Rumblings were first heard way back in 2010 that Eli Roth would be producing a feature film based off of a concept trailer that set the internet on fire. Now, almost 5 years later, Clown has been released…for some people. Preorders have started to arrive for many as the scheduled release date for the UK is March 2nd. Unfortunately, if you’re outside of the UK – you’re out of luck for the time being. No release date has been announced for other regions. Don’t worry though, we’ve got you covered. Does Clown live up to a half decades worth of hype? Let’s find out.

If you aren’t familiar with the plot by this point, allow me to welcome you back from beneath your rock, Here’s the gist of it : A dad decides to fill in for a no-show clown at his son’s birthday party. He conveniently finds an old clown suit in one of his rental houses…but now he cant get it off…and children are starting to look mighty tasty. The story is every bit as awesome now as it was in the original faux trailer.

I know many have made a habit of referring to the film as “Eli Roth’s – Clown“. We are just as guilty as anyone, but it’s finally time to give credit where credit is due. Clown is directed and co-written by Jon Watts. Roth is simply a producer. You probably don’t know the name now, but you will soon. It is instantly apparent that this guy knows his shit. Aesthetically speaking – Clown is a breathe of fresh air. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good low-budget affair as much as the next guy, but it’s nice to see some polish…if you can call it that.

Almost all of the effects in the film are practical and look fantastic. I’m one of those guys that falls into the cliche of thinking clowns are mad creepy. Surprisingly though, intentionally “scary” clowns rarely bother me. That’s why I respected Watts’ vision so much. This is a transformation. Our lead character goes from being a normal guy to hideous beast, but it’s the transformation that got me. As each scene passes, the man gets dirtier and loses a bit more of himself. It’s very well done. The same could be said for sound and musical composition. Everything from an audio/visual level is on point. The performances turned in by all involved are also completely respectable. It’s a small cast, but everyone does well. Even the children. It’s hard to say how one would act in a situation like this, but I’m on board with most of the decisions and reactions here.

At the end of the day, how scary is the movie that features a scary clown?……It’s not bad, but I’m not sure scary is the word for it. The story is awesome and downright creepy. Watts ensures that the violence is understated, but in a good way. That’s not to say gorehounds will have nothing to see – there’s plenty of the red stuff to go around. I found myself squirming or yelling a loud “FUCK!” more than once. Throw in the possibility of children being mutilated and eaten – and it’s bound to be a good time. Does it live up to the years and years of hype? How could it? All I can say is that Clown is exactly what I expected it to be, and that’s all I ever wanted.