When we see clowns, it likely conjures a certain reaction. Some might feel a shiver of fear or panic, seeing them as something sinister. Others might feel a wave of happiness, thinking of good times with party or circus clowns. But either way, the image provokes a reaction.

In the new horror film Clown in a Cornfield, which opens on Friday, you might be tempted to see it both ways. The titular clown is the symbol of the town’s biggest business and factory. (Though why you’d choose a clown as a mascot escapes me.) But someone has also used that symbol as their emblem of evil as they reign terror on the youths of the town.

The film is based on the novel from Adam Cesare and comes from director Eli Craig, who co-wrote the script. Craig is no stranger to a twisted tale, having previously helmed Tucker and Dale vs Evil and Little Evil. Here, he offers another tale that has twists and blends some fun humor into the traditional slasher format.

We begin in 1991 at a town party in a cornfield. A pair of teens head off into the depths of the field for a good time. Instead, they meet their doom. Flash-forward to the present, and Dr. Maybrook (Aaron Abrams) is moving to this small town with his teen daughter Quinn (Katie Douglas). They are looking for a fresh start after Quinn’s mother passed away. This town needed a doctor, and it looked like a quiet place to begin again.

The town is, in some ways, a time capsule. There is a quaint feel, and the adults seem committed to keeping it something of a throwback. Quinn is warned not to connect with the wrong sort of people, but she quickly forms a connection with the popular kids, including the Mayor’s son, Cole (Carson MacCormac). The kids make horror videos, pranking the town and clowning on its history.

That rankles many of the adults, including the Sheriff (Will Sasso) and Cole’s father the Mayor (Kevin Durand). The town itself is struggling, too. A fire at the factory led to it shutting down, hurting the economy. When the teens begin to disappear, it’s clear something is afoot. When the town’s mascot, Frendo the Clown, begins terrorizing people, it becomes a fight for survival.

The twist here is who is behind it all and why they’re doing it. That’s a fun note that plays out mostly in the Third Act. But much of this is a straightforward horror/slasher film. And it works in that way. There’s a creepy set up, some interesting locations, and plenty of creative kill sequences. There’s also a good touch of humor, one that plays off the things that feel alien to the younger generation. If you’re an older viewer, like me, you might get an even bigger kick out of this.

Craig does a nice job of laying out the story. Frendo is sufficiently creepy and the main teen actors do a nice job. I liked Douglas as the lead and had a lot of fun with her reaction to what is going on. The adult actors, like Abrams, Sasso, and Durand do a nice job, too. This ends up being a fun watch for horror fans that will be a solid addition to the lineup in theaters.

And if you want to dive deeper, you can meet Frendo on his national tour! Frendo will make a stop at Red Rocks near Denver on May 8 and in Nashville, Tennessee on May 10. Be sure to swing by and get a picture.

Clown in a Cornfield opens nationwide on Friday, May 9.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.