Watch The Clown at Midnight
- R
- 1998
- 1 hr 39 min
-
4.4 (2,418)
The Clown at Midnight is a 1998 horror movie directed by Jean Pellerin and starring Christopher Plummer, Margot Kidder, and Sarah Lassez in the lead roles. The movie is set in a creepy abandoned opera house, which is being reopened by a group of young theater students led by final girl Kate (Sarah Lassez) and her stern instructor John (Christopher Plummer). The students hope to revive the deteriorating theater and stage a production in honor of a former student who was murdered twenty years ago by a mysterious clown.
As the students begin rehearsals, strange things start to happen. The old opera house is revealed to be full of secrets and hidden chambers, and it seems that someone or something is watching them from the shadows. To make matters worse, the theater's resident caretaker (Margot Kidder) warns them about the curse of the clown and the vengeful spirit of the murdered student, who may still be haunting the theater.
As the students delve deeper into the history of the opera house and the murder, they begin to uncover long-buried secrets and lies. It soon becomes clear that they are not alone in the theater and that the clown is still out there, waiting to strike again.
The movie builds up an eerie atmosphere, with the dilapidated opera house providing a suitably spooky setting for the unfolding horror. The horror is less about gore and jump scares and more about psychological terror, as the students are gradually driven to madness by their experiences. The movie touches on themes of guilt, trauma, and the dangers of obsession, as the characters struggle to come to terms with the tragic events that took place twenty years ago.
Christopher Plummer gives a standout performance as John, the strict but well-meaning theater instructor who is haunted by his own connection to the murder. Margot Kidder is suitably creepy as the caretaker, who may know more than she's letting on. Sarah Lassez is a compelling lead, anchoring the movie with her determined and resourceful portrayal of Kate.
The Clown at Midnight is a somewhat overlooked gem of '90s horror, with a strong cast and an intriguing premise that sets it apart from other slasher movies of the era. While it may not be a classic, it's still well worth checking out for fans of atmospheric horror and psychological terror.
The Clown at Midnight is a 1998 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 39 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.4.