Clownhouse

Clownhouse is a horror film about three teenage brothers left alone in their home on Halloween night. Casey, the youngest, is terrified of clowns, and his fear becomes real when three violent patients escape from a nearby psychiatric hospital. The fugitives kill the performers of a visiting circus, take their costumes, and make their way toward the brothers' house. Much of the film follows the boys as they realise they are being stalked by figures dressed as clowns and try to survive the night.

Released in 1990, the film runs 81 minutes and was produced by American Zoetrope and Commercial Pictures. It was written and directed by Victor Salva, and it is the first film in his directing career, made before Powder, Jeepers Creepers and the later titles that followed. Nathan Forrest Winters plays Casey, with Brian McHugh and Sam Rockwell as his brothers Geoffrey and Randy. Bobby Salem, Anne Tomin and Michael Jerome West also appear among the 27 credited cast members, with 68 crew credited.

Audience response has been mixed but generally favourable: on TMDB the film holds a rating of 6.1 out of 10 from 198 votes. A smaller group of critics gave it a rating of 5 out of 10, based on 6 reviews, which is lower than the audience score. The film's reputation rests largely on its place as the starting point of Salva's filmography and on Rockwell's early role.