Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with director Eli Craig to discuss his latest film, “Clown in a Cornfield,” now playing in theaters nationwide. Craig, known for cult classics like “Tucker and Dale vs Evil” and “Little Evil,” brings his signature blend of horror and humor to this new slasher film.
As haunted attraction designers, we’re constantly exploring the art of storytelling across different mediums. Our creative work in designing theatrical spaces that guests physically move through shares many commonalities with horror filmmaking – building tension, creating release valves through comedy, and crafting authentic experiences that resonate with modern audiences. What makes Craig’s approach particularly valuable is how he skillfully balances classic horror tropes with contemporary relevance, respects his younger audience without condescension, and understands that fear works best when it speaks to real-world anxieties – all principles that translate directly to effective haunted attraction design.
The Birth of “Clown in a Cornfield”
Craig was immediately drawn to the project by its evocative title. “There’s something about a title that just feels like it grabs you,” he explained. “For me, the title ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ just felt like it was something that both made me curious.”
What Craig brilliantly achieves is the perfect balance between accessibility and depth – creating a film that delivers the straightforward slasher experience audiences crave while layering in smart commentary on urban-rural divides and generational tensions. When protagonist Quinn relocates from the city to a small town, the film captures that culture shock without heavy-handedness.
This approach reflects Craig’s filmmaking philosophy: “I wanna make smart, stupid movies.” It’s a deceptively simple formula – satisfy genre expectations while surprising viewers with unexpected depth and nuance that stays with them long after the scares fade.
The Delicate Dance of Horror and Comedy
For Craig, the intersection of horror and comedy isn’t forced—it’s natural. “Every scenario where there’s a massive amount of horror has like a possibility of comedy because the human mind tries to find a break,” he explained. “It tries to find an outlet for all the just nastiness. And in this movie, I think that there’s these elements where you’re like, you’re heightened, like you’re ready to just cry and instead you laugh.”
This understanding of psychological release is something we often incorporate into haunted attractions as well—knowing when to build tension and when to offer relief is crucial to maintaining guest engagement throughout the experience.
Unlike his previous films that peak in the second act, Craig took a different structural approach with “Clown in a Cornfield.”
“This is the first like truly three-act movie I’ve made,” he noted. “If people are fans of Tucker and Dale, it really peaks sort of midway through the second act. And then it’s just so funny at that point that you’re kind of just coasting to the finish line… This, I was just like, I just want to amp the stakes up all the way to the very end.”
Authentic Storytelling for Gen Z in Clown in a Cornfield
One of the most refreshing aspects of our conversation was Craig’s commitment to creating authentic Gen Z characters. In an industry often criticized for its disconnected portrayal of young people, Craig made a deliberate choice to respect his teenage audience.
“My goal was to kind of make like a breakthrough, like a horror movie that would grab Gen Z,” he said. “So many movies now are just remakes of what… of movies that were made in my generation. Every movie is like, ‘oh, come see this movie. It’s a remake of the movie Gen X saw.’ And I wanted to make something for Gen Z.”
Craig even enlisted his 17-year-old son to help capture the authentic voice of the generation. “It’s important to not talk down to them too. I feel like so much dialogue written by guys my age writing to our teenagers are just like diminishing their actual intellectual ability. And this movie is like, I respect the teens, but I’m also recognizing that they’re rebels. To me it’s like Breakfast Club meets Scream meets Footloose.”
The Cornfield as Predator Territory
When discussing the film’s signature cornfield chase sequences, Craig revealed an unexpected inspiration.
“It seems like a weird inspiration, but I was thinking a lot about Jaws and sort of the predator in the ocean movies. And then he was like a predator in the corn and people were trying to get away,” Craig explained. “If you see Jaws, you’re above the water, but corn, you can’t see somebody in it either. So you’re just running and slashing through it… It’s a predator movie, basically.”
This creative connection between the ocean’s hidden dangers and a cornfield’s concealing stalks demonstrates how horror can transform even familiar environments into something menacing—a technique that’s equally valuable in creating themed spaces for haunted attractions.
The Renaissance of Modern Horror
Our conversation concluded with Craig’s perspective on the current state of horror cinema, which he views with optimism.
“I think Modern Horror is in this amazing Renaissance Age,” he enthused. “It’s certainly becoming more popular. It’s being reinvented all the time. It’s really exciting to see things from this year like Heart Eyes and Companion and The Monkey, and then of course Sinners. There’s so much breakout horror right now that it makes me really excited for what comes next.”
Craig believes this horror renaissance is directly connected to our collective anxieties. “I think the reason why there’s so much horror is because it also is plugging into the anxiety that human beings are going through right now, and it’s giving people an outlet. ‘Cause it’s a very anxious time and to come into a movie, feel bonded with other people and give that anxiety a place to go.”
This observation resonates deeply with our work in haunted attraction design, where we often create spaces that allow guests to process emotions in a controlled environment.
Communal Experience in the Digital Age
Perhaps most poignantly, Craig emphasized the continuing importance of communal storytelling spaces.
“I think horror is going through a Renaissance age, and that means theaters are as well,” he said. “I think that this is the communal experience now. It’s not going to church. It’s not like going to hang out at your local YMCA. The theater is the place where people go to hang out, and it would be awesome if people coalesced around the theater to see this movie.”
While Craig focuses specifically on movie theaters, the insight extends much further. For thousands of years, humans have gathered to share stories and experiences collectively. As I pointed out in our conversation, these communal storytelling spaces extend beyond just cinemas. Traditional public gathering spaces may be declining, but haunted attractions represent another vital venue where people come together to experience emotional journeys collectively.
As haunted attraction designers, we understand the power of shared experiences profoundly. Whether in a darkened theater or moving through a haunted maze, there’s something uniquely powerful about facing fears together in physical spaces that digital experiences alone cannot replicate. Our industry thrives on the same communal anxiety release that Craig identifies as central to horror’s current popularity.
“Clown in a Cornfield” is now playing in theaters nationwide. For those of us creating haunted attractions and immersive horror experiences, it offers valuable insights into balancing terror with humor, respecting audience intelligence, and creating authentic emotional responses – all essential elements whether you’re creating films or theatrical horror experiences that audiences physically walk through.
