Since its release in 1988, the Chiodo Brothers’ horror-sci-fi-comedy film Killer Klowns from Outer Space, has earned the mantle of cult classic (aka “kult klassic”) with numerous screenings over nearly four decades at repertory theaters, film festivals, and horror conventions.
Co-written and directed by Experimental Animation faculty member Stephen Chiodo, the film follows evil extraterrestrials who look like clowns as they take over a town to capture, kill and harvest humans for food.
This weekend, the film is being feted at the For the Love of Horror convention in Manchester, UK, during a special closing night screening on April 19 with live commentary and Q&A with Stephen Chiodo, co-writer Charles Chiodo, and Edward Chiodo. All three served as producers on the film.
Before leaving for the UK, Stephen Chiodo dropped us a note when we asked about the staying power of Killer Klowns:
Honestly, I’m completely surprised by the continued excitement in this 1988 sci-fi horror comedy. The fan base is multigenerational. Kids who saw it in the ’80s grew up, got married, had kids, and shared it with them. Those kids spread it with their friends, and 38 years later, it’s more popular than when it was originally released. There are costumes, T-shirts, all sorts of merchandise, a Universal Horror Haunt maze, and a video game. I never imagined any of this.
We just wanted to make a kind of movie we wanted to see, one that pays homage to all the incredible sci-fi monster movies we loved as kids.
