[FrightFest 2025]: Super Happy Fun Clown

An eternal presence in the horror genre, one is never too far away from a killer clown. And Super Happy Fun Clown features a doozy of a killer clown horror. Patrick Rea’s film follows Jennifer, a one-time child protégée who has fallen into a menial job. Coupled with abuse from both her mother and POS husband, and the only joy she gets is with a side gig taking on the role of Jenn-O the Clown. But no matter how good a clown can be, at some point you may just snap and go on a violent rampage, timed perfectly to take place at Halloween.

Super Happy Fun Clown is a strange beast, with a first act that feels almost unsure of itself. Struggling to find a balance, it nevertheless finds its footing, thanks to a committed lead turn and a second half that embraces violence, offering a cathartic release. There are tonal and pacing shifts as the film tries its hardest to wrench itself into some kind of shape. But in the end this critic was won over by the film’s pluck and determination.

A commitment cast helps proceedings, particularly Jennifer Seward, in both her Jennifer and Jenn-O form. You really feel for Seward’s Jennifer and freely follow her descent into violence. Seward is a warm, likeable screen presence, capable of giving key moments an off-kilter energy that makes this a particularly compelling performance to watch. The likes of Nicole Hall, Deborah Madick and Tim Shelburne all leave a firm impression, and writer Eric Winkler has a nice line in caustic dialogue.

Rea’s latest continues to mark him as a talent to watch, with Super Happy Fun Clown perhaps his most interesting work to date. Thanks to Jennifer Seward and a second half that leans into violent set pieces, it manages to push itself past an uneven first half and become yet another fun time with a killer clown.

3 Screams out of 5

There’s much to admire about The Haunting at Jack the Ripper's House even if it falters somewhat as a ghost story. But the continuing dialogue prompted by our online life is tapped into effectively here and makes it a far more interesting watch then one might expect from the slightly clumsy title.

3 Screams out of 5