immobilize victims in indestructible balloons and cocoons made of candy floss from which the klowns suck out their blood using straws; or cream pies filled with acid that melt humans down to the skeleton; bazookas that fire popcorn which grows into vulture-like baby klowns; and balloon animals that act like bloodhounds.
Clearly, the prospect of revisiting such utter lunacy has many people excited, and you can see just some of the reactions down below:
KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE IS BACK ON NETFLIX #KKFOS
— iasacc (@isaac_maximus) April 2, 2020
I know what I’m watching today! KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE (1988) #Netflix #killerklownsfromouterspace 🎈 pic.twitter.com/sHrSBHAMww
— ᴄʜᴀɴᴛᴀʟ ʜᴀɴᴅʟᴇʏ (@ChantalHandley) April 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/gabbylnavarro/status/1245454208909717504
If you need something to watch, Killer Klowns From Outer Space just got added to Netflix! pic.twitter.com/yd1j3eqol4
— Gilbert Vento MD (@GibbyVento) April 1, 2020
Killer Klowns From Outer Space is on Netflix. Makes me think about horror nights and out of all the houses I kept going back to that one because I had so much fun. Best smelling house too.#HHN30
— Amanda Lynne 💋 (@amandakihl) April 2, 2020
killer klowns from outer space is either on or coming to netflix and i will be watching it every day
— red🍉 (@tapewormg0d) April 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/Krys_T_/status/1245461741657419777
killer klowns from outer space is back on netflix
you’re welcome everyone
— darth alex (@redrummm_) April 1, 2020
https://twitter.com/frololola/status/1245521933984247810
Killer klowns from outer space is on Netflix !!! Like I don’t already have it on dvd tho 😂
— Bailey ✇ (@BaileyisShady) April 2, 2020
Killer Klowns from Outer Space is now streaming on Netflix.
In the current days of existential dread amid Coronavirus/COVID-19, we get a little relief with such a hilariously ridiculous horror film.
Well done, @netflix. pic.twitter.com/PQEWi6nvcT
— Certifiably Sub-Par (@Michael_AC23) April 1, 2020
"Killer Klowns From Outer Space" is back on Netflix. Such a great cheesy movie!
— Chris McGuinness (@DramaGuyCJM) April 1, 2020
Originally titled simply Killer Klowns, the rest of the appellation was added to prevent the film from sounding like just another slasher movie, as such flicks were at the height of their popularity in the late ‘80s when this creation was unleashed. A sequel has been in development hell practically since the first was released as well, with the most recent development being the revelation that a planned production was a casualty of the Fox/Disney merger.
Killer Klowns From Outer Space is a demented riot of a film, and if you’ve not seen it, then stop reading this and immediately fire up Netflix and get it watched. You won’t be disappointed.