FRENDO: The Perfect Summer Slasher [REVIEW]

When teenage Quinn (a solid performance by Katie Douglas) moves with her father to the self-proclaimed Corn Syrup Capital, she doesn’t expect to be fighting for her life against a bloodthirsty clown. But that’s exactly what happens in Clown in a Cornfield, which is hitting Polish cinemas under the title Frendo—named after the story’s main antagonist. Here’s my take on the latest film from the creator of the excellent Tucker and Dale vs. Evil and Little Evil.

FRENDO: Internet Parody, Real-World Killer

The titular Frendo is the mascot of the local corn syrup factory, encouraging smiles and liberal drizzling of the dark brown liquid on food. Meant to inspire cheerful associations, the clown instead taps into today’s more terrifying image of clowns—creepy men who slice and dice their victims with a grin, laughing maniacally. The local teens, with too much time on their hands, are all too familiar with this modern clown archetype—think Joker, Pennywise, and probably Art the Clown from the hit Terrifier series. They decide to use this unsettling image to craft a “new legend” that could help them go viral.

The teens Quinn meets on her first day at school have been producing a series of YouTube shorts featuring the “real legend of the town,” turning the innocent Frendo into a bloodthirsty monster. Their hope? Internet fame and a ticket out of their dead-end hometown. (After all, if the Philippou brothers of Racka Racka fame could turn YouTube success into horror hits like Talk to Me and Bring Her Back, why not them?)

But none of them expect that someone would take their viral videos as inspiration—and that a real, murderous clown would begin stalking and killing “those meddling teenagers,” to quote the classic Scooby-Doo line.

What starts as harmless internet fun quickly spirals into a bloody game with real-life stakes. The town hides a dark secret, and the once-laughable clown has a terrifying alter ego. A fight for survival begins—filled with clever, well-written plot twists and a playful mashup of slasher tropes and comedy. Frendo brings both chuckles and chills, delighting genre fans while offering hair-raising moments for more sensitive viewers.

FRENDO: Not So Friendly [REVIEW]

Eli Craig’s latest film continues his hot streak. The director of cult hits Tucker and Dale vs. Evil and Little Evil once again showcases his knack for playfully twisting genre conventions.

Blending horror and comedy is no small feat (Netflix’s painfully flat Senior Year is proof enough), so I’m impressed that Craig has once again struck gold. This is his third film that playfully reimagines horror from a fresh angle. At first glance, his movies don’t stray too far from typical horror films—but what sets them apart is a high level of self-awareness, both in the writing and among the characters. His protagonists behave like people in a family drama or comedy, not like typical horror victims, which only adds to the humor when things go sideways.

The real magic lies in the grounded, commonsense reactions of the characters to outlandish events—eschewing supernatural or gory explanations at first, leading to both laughs and eventual screams. A true genre craftsman knows when to swap humor for fear, and Craig pulls it off once again.

With Frendo, he takes familiar horror tropes, remixes them, and adds his signature flair. It’s bloody, fast-paced, and fun. If I had to compare it to another recent film, Thanksgiving by Eli Roth comes to mind. Both films share a small-town setting, a group of young protagonists, a bizarre holiday-themed celebration, and a gleeful dose of gory humor.

FRENDO: The Cornfield Clown’s Bloody Harvest

Frendo is a fun, well-executed slasher—perfect for summer. It’s light, accessible, and genuinely surprising. The twists are smart, the characters are active participants in their story, and the humor comments cleverly on their situations.

Clown in a Cornfield is a delightful genre blend and Craig’s third film to earn a heartfelt 7/10 from me. These films ooze passion, creativity, and genuine love for horror. So yes—go see Frendo. It’s a blast!

Also worth mentioning: the film features a well-developed and unexpected queer subplot, making it a timely and meaningful pick for Pride Month.

And one more thing: Frendo is based on the first book in a series by Adam Cesare. If that means sequels are coming, count me in—I’m already metaphorically seated in the cinema. Or, as the meme goes: “I’ve taken my seat. The cinema staff is terrified as they try to explain the sequel doesn’t exist yet, but I don’t care. I’m ready.”

Bring on another summer with Frendo!