 |
I saw this movie when I was a kid, and it scared me at the time. But I can't watch it in the same way anymore - knowing that a REAL nightmare was taking place during the filming of this movie. Director Victor Salva, who later went on to direct "Powder" and the "Jeepers Creepers" movies, served prison time for molesting Nathan Forrest Winters, who stars as Casey in "Clownhouse." He was only 12 years old at the time. This long term abuse actually started a couple years before the filming of "Clownhouse," when Winters starred in Salva's short, "Something in the Basement." Near the end of filming, Winters finally admitted to his mother about the things Salva had been doing to him. Fortunately, Salva contributed to his undoing in another way - when police investigated the claim, they found that Salva had videotaped himself having oral sex with the boy. That led to his guilty plea and 19-month prison term. Of course, it did not stop him from suing the boy's family for "breach of contract." Nathan Forrest Winters appeared publicly in 1995 to stage a boycott of Salva's film, "Powder," which was produced by Disney. But he has never returned to acting after the filming of "Clownhouse." Victor Salva, meanwhile, has proceeded to rake in millions from his successful "Jeepers Creepers" franchise. Sounds about right... for Hollywood. So, knowing what we know now, can "Clownhouse" really be viewed on its own merits, without casting a mental eye toward the abuse that took place off screen? It's hard to separate the two, when Salva bombards us with visual evidence of his sexual tastes - 3 boys walking around in their underwear, sleeping naked under the covers, the youngest boy wetting the bed, Winters taking a bubble bath, even showing Winters' naked behind. Some critics have stated that Winters' performance seems a little stiff as well. Perhaps he wasn't a great actor - who's to tell when his career was cut short. But perhaps also he wasn't really faking the pale, scared boy he portrayed on screen. A stiff performance can be forgiven when he's under the direction of a man who repeatedly abuses him. Oh yes, the boys were in danger in "Clownhouse," but the real monster wasn't wearing face paint and big shoes. He was behind the camera, plotting the next seduction of his young star. I fully support the Winters family's boycott of Salva's work. Buying used DVD's on eBay is one thing, but you won't catch me in a theater to watch "Jeepers Creepers 3" or anything else with his name on it. Let's not help a predator of innocent boys get any richer.Read full review
This is a great movie with a dark history behind it acting isn’t very good of course it’s an old movie but still great also this title can’t be found anywhere else as it was pulled from shelves
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Love this one, any horror fan would appreciate it
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Clownhouse is a great movie! I have loved this film since the first time that I rented it almost 30 years ago. I really don't care about the controversy that surrounds the movie. Victor Salva makes great movies! Period! The film is just fun. It has great moments and the relationship between the brothers/actors is what makes it so real. The DVD purchased was not a bootleg and came sealed with the security sticker too. I highly recommend Clownhouse.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I had seen this movie at least 20 times when I was growing up. We would head over to hastings everytime we had a friend come spend the night at our house. Everyone that had watched the movie got freaked out. Here I am twenty years later trying to locate the DVD only to find out that due to some unfortunate/disturbing circumstances they pulled it from the shelves. I won the DVD on ebay about a week ago and I was excited today when I got it in the mail. I have been telling my wife about it for years and finally spent the 40 dollars, the least expensive I could find (next lowest price was $79). I have to say I was nervous because I hyped it up pretty good by saying things like "scariest movie ever" and "100 times better than IT". We just finished watching it and...still a great overall movie. It definitely has lost some of the spookiness that I remember, but hey I'm not 12 anymore. Some of the acting is a little cheesier than I remember but that all gets drowned out with the action and terror scenes. The way my wife put it is like this: It was a great movie and she was scared and jumpy the whole time, but it is not the scariest movie she has ever seen. She can see being a kid and watching it and beeing scared so bad you can't sleep for three nights while avoiding the circus at all costs. She would recommand it for anyone at about the ages of 10-12 for maximum effect. There is slight violence and very little blood. All in all it is still how I remember. Classic lines and shit your pants chase scenes. Watch it if you can find it. Probably wouldnt spend more than I did on it.Read full review
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on DVDs & Blu-ray Discs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- You may also like
