Helloween (2025) | Film Review

There’s something rather amusing about the idea of turning the 2016 killer clown craze into a full-blown horror movie, and Helloween leans into that madness with a mischievous grin that spans from ear-to-ear. Written and directed by Phil Claydon, this slasher-thriller knows exactly what kind of movie it wants to be: a love letter to classic horror, a playful jab at modern media hysteria, and a reminder that sometimes all you really need for a spooky night in is a creepy mask and a sharp object (of course).

Is Helloween revolutionary? Not quite. Is it the British Terrifier, as it’s been dubbed? Well, sort of, although Art is leagues above Cane. Is it fun, fast-paced, and knowingly over-the-top? Absolutely!

During the sinister "killer clown" craze of 2016, Doctor Ellen Marks, aided by investigative journalist John Parker, traces the source of the phenomena to one of her patients - incarcerated, charismatic serial killer Carl Cane.

The premise alone is enough to carry the film’s lean runtime, and Claydon wisely keeps things moving. At just over 80 minutes, Helloween doesn’t hang around — it jumps from scare to scare with the confidence of a movie that knows its audience came for entertainment and thrills.

The film kicks off with an efficiently spooky opening kill that sets the mood early. It’s dark, it’s tense, and it immediately signals that Helloween is here to have fun with its genre roots. From there, the story drops us into the height of the clown panic, where psychiatrist Dr. Ellen Marks (Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott) and journalist John Parker (Michael Paré) begin connecting the dots between the sudden surge in clown sightings and an imprisoned serial killer with a flair for theatrical evil: Carl Cane.

Carl Cane is a villain who straddles the line between unsettling and delightfully theatrical — the kind of antagonist who feels just a little larger than life, and all the more entertaining for it. Whilst there were other characters in the film I didn’t care for all too much, I found Cane incredibly entertaining to watch. You can tell Ronan Summers had fun with this role as he brings a welcome burst of energy and personality whenever he’s on screen effectively stealing each scene he’s in. His performance strikes a nice balance between grounded and playful, and over the top and cartoonish. Think of the Joker from the 90s animated Batman series mashed with Art the Clown and both versions of Pennywise (Skarsgard and Curry) — just deliciously evil and delightfully f*cked up.

Helloween (2025) | Film Review

Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott gives the film a strong emotional anchor as Dr. Marks, playing the role straight enough to balance the film’s more exaggerated elements. Incredibly likable and relatable as well, found myself really rooting for her. Michael Paré brings a familiar, grizzled charm, adding a touch of old-school genre credibility that any longtime horror fans will appreciate. The supporting cast mostly exists to move the plot along — and occasionally to meet unfortunate ends (score!) — but that’s par for the course in a slasher like this. You’re not here for deep backstories; you’re here to see who survives the night.

Visually, Helloween embraces moody lighting, shadowy streets, and the kind of eerie atmosphere that feels perfect for an October watch. I know I’m a few months late but Halloween’s a lifestyle choice for horror fans like myself, not a holiday or calendar month (very Return of the Living Dead of me I know). The pacing is brisk but dig drag at times, the kills are effective (and fun) without being excessive, and the overall vibe is more funhouse fright than pure nightmare fuel like some previous clown films have been.

One of Helloween’s biggest strengths is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously. The film is packed with nods to slasher classics (Halloween fans should spot the influence almost immediately), but it never feels embarrassed about those inspirations. The movie flirts with social commentary about media-driven fear and viral panic but fortunately, it’s more of a footnote. Instead, it keeps things light and fun, letting the concept adding a little extra something as opposed to bogging it down.

Whilst the film is relatively straightforward, and at times predictable, it kept my attention throughout. There was one moment I hated as it was unbelievably obvious (when you watch the film you'll know), but I feel that was somewhat of a hiccup in an overall entertaining 80 minutes. This is as 'horror popcorn entertainment' as it can get – spooky, silly, and self-aware. Lastly...that ending left things VERY open, and I'll be honest I'm kind of hoping for a sequel that picks up immediately after this. It would be ABSOLUTE CARNAGE!

Helloween may not re-invent the slasher genre, but it doesn’t need to. It’s a cheeky, fast-moving horror flick that embraces its influences, delivers some solid scares and delightful deaths, and has a good time doing so. Perfect for fans of retro slashers (particularly 80s), killer clowns, or anyone looking for a lighthearted horror fix that doesn’t overstay its welcome.

The film is out now on digital, DVD and Blu-ray. You can check out the trailer below.