In the late ’80s, brothers Stephen, Charles and Edward Chiodo made the film “Killer Klowns from Outer Space,” a humorous sci-fi thriller featuring murderous clowns in wild outfits who wielded wacky weapons.
It was a passion project for the brothers, who wrote, directed and produced the film, as well as created all of the practical effects and makeup. While it wasn’t a huge box office smash back in 1988, it garnered a cult following when it was released on VHS and hit the shelves in video rental stores. Through the years its popularity grew and even now, teenagers were spotted walking around Universal CityWalk sporting “Killer Klowns” T-shirts as Universal Studios Hollywood’s annual Halloween Horror Nights opened earlier this month.
“We just thought we made a pretty neat movie, but it’s nice to know that almost 35 years later we’re going into a fourth generation of ‘Killer Klown’ fans,” Charles Chiodo said as he walked with his brothers on the red carpet at the opening of Halloween Horror Nights, which features a dizzying maze based on “Killer Klowns from Outer Space.” That maze, and seven others, are open on select evenings inside the theme park through Oct. 31.
The Chiodo Brothers agree that the attraction is as close as fans can get to being on the set of the movie, which was filmed on the Central Coast of California. Set in the fictional town of Crescent Cove, the film follows alien clowns and their circus tent-like spaceship when it crashes to Earth. Inside the maze, guests must dodge these clowns and avoid being put into cotton candy-like cocoons. All of the attractions are multi-sensory experiences and while the others use scents like “dead body” or “rotting flesh” to up the scare factor, the “Killer Klowns” maze smells more like cotton candy, popcorn and caramel apples.
“That’s how the Klowns get you,” Stephen Chiodo said with a laugh. “They lure you in with that and then go in for the kill!”
This is the second time a “Killer Klowns” maze has made its way into Universal’s annual scare-a-thon. HHN creative director John Murdy was a teenager when the film was released and remembers seeing it in theaters during a midnight showing. He became obsessed with both the film and its soundtrack, which featured one of his favorite punk rock bands, San Fernando Valley-based group The Dickies, who wrote and performed the title track.
“I went to that movie because I was a fan of The Dickies,” Murdy said. “I loved it and then I worked at a video store in high school and college and I saw the beginnings of that cult following with the release of it on VHS at the time. When I did the maze back in 2019, I had no idea how popular it had become and I was just shocked to see how the fans were flocking to that maze just as much as they were flocking to ‘Stranger Things,’ which was the hottest thing at the time.”
Composer John Massari, who grew up in Garden Grove, said that making the music for this particular film is one of the greatest joys of his life and career.
“We worked on this movie as if it was going to be a masterpiece,” said Massari, who has racked up numerous credits in TV and film since. “We put all of our energy into this wild and crazy idea, but I’m so lucky that the eyes stopped rolling in people’s heads when I tell them I worked on that movie. It’s one of the favorite projects I’ve ever done and I’ve done all sorts throughout my career now, but this one is the dearest. We have the fans to thank for all of this; the love and dedication that they have for this wonderful little movie is why we are standing right here today.”
For years, there have been talks of reboots, sequels and even a television series based on the film, none of which came to fruition. However, interest in the movie hasn’t waned. A slew of officially licensed toys and action figures became hot commodities back in the mid-’00s and merchandise flew off shelves at Spirit Halloween stores when it was released last year.
Last month, it was announced that “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” would officially become a multiplayer video game that’s scheduled to be released in early 2023.
“Who doesn’t want to kill a Klown,” Stephen Chiodo said jokingly of the video game. “The way they’ve done it is amazing and the weapons the Klowns have aren’t like any other weapons in any other game, so I think that really makes this game different than anything else out there.”
“There’s a communal component to it and you can play as teams and work together as either the townspeople or as Klowns,” Edward Chiodo added. “If you work in a group, you’re stronger and you have these formidable foes in the game.”
Massari is also back on this project, creating new music for the gaming experience.
“I was thrilled when they asked me to score the video game,” he said. “The game is … well, it’s next level. What they did with it really is next level and it’s exciting and I just appreciate the whole thing.”
Halloween Horror Nights
When: 7 p.m. select evenings Sept. 8-Oct. 31
Where: Universal Studios Hollywood, 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City
Tickets: $72-$102 general admission; $179-$289 Universal Express; $219-$329 Universal Express Unlimited; $112-$154 After 2 p.m. Day/Night Passes; $319-$449 R.I.P. Tour; $199 Frequent Fear Pass; $329 Ultimate Fear Pass. All tickets are now on sale at universalstudioshollywood.com.
