‘Clown in a Cornfield’ Author Adam Cesare on the Slasher’s Huge Twist, Book Changes and How Frendo Compares to Pennywise and Michael Myers

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SPOILER ALERT: This story spoils all the twists and turns of “Clown in a Cornfield,” so be warned!

The movie titled ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ has become an acclaimed independent success, boasting IFC’s record for the biggest opening weekend yet. This film, adapted from a popular YA horror novel, stands out among other slasher movies due to a surprising plot twist midway through that turns the established rules upside down.

An unexpected turn: The enigmatic Frendo the Clown, who had earlier been seen seemingly supernaturally slaying teens, appears at a house party teeming with intoxicated youths. However, following one gruesome demise that catches everyone’s attention, instead of a lone Frendo emerging from the cornfield, a horde of bloodthirsty clown killers burst forth all at once.

This year, an unforgettable scene of terror left horror enthusiasts talking – it involved adults conspiring to eliminate children from the town because they refused to adhere to tradition. This surprising turn of events has sparked much debate, and the creators, Eli Craig (director) and Adam Cesare (author of “Clown in a Cornfield” series), have discussed this intriguing plot twist in a recent article on EbMaster.

Now that the film has been released and people are talking about it, Cesare had another chat with EbMaster to analyze the elements from his book that were incorporated into the movie’s plot.

The movie’s biggest “Oh shit!” moment is when a bunch of Frendos come running out of the cornfield at the party. Was that always a twist you envisioned from the start?

Absolutely. The creative process for the book was intense, centered primarily around the question: “Could the protagonists, who are also parents, commit such acts and get away with it?” This idea was a key point of debate early on. I want to clarify that there were no issues between me and my editor at Harper editorial – we have a great relationship. However, in the initial stages of the book’s development, this topic was a major creative discussion. It’s hard to recall specific details as it was over six or seven years ago, but I vividly remember numerous phone conversations discussing this subject while walking around my small apartment in Philadelphia, even with neighbors eavesdropping and some being quite religious. [Laughs] I would reassure them, “Yes, the parents can kill their own children! Trust me, it will make for a great story!

In the realm of publishing, and particularly children’s literature, it’s common to encounter a unique aspect: Horror enthusiasts tend to have distinct tastes. Ideas that resonate with horror aficionados may not appeal to those who aren’t into horror. In Book 3, there are numerous elements that I’m confident will captivate horror fans but might not resonate with non-horror readers. It’s not about dividing fans based on their level of fandom or elitism, but rather acknowledging that as a horror enthusiast, discussing horror themes can sometimes lead to puzzled reactions from people who aren’t into horror. I myself am in a relationship with someone who isn’t a horror fan, and I’ve noticed they can sometimes question the logic or appropriateness of certain horror elements. However, being so immersed in this genre, these elements often don’t seem unusual to me.

Even before the movie, did you get a lot of feedback on the twist ending when you were talking with readers?

As a movie critic, I found myself engrossed in an internal debate with my editor and others at HarperCollins over this intriguing horror novel. The question on everyone’s mind was, “What are we doing here?” However, the book proved to be a captivating read for both young and old horror enthusiasts, as well as those who typically shy away from the genre.

Teachers, librarians, parents, and even spouses have shared their experiences of this book serving as a catalyst for reading enthusiasm, whether it’s sparking a love for reading in general or awakening an interest in horror specifically. Interestingly, the storyline, which initially raised concerns about the viciousness of Cole’s father attempting to harm his own son, was not as off-putting to readers as we anticipated.

In retrospect, anyone who has been a parent or a teacher can empathize with the complex emotions portrayed in the book, making it a compelling read for many.

There was speculation online that the film might change the source material and Frendo would be supernatural. Were there ever any discussions about that?

Initially, we’re revisiting Carter Blanchard’s first script due to several distinct variations compared to the original book. While I admire Carter’s writing skills greatly, there were certain aspects that made me hesitate. Some elements from the book that I found intriguing, I wished to incorporate back into the script. However, I’m not one for causing unnecessary stirs, and I believe both filmmakers and authors should stick to their respective roles. Deviations and alterations in the story are acceptable to me. On its own, Eli was drawn to the script due to a central twist – the presence of multiple Frendos. This element captivated him, as he expressed his agreement. Upon reading the book, he suggested incorporating several elements from it, which I agreed with, acknowledging my potential bias.

In my perspective, there was no debate about transforming the character into Michael Myers, Pennywise, or Art for the initial adaptation. Instead, it was a deliberate choice, almost an artistic decision, that said, “He can’t be those things because we are what we are, and this is our story.” It was like a simplified mystery-thriller slasher film, untainted by franchise baggage or genre expectations. Engaging in speculation about it being a blend of Pennywise and ‘Children of the Corn’… well, that’s just a clever ploy to draw you into the theater or stir up controversy among comments. It’s as close as HarperCollins can get to trolling their audience.

Another late reveal in the movie is that two male characters, Rust and Cole, have a romantic history. How did you want to address that in the book versus how it is shown in the movie?

Instead of making things challenging for myself by writing extensively in my book, I find Eli’s approach in the movie much simpler and more effective. Unlike me who has the luxury of internal monologues and red herrings, Eli manages to convey the story without these added elements. In the book, Cole and Rust are initially suspected, but the real culprit is revealed later on. The CPR kiss scene, which occurs at the very end of the book, is particularly significant because it creates a moment of confusion for Quinn, who mistakes Rust performing CPR on Cole as a romantic gesture. In the movie, this scene serves to provide context and clarity, making all the pieces fall into place once viewers understand what’s happening.

In discussions following the movie, one aspect I’d consider modifying in my own work is the pacing of the relationship between the main characters, Cole and Rust. The way it unfolds in the film, when they’re both in the shed, is so cleverly done that it allows for more development of their relationship and builds tension effectively when Rust’s life is at stake. If I had the chance to rewrite my book with a time machine, I would have introduced their relationship earlier. However, since I was fortunate enough to write a sequel while drafting the first book, I was able to delay the reveal, knowing that their story and relationship would continue if readers connected with them.

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2025-05-15 00:47