I’ve been horror blogging for close to ten years now and other than a Blu-Ray review, several lists, and news-worthy jammers on the flick, I have yet to dedicate a full article to the beloved, and ultimate “kult” horror movie, Killer Klowns From Outer Space. Welp, here’s to fixing what’s been ailing me for ten years now.

I could give 101 reasons as to why Killer Klowns is the ultimate cult horror, but I’ll narrow it down to just a few for little patience. The Chiodos’ driven 1988 horror-comedy came swinging through the mom-and-pop rental shop doors, (another door!) as a straight-to-VHS Friday night flick. Giving another wholesome reason as to why those video shacks were a memorable staple of our youth as this was the way we got to see these movies. But it became so much more than that. The original title was to be simply “Killer Klowns”, but the Chiodos Brothers’ didn’t want their film to be mistaken for a slasher flick. So in turn they added “From Outer Space” to the title to give it that goofball- klowny jazz.

The Chiodos themselves were so heavily involved in everything about making this film happen that it’s almost as if the film itself mirrors their own minds of the perfect cult horror would be, on a very limited budget! I guess one wouldn’t think that two million bones is nowhere near small potatoes, but for a film that relays heavily on special effects to get the story across, it is peanuts. But, the Chiodos, who at the time was only known for their effects portfolio, made that shit work but working alongside other hired artists on the set and pulling triple-duty working on a full-scale miniature set for the Klownzilla sequence; while Charles Chiodo donned a rubber mask and suit to play JoJo himself.

Now because of the Chiodos’ genius to work under pressure on a tight budget, MGM wanted to do the sequel for the same amount of money. I first got wind of a sequel in the talks back in 2017 during a trip to Monsterpalooza where I had a lengthy chat with Stephen Chiodo himself and I had asked him, “What was up with Killer Klowns 2?!” While at the time, my 7-year-old son was playing with a replica cotton candy gun from his table, which he so generously offered to him while we talked about how legendary this movie is. He answered, off the record, and didn’t want it out there at the time, that “the movie was to be released in conjunction with SYFY if all goes well and in 3D.” Which was marvelous to hear!

Until the all mighty dollar fucked us all out of a sequel because they (the studios) didn’t think it was worth any more than that.

YEAH, I SAID IT.

Via Slasher Radio, SYFY and MGM just didn’t want to invest any more than the initial two million to make the sequel; and the Chiodos weren’t wanting to make “Killer Klowns in 3D” on such a low budget.

That being said, if we the fans want a Killer Klowns sequel, we just have to be loud about it to MGM directly. Now, I’m not saying to get nasty or anything, but they do need to know our thoughts and I think if enough of us bitch about it, something may spark. It’s got to happen sooner or later, right?

In the meantime, I’ll just cherish the movie we have now and that Monsterpalooza moment that was pretty much the coolest thing ever.