They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. If that’s the case, then Terrifier director Damien Leone should really be blushing right now because the trailer for Britain’s answer to his epic horror series is here, and it’s no laughing matter. Titled Helloween, the new flick promises to be a mix of everything from John Carpenter’s 1978 classic, Halloween, to “The Purge with clowns.” No matter what you call it, it definitely looks like a winner and one to watch for this coming weekend.
Opening with a 10-year-old boy who murders his foster parents on Halloween night, 1996, we learn that the media nicknamed him Cane the Killer Clown. Now residing in Moreton Downs Psychiatric Hospital, Cane’s all grown up and seems to be at the center of a wave of clown murders taking place across the United Kingdom. From there, the trailer for Helloween (seen below) showcases all the suspense and gore that’s to come, while flashing reviews from different outlets that call it, “An original scary horror movie,” “The Purge with clowns,” and “The British Terrifier.”
Written and directed by Phil Claydon, the same person responsible for bringing us such camp classics as Lesbian Vampire Killers (later retitled to just Vampire Killers for the U.S. DVD release), Helloween stars Ronan Summers as Cane, Michaek Paré as John Parker, and Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott as Dr. Ellen Marks. Produced by Shogun Films, the film is set to release in select theaters and on VOD this Friday, Sept. 5, and the full synopsis reads:
“At the height of the ‘killer clown’ phenomenon, psychiatrist Dr. Ellen Marks and investigative journalist John Parker uncover a terrifying conspiracy masterminded by maniacal incarcerated serial killer Carl Cane, plotting an anarchistic uprising from his cell deep in the bowels of the Moreton Downs Psychiatric Hospital.
“With a murderous army of clowns awaiting his signal to kill, Cane escapes, intent on unleashing his vengeance. Ellen and John face a desperate race against time to avert a bloodbath and stop Cane unleashing his own personal hell on Halloween.”
Could ‘Helloween’ Become Just as Big as the ‘Terrifier’ Movies?
Obviously, it’s too early to tell whether Helloween will reach the same heights as Terrifier, but it’s important to remember that Leone’s films didn’t start off being the phenomenon they are today. Yes, the first movie more than quadrupled its budget at the box office to take in $421,000, but it also took years for Art the Clown to reach a broader audience and become the favorite he is today. It wasn’t until Terrifier 2 that the industry really started paying attention, and by the time Terrifier 3 came along, what was once a franchise that was largely ignored by everyone blew up to become a pop culture juggernaut.
Helloween certainly has a lot going for it by way of a strong trailer, some early hype, and an interesting premise. Every horror fan loves a good killer clown story, so there is the possibility that this one could catch fire and give birth to a new franchise. Regardless, it’s definitely a release to keep an eye on, so be sure to check it out when it makes its way to VOD on Sept. 5, 2025.
Release Date
March 15, 2018
Runtime
86 Minutes
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