Grindhouse clowns and practical effects! I wasn’t exactly sure how to start this review, so I figured yelling two of the things I liked most about it was a good jumping point. Big Top Evil is currently available on most VOD outlets and Redbox machines as well as Blu-ray and DVD courtesy of Gravitas Ventures. It has a very specific target audience, lovers of campy horror flicks and low budget productions, and for these viewers, Big Top Evil is more than worth the price of purchase. Written by Sean Haitz and John Morrisey, Big Top Evil takes place several years after a brutal slaughter. Five friends took a detour on their road trip to the location of the infamous Mangrove Slasher, only to end up on the menu for a cadre of cannibal clowns. When the massacre is over, only Jay is left alive, and he’s forced to tell a cold-case lawyer his harrowing story. With no bodies left behind and no evidence of killer clowns, everyone is left wondering if Jay is telling the truth. Find out in Big Top Evil, from directors Sean Haitz and Chris Potter, and starring Sean Haitz, Jisaura Cardinale, Chante Demoustes, Cameron Hall, Morgan V. Ferreira, Grace Haitz, Chris Potter, Austin Judd, Bill Moseley (3 From Hell, Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2) and J. Larose (Saw 3, Saw 4).
Big Top Evil was produced by Sean Haitz and John Morrisey with executive producer Sharon Carole. The film features editing by Tanner Robbins, Sean Haitz, Joey Durango, Chris Potter, Shawn Roberts and John Morrisey… and that’s perhaps one of this title’s major problems. It does feel like a couple different styles and qualities meshed into one feature film; so it’s lacking consistency and a coherent vibe. For instance, the scenes where Jay is being interviewed by the cold-case lawyer are top notch, and then the flashbacks to the killings are a little underwhelming. Certain scenes are a little trippy, adding a third layer to this mixture, and then there’s the nuisance of a couple rough cuts and audio trouble. As far as independent standards go, Big Top Evil falls into the category of average, and I’ve seen a ton of titles with many more flaws behind-the-scenes. However, re-shoots and limiting the number of editors would have greatly increased the allure of this movie. Big Top Evil is rough around the edges, for sure, but there’s still a lot that I enjoyed about it. And I’m not just talking about its use of horses and dogs, or its use of classic cars that are literally to die for.
This film is campy, dirty, grindhouse fun at its best with killer clowns and practical special effects. I love the campiness the most, honestly, and the old-school way that Sean Haitz and company executed the story progression and death sequences. It felt like a classic horror film you could have found on VHS if we rewound time about thirty years. Plus, it has a number of annoying characters – *cough* Donnie *cough* – that you want to die, and then when they do – INSTANT GRATIFICATION! YAY! Big Top Evil could have survived even if it eliminated the post-trial narrative from its story and focused on more of the horror goods including death, suspense and all around what the fuck moments. I have no qualms with the acting performances because they fit a title of this caliber, and at the end of the day, a lot of effort was put into producing this movie. I have to note the production designer and location manager for nabbing and creating the dozens of locations used in Big Top Evil. What this film lacks in polish and refinement, it more than makes up for in heart, creepiness and love of the genre. It was much better than I expected.
Final Score: 6.5 out of 10.
