Monster Clown: Difference between revisions

← Older editNewer edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
update links
Line 121: Line 121:
** Even more scary when you realize he's actually an {{spoiler|[[Eldritch Abomination]]}} disguised as a clown.
** Even more scary when you realize he's actually an {{spoiler|[[Eldritch Abomination]]}} disguised as a clown.
*** Ironically, he chose the clown form to trick children into trusting him.
*** Ironically, he chose the clown form to trick children into trusting him.
* In ''[[Poltergeist (film)|Poltergeist]]'', towards the end a ''toy'' clown is possessed by evil spirits and ends up attacking the older brother. This was foreshadowed earlier in the movie when the boy covered up the clown with his jacket, because it was staring at him when he went to bed.
* In ''[[Poltergeist (film series)||Poltergeist]]'', towards the end a ''toy'' clown is possessed by evil spirits and ends up attacking the older brother. This was foreshadowed earlier in the movie when the boy covered up the clown with his jacket, because it was staring at him when he went to bed.
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfiyJa0Zeas Parodied] in ''[[Scary Movie]] 2'' with a clown doll who [[Mugging the Monster|finds that not all victims are helpless]].
** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfiyJa0Zeas Parodied] in ''[[Scary Movie]] 2'' with a clown doll who [[Mugging the Monster|finds that not all victims are helpless]].
* ''[[The Greatest Show On Earth]]'' features a gentle, altruistic, medically-inclined clown who never removes his makeup, even off-duty... because {{spoiler|he's on the run for the murder of his wife}}.
* ''[[The Greatest Show On Earth]]'' features a gentle, altruistic, medically-inclined clown who never removes his makeup, even off-duty... because {{spoiler|he's on the run for the murder of his wife}}.
Line 139: Line 139:
* The first segment of ''Amusement'' features a room '''filled''' with scary clown dolls and toys. Except one of them isn't...
* The first segment of ''Amusement'' features a room '''filled''' with scary clown dolls and toys. Except one of them isn't...
* In ''[[Night of the Demon]]'' (1957), Crowley-esque cult leader Julian Karswell, who will blithely send critics to a horrible doom, holds children's parties at his estate, playing a magician/clown...pretty benign for this trope, but capable of bad stuff (and in the original story, quick to scare the daylights out of the kids).
* In ''[[Night of the Demon]]'' (1957), Crowley-esque cult leader Julian Karswell, who will blithely send critics to a horrible doom, holds children's parties at his estate, playing a magician/clown...pretty benign for this trope, but capable of bad stuff (and in the original story, quick to scare the daylights out of the kids).
* The second dream sequence in ''[[Pee Wee's Big Adventure|Pee Wees Big Adventure]]'' is loaded with them. The scariest one (in my opinion) being the surgeon, who is only revealed to be a monster clown after he pulls down his surgical mask showing his eerily painted mouth. Definitely a case of less is more.
* The second dream sequence in ''[[Pee-wee's Big Adventure|Pee Wees Big Adventure]]'' is loaded with them. The scariest one (in my opinion) being the surgeon, who is only revealed to be a monster clown after he pulls down his surgical mask showing his eerily painted mouth. Definitely a case of less is more.
** Then there's that motorized clown dummy Pee-Wee chained his bike to...when he comes back and the bike's gone the clown has an evil grin and laughs mockingly!
** Then there's that motorized clown dummy Pee-Wee chained his bike to...when he comes back and the bike's gone the clown has an evil grin and laughs mockingly!
* As mentioned under Comic Books above, the various film incarnations of [[The Joker]] are classic examples.
* As mentioned under Comic Books above, the various film incarnations of [[The Joker]] are classic examples.
Line 207: Line 207:
* ''[[Are You Afraid of the Dark?]]'' had two: Zeebo the Clown, the ghost of a criminal who haunted a haunted house (go figure); and the Crimson Clown, something of a cross between a Monster Clown and a [[Demonic Dummy]].
* ''[[Are You Afraid of the Dark?]]'' had two: Zeebo the Clown, the ghost of a criminal who haunted a haunted house (go figure); and the Crimson Clown, something of a cross between a Monster Clown and a [[Demonic Dummy]].
** Don't forget [http://www.desperatethoughts.com/ioffer/areuafraidofthedark.gif The Ghastly Grinner.] He's a jester but he still fits the mark.
** Don't forget [http://www.desperatethoughts.com/ioffer/areuafraidofthedark.gif The Ghastly Grinner.] He's a jester but he still fits the mark.
* The Clown in the ''[[Star Trek: Voyager|Star Trek Voyager]]'' episode "The Thaw" was created as [[Lotus Eater Machine|virtual-reality entertainment for a race in suspended animation]]. The Clown [[Instant AI, Just Add Water|became self-aware]] and [[AI Is a Crapshoot|sadistically scared to death anyone who opposed it]].
* The Clown in the ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' episode "The Thaw" was created as [[Lotus Eater Machine|virtual-reality entertainment for a race in suspended animation]]. The Clown [[Instant AI, Just Add Water|became self-aware]] and [[A.I. Is a Crapshoot|sadistically scared to death anyone who opposed it]].
* ''[[The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]'' episode "Look (Stop Me if You've Heard This One) But There Were These Two Fellas..." has a pair of killer clowns whose boss is a Punch and Judy puppet.
* ''[[The Avengers (TV series)|The Avengers]]'' episode "Look (Stop Me if You've Heard This One) But There Were These Two Fellas..." has a pair of killer clowns whose boss is a Punch and Judy puppet.
* The robot clowns in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "The Greatest Show In The Galaxy".
* The robot clowns in the ''[[Doctor Who]]'' episode "The Greatest Show In The Galaxy".
Line 265: Line 265:
* Mr Bungle's self-titled album has a monster clown on the cover. And "Carousel", a song comparing life to a [[Circus of Fear]], contains a few references to a monster clown ("You know there's something lurking underneath the shape, with a mask over it's head and makeup on his face").
* Mr Bungle's self-titled album has a monster clown on the cover. And "Carousel", a song comparing life to a [[Circus of Fear]], contains a few references to a monster clown ("You know there's something lurking underneath the shape, with a mask over it's head and makeup on his face").
** There's also some really creepy clowns in the video for ''Quote [[Un Quote]]''; [[Nightmare Fuel|pretty par for the course considering the rest of the clip's visuals]].
** There's also some really creepy clowns in the video for ''Quote [[Un Quote]]''; [[Nightmare Fuel|pretty par for the course considering the rest of the clip's visuals]].
* In the video for [[Pink]]'s song ''Please Don't Leave Me'', the boyfriend tries to leave and the girl character goes [[Stephen King]] on him, starting with ''Misery'' and ending with an [[Axe Crazy]] bit from ''The Shining''. The more psycho the girl goes, the more her make-up goes Monster Clown, until she looks horribly like Pennywise from ''It''. [[Nightmare Fuel|* brrr*]]
* In the video for [[P!nk]]'s song ''Please Don't Leave Me'', the boyfriend tries to leave and the girl character goes [[Stephen King]] on him, starting with ''Misery'' and ending with an [[Axe Crazy]] bit from ''The Shining''. The more psycho the girl goes, the more her make-up goes Monster Clown, until she looks horribly like Pennywise from ''It''. [[Nightmare Fuel|* brrr*]]
** There's also a quick shot of one at :04.
** There's also a quick shot of one at :04.
** More Pink: from the same album, the song ''Funhouse'':
** More Pink: from the same album, the song ''Funhouse'':
Line 312: Line 312:
* [[Mortasheen]] combines this with [[Mons]] and has an entire classification of creatures (Specifically the Joker class) based on this concept.
* [[Mortasheen]] combines this with [[Mons]] and has an entire classification of creatures (Specifically the Joker class) based on this concept.
** And some of them are very weird. Like the eye-chicken-ventriloquist [http://www.bogleech.com/mortasheen/opticaper.htm Opticaper], the straitjacket-snake-clown [http://www.bogleech.com/mortasheen/insanititter.htm Insanititter] and whatever the hell [http://www.bogleech.com/mortasheen/madcap.htm Madcap] is.
** And some of them are very weird. Like the eye-chicken-ventriloquist [http://www.bogleech.com/mortasheen/opticaper.htm Opticaper], the straitjacket-snake-clown [http://www.bogleech.com/mortasheen/insanititter.htm Insanititter] and whatever the hell [http://www.bogleech.com/mortasheen/madcap.htm Madcap] is.
* The ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' supplement ''Heroes Of Horror'' is about infusing your games with anything from a touch to an overdose of the macabre, the frightening, and the unnerving. One of the monsters introduced? The "gray jester". One of the scenarios provided? A gray jester and a hag enslaving and eating children.
* The ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' supplement ''Heroes Of Horror'' is about infusing your games with anything from a touch to an overdose of the macabre, the frightening, and the unnerving. One of the monsters introduced? The "gray jester". One of the scenarios provided? A gray jester and a hag enslaving and eating children.
* The ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' third party world 'Scarred Lands'(by Sword & Sorcery Studios) features the 'Carnival Krewes' - an entire society of Monster Clowns. Literally in <s>some</s> most cases.
* The ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' third party world 'Scarred Lands'(by Sword & Sorcery Studios) features the 'Carnival Krewes' - an entire society of Monster Clowns. Literally in <s>some</s> most cases.
* Also on the ''[[Dungeons and Dragons]]'' front is House Phiarlan of [[Eberron]], an espionage-based clan/organization. One of their fronts is the Carnival of Shadows. The description claims they've enthralled Khorvaire for decades, but looking at the picture provided (Everyone has [[Angry Eyebrows|angry faces]] and the animal act includes an [[Exclusively Evil|always Neutral Evil]] monster), I'm going to have to assume the description is literal and there's some Mass [[Charm Person]] going on there.
* Also on the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' front is House Phiarlan of [[Eberron]], an espionage-based clan/organization. One of their fronts is the Carnival of Shadows. The description claims they've enthralled Khorvaire for decades, but looking at the picture provided (Everyone has [[Angry Eyebrows|angry faces]] and the animal act includes an [[Exclusively Evil|always Neutral Evil]] monster), I'm going to have to assume the description is literal and there's some Mass [[Charm Person]] going on there.
* The Dilisnyas, one of the most treacherous and murderous of [[Ravenloft]]'s great noble houses, trace their bloodline back to a fellow by the unlikely name of Pidlwik. In the original adventure module ''I6: Ravenloft'', which inspired the campaign setting, Pidlwik's crypt identifies him as the court jester.
* The Dilisnyas, one of the most treacherous and murderous of [[Ravenloft]]'s great noble houses, trace their bloodline back to a fellow by the unlikely name of Pidlwik. In the original adventure module ''I6: Ravenloft'', which inspired the campaign setting, Pidlwik's crypt identifies him as the court jester.
** The Skurra, of the Travelling Carnival, are one part this, one part [[Enemy Mime]], and all subversion; while extremely creepy (even the mutated Carnies are somewhat afraid of them, and there is a belief amongst them that some or even all of the Skurra are actually ghosts), they are not malevolent in the slightest.
** The Skurra, of the Travelling Carnival, are one part this, one part [[Enemy Mime]], and all subversion; while extremely creepy (even the mutated Carnies are somewhat afraid of them, and there is a belief amongst them that some or even all of the Skurra are actually ghosts), they are not malevolent in the slightest.
*** They may not be malevolent, but they're INCREDIBLY protective of themselves and the carnival. One of them, The Crimson Rose, has no reservations about maiming or killing a carnival-goer that pays her a bit too much of the wrong kind of attention.
*** They may not be malevolent, but they're INCREDIBLY protective of themselves and the carnival. One of them, The Crimson Rose, has no reservations about maiming or killing a carnival-goer that pays her a bit too much of the wrong kind of attention.
* The Eldar Harlequins of ''[[Warhammer 40000]]'' are [[Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot|space elf ninja killer clowns]], taking the scary clown to [[Serial Escalation|the kind of demented levels only 40k can]]. They wear holographic multicoloured harlequin costumes which can scatter their images into thousands of confusing fragments, and death masks which psychically amplify the fears of their victims, form [[Nightmare Face|nightmare faces]] and project the death-screams of previous victims into the current victim's mind. Their weapons are horrifyingly nasty even by 40k standards; as an example, their usual squad support weapon fires molecule-edged crystal discs covered in toxins that make the target's ''blood explode'' and they often use a weapon that shoots a monomolecular fiber through the target and spins it around, reducing the victim's innards into mush. They worship the "Laughing God", and are the Eldar equivalent of a roving carnival, visiting the various Craftworlds and acting out tales from Eldar mythology with holographic, psychically-enhanced interpretive dance. When they're not killing people in unspeakably horrible ways, of course.
* The Eldar Harlequins of ''[[Warhammer 40,000]]'' are [[Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot|space elf ninja killer clowns]], taking the scary clown to [[Serial Escalation|the kind of demented levels only 40k can]]. They wear holographic multicoloured harlequin costumes which can scatter their images into thousands of confusing fragments, and death masks which psychically amplify the fears of their victims, form [[Nightmare Face|nightmare faces]] and project the death-screams of previous victims into the current victim's mind. Their weapons are horrifyingly nasty even by 40k standards; as an example, their usual squad support weapon fires molecule-edged crystal discs covered in toxins that make the target's ''blood explode'' and they often use a weapon that shoots a monomolecular fiber through the target and spins it around, reducing the victim's innards into mush. They worship the "Laughing God", and are the Eldar equivalent of a roving carnival, visiting the various Craftworlds and acting out tales from Eldar mythology with holographic, psychically-enhanced interpretive dance. When they're not killing people in unspeakably horrible ways, of course.
** Which makes it all the more surprising that the Harlequins are, if probably not exactly ''good'', at least firmly opposed to Chaos and will join forces (temporarily) with anyone fighting it they come across. They also protect the [[Library of Babel|Black Library]] from violators who would almost certainly use its powers for evil.
** Which makes it all the more surprising that the Harlequins are, if probably not exactly ''good'', at least firmly opposed to Chaos and will join forces (temporarily) with anyone fighting it they come across. They also protect the [[Library of Babel|Black Library]] from violators who would almost certainly use its powers for evil.
*** Of course, added scary can be brought in by, if not the certainty, then at least the very possible implication that the "Laughing God" may in fact be [[Cosmic Horror|the C'tan entity]] "The Deceiver", a being so much of a [[Magnificent Bastard]] that he first persuaded his original worshippers to convert themselves into a soulless mechanical army, and then persuaded his ''own'' race of godlike beings to turn on and in some cases ''eat'' one another until only four were left. Suffice it to say that if this is true, really horrible things lie not just in the Harlequin's future, but probably the whole Eldar race's.
*** Of course, added scary can be brought in by, if not the certainty, then at least the very possible implication that the "Laughing God" may in fact be [[Cosmic Horror|the C'tan entity]] "The Deceiver", a being so much of a [[Magnificent Bastard]] that he first persuaded his original worshippers to convert themselves into a soulless mechanical army, and then persuaded his ''own'' race of godlike beings to turn on and in some cases ''eat'' one another until only four were left. Suffice it to say that if this is true, really horrible things lie not just in the Harlequin's future, but probably the whole Eldar race's.
Line 440: Line 440:
* [[Laughing Mad|Hecklar]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su4s7oUOAVs from] ''[[Cardinal Syn]]''.
* [[Laughing Mad|Hecklar]] [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su4s7oUOAVs from] ''[[Cardinal Syn]]''.
* [[The Joker]] as he appears in the ''Batman Arkham'' games is every bit as [[Complete Monster|monstrous]] and [[Laughably Evil|clownish]] as you'd expect, but he plans on making an army of literal Monster Clowns in the first game by injecting his face-painted henchmen with Titan formula, which causes them to hulk out into Bane-like abominations. {{spoiler|He gets in on the fun himself by shooting himself with a Titan filled dart before the final boss fight}}. This series also gives us one of the franchise's crueler interpretations of Harley Quinn as well.
* [[The Joker]] as he appears in the ''Batman Arkham'' games is every bit as [[Complete Monster|monstrous]] and [[Laughably Evil|clownish]] as you'd expect, but he plans on making an army of literal Monster Clowns in the first game by injecting his face-painted henchmen with Titan formula, which causes them to hulk out into Bane-like abominations. {{spoiler|He gets in on the fun himself by shooting himself with a Titan filled dart before the final boss fight}}. This series also gives us one of the franchise's crueler interpretations of Harley Quinn as well.
* ''Five Nights at Freddy's 2'' has two of these amongst its bloodthirsty animatronics: the Puppet/Marionette who resembles an incredibly tall and thin pierrot that will lie dormant in his prize corner box as long as you keep a music box wound up. If you don't, he WILL kill you, and there's nothing you can do about it. As the death minigames show, he is {{spoiler|directly behind the hauntings in the first place by somehow tethering the spirits of murdered children to the pizzeria's animatronics}}. And depending on if {{spoiler|he did murder the children in the flashback minigames}}, he could be [[Complete Monster|monstrous]] [[Bigger Bad|in]] [[Would Hurt a Child|more]] [[Fate Worse Than Death|ways]] [[Humanoid Abomination|than]] [[The Corrupter|one.]]
* ''Five Nights at Freddy's 2'' has two of these amongst its bloodthirsty animatronics: the Puppet/Marionette who resembles an incredibly tall and thin pierrot that will lie dormant in his prize corner box as long as you keep a music box wound up. If you don't, he WILL kill you, and there's nothing you can do about it. As the death minigames show, he is {{spoiler|directly behind the hauntings in the first place by somehow tethering the spirits of murdered children to the pizzeria's animatronics}}. And depending on if {{spoiler|he did murder the children in the flashback minigames}}, he could be [[Complete Monster|monstrous]] [[Bigger Bad|in]] [[Would Hurt a Child|more]] [[Fate Worse Than Death|ways]] [[Humanoid Abomination|than]] [[The Corrupter|one.]]
** The second is Foxy's Toy counterpart, Mangle, who is pretty much a female Foxy wearing a bunch of garishly-colored makeup along with a whacky over-sized glove. She especially fits the monstrous criteria in a literal way as she's been reduced to a tangled spider-like mess of broken machinery thanks to being abused by rambunctious visiting children.
** The second is Foxy's Toy counterpart, Mangle, who is pretty much a female Foxy wearing a bunch of garishly-colored makeup along with a whacky over-sized glove. She especially fits the monstrous criteria in a literal way as she's been reduced to a tangled spider-like mess of broken machinery thanks to being abused by rambunctious visiting children.


Line 461: Line 461:
* In ''[[Nodwick]]'', after re-lived her fifth birthday several times:
* In ''[[Nodwick]]'', after re-lived her fifth birthday several times:
{{quote|'''Piffany''': I had to watch the ''clown'' they hired for my party. I'm going to need a few more ''teddy bears'' to get to sleep tonight!}}
{{quote|'''Piffany''': I had to watch the ''clown'' they hired for my party. I'm going to need a few more ''teddy bears'' to get to sleep tonight!}}
* ''[[Bug (webcomic)|Bug]]'' has a page dedicated to this -- "[http://www.bugcomic.com/comics/clowns/ It's becoming hard to find old-fashioned clowns]".
* ''[[Bug Martini|Bug]]'' has a page dedicated to this -- "[http://www.bugcomic.com/comics/clowns/ It's becoming hard to find old-fashioned clowns]".
* {{spoiler|Gamzee Makara}} from ''[[Homestuck]]'' first appeared to be a comedic subversion. [[Beware the Silly Ones|Not]] [[Chaotic Evil|any]] [[From Nobody to Nightmare|more,]] [[Ax Crazy|to]] [[No Medication for Me|say]] [[Omnicidal Maniac|the]] [[Lethal Joke Character|least.]] {{spoiler|Luckily, Karkat manages to calm his ass down through [[The Power of Friendship|The Power of Moirallegiance]].}}
* {{spoiler|Gamzee Makara}} from ''[[Homestuck]]'' first appeared to be a comedic subversion. [[Beware the Silly Ones|Not]] [[Chaotic Evil|any]] [[From Nobody to Nightmare|more,]] [[Ax Crazy|to]] [[No Medication for Me|say]] [[Omnicidal Maniac|the]] [[Lethal Joke Character|least.]] {{spoiler|Luckily, Karkat manages to calm his ass down through [[The Power of Friendship|The Power of Moirallegiance]].}}
** Monster Clowndom appears to be the [[Gang of Hats|hat]] of the Subjugglators, judging by The Grand Highblood's facepaint and colorful paintings. [[Nightmare Fuel|Facepaint and colorful paintings made of the blood of slaughtered trolls.]]
** Monster Clowndom appears to be the [[Gang of Hats|hat]] of the Subjugglators, judging by The Grand Highblood's facepaint and colorful paintings. [[Nightmare Fuel|Facepaint and colorful paintings made of the blood of slaughtered trolls.]]
Line 540: Line 540:
** Considering it was a toaster's nightmare, and the clown was armed with a ''fire hose'' and a ''fork''...
** Considering it was a toaster's nightmare, and the clown was armed with a ''fire hose'' and a ''fork''...
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEdZh8a4ZvE Click it]. [[Shmuck Bait|Go on. Do it]].
*** [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEdZh8a4ZvE Click it]. [[Shmuck Bait|Go on. Do it]].
* ''[[Scooby-Doo (animation)|Scooby Doo]]'' has featured various such examples, among others including Zombo the "clown ghost" (from ''[[A Pup Named Scooby Doo]]''). ''[[What's New Scooby Doo]]'' even [[retcon]]ned Velma into having had a fear of clowns.
* ''[[Scooby-Doo (animation)|Scooby Doo]]'' has featured various such examples, among others including Zombo the "clown ghost" (from ''[[A Pup Named Scooby-Doo]]''). ''[[What's New, Scooby-Doo?]]'' even [[retcon]]ned Velma into having had a fear of clowns.
** Villain of the week Harry the Hypnotist used a clown getup as both [[Scooby-Doo Hoax|a gimmick and a way to mask his identity]]. Throughout the episode, he's referred to simply as Ghost Clown, until he's finally caught by the gang, and identified by his boss.
** Villain of the week Harry the Hypnotist used a clown getup as both [[Scooby-Doo Hoax|a gimmick and a way to mask his identity]]. Throughout the episode, he's referred to simply as Ghost Clown, until he's finally caught by the gang, and identified by his boss.
*** Harry was a [[Complete Monster]], who hypnotised Scooby into walking a tightrope and then snapped him out of the trance when he was halfway across. And then hypnotised Shaggy into being a lion tamer:
*** Harry was a [[Complete Monster]], who hypnotised Scooby into walking a tightrope and then snapped him out of the trance when he was halfway across. And then hypnotised Shaggy into being a lion tamer:
Retrieved from "https://allthetropes.org/wiki/Monster_Clown"