The following contains spoilers for Clown In A Cornfield, now playing in theatersClown in a Cornfield‘s big twist ending reveals the true nature of the Frendo killings and sets up a potential sequel. Based on the 2020 novel of the same name by Adam Cesare, Clown in a Cornfield follows Quinn, a new high school student in the small town of Kettle Springs, Missouri. Clown in a Cornfield‘s cast of characters may feel familiar to fans of the horror genre, but they also offer a very fun modern riff on some of the genre’s most consistent conventions.

The throwback fun of Clown in a Cornfield is the main draw of the film, but there’s also some strong subversive elements baked into the premise. The film tackles some clear societal themes (even if it doesn’t become as overtly political as the book that inspired it), all while finding fun new ways to tweak the typical throughlines of the slasher sub-genre. Eli Craig’s Clown in a Cornfield even leaves the door open for a potential sequel that could expand the premise into a more gory series.

The Frendo Killer Idenтιтies In Clown In A Cornfield Explained

There Are Way More Frendo Killers Out There In The Wild

The big twist in Clown in a Cornfield‘s ending is the reveal that there is far more than just one Frendo killer. Initially, Frendo seems to be a single person stalking the main characters of the film, targeting them specifically for making short videos recasting Frendo as a murderer. However, it turns out that many of the adults in town aren’t only in on the plan, but actively involved in the scheme. The local sheriff, various store owners, and even teachers are shown to be working in tandem to murder their way through the disobedient teenagers in the town.

This is seemingly a long-standing tradition in the town, according to Arthur Hill. Although he’s the clear leader of the Frendo slaughter, he notably doesn’t actually seem to participate in much of the attack. Instead, he wears more traditional clown makeup and explains their motivation. It’s implied that Arthur Hill is the one who orchestrated the most recent attack, carrying on the legacy of his forefathers who did something similar.

Why The Frendo Killers Are Going After The Teens & Who Dies

Only Three Teens And One Good Adult Survive The Film

The Frendo killers are targeting the teenagers of their community because they’ve come to see the younger generation as a problem. This has apparently happened a few times in the past, which Arthur references. This is revealed to be the explanation for the cold open of the film, which is set decades before the modern day. The teenagers who all go to the barn party are clearly intended as targets, with the Frendo clowns targeting more than just the main characters of the film. Cole is specifically targeted by his father, who blames him for his sister’s death years prior.

The kill count in the movie is relatively large, with many background characters dying in the Frendo attacks. The deaths also include Matt and Tucker, both of whom are killed before the full-scale slaughter that occurs for much of the film’s second half. Ronnie is killed while trying to escape the clowns through the cornfields, while Janet is fatally wounded by one of the Frendos after she and Quinn begin to realize the full scope of the Frendo plan. By the end of Clown in a Cornfield, the only notable survivors of the teen characters are Quinn, Cole, and Rust

Where Did Arthur Hill Go In Clown In A Cornfield’s Ending?

Arthur Could Return In A Potential Sequel

Arthur Hill may be set up as the overarching villain of Clown in a Cornfield, but he’s also one of the only antagonists in the film to actually escape with his life. While the other Frendos risk their lives attacking the teens and Glenn, Arthur remains on the sidelines. Although he’s seemingly wounded during the final stretch of the film, Arthur notably ends the film by making his escape by stealing Glenn’s car and driving off.

This, coupled with the final scene of the film where someone is revealed to have left a Frendo jack-in-the-box for Quinn, implies that Arthur could easily return in a future story. Arthur being one of the architects behind the Frendo killings, makes him a uniquely dangerous figure in the film, especially given his wealth and resources as a political leader. It gives a premeditated angle to the typical slasher film tropes that Clown in a Cornfield otherwise loves playing with, adding a certain level of additional menace to the character and his actions.

Clown In A Cornfield’s Surprise Cole & Rust Romance Explained

The Love Triangle In Clown In A Cornfield Ends Differently Than You Might Expect

One of the clever subversions of Clown in a Cornfield is the way it approaches the typical teen romance. In many horror films, the main female lead has at least one potential love interest. In many films, he becomes a potential savior or another possible victim. Some films, like the Scream franchise, have fun transforming the non-threatening love interest into the secret big bad. Clown in a Cornfield goes a different route, initially setting up Quinn at the center of a love triangle with Cole and Rust, only to reveal the film’s true love story is between the latter two.

Cole and Rust frequently mention their younger years camping and hunting together, and there’s a clear divide that’s grown between them. The nature of their former relationship is only evident to the rest of the cast amid the chaos of the Frendo mᴀssacre, as Rust’s fears about Cole’s safety push him to be more overt with his feelings. The film ends with Rust saving Cole and the pair sharing a pᴀssionate kiss, a sweet moment that plays to the archetypes of the tropes while subverting them in a modern way.

How Clown In A Cornfield’s Ending Compares To The Book

The Ending Is Largely Similar To The Book

Clown in a Cornfield takes some specific divergences from the overall plot of the book that inspired it, but the two are fundamentally similar in their endings. While there are certain elements in the book’s ending that differ from the film (such as the more overtly political angle of Sheriff Dunne and the exact circumstances by which Rust saves Cole), the two stories end in much the same way. Arthur Hill is forced to retreat after failing to kill his son, leaving Quinn, her father, Rust, and Cole as the major survivors of the story.

Overall, the stories play out in a very similar manner, even ending on similar notes as Arthur Hill makes his escape and Quinn gets ready for college. The biggest differences between the book and the film can actually be found in the supporting cast, with relatively one-note characters like Janet and Ronnie given far more complex motivations and personalities in the film. As a streamlining of the book for the big screen, Clown in a Cornfield‘s biggest changes make sense, but result in a less fully formed supporting cast.

How Clown In A Cornfield Sets Up A Sequel

The Clown In A Cornfield Book Has Two Sequels

Clown in a Cornfield‘s most obvious sequel set-up is Arthur Hill’s survival, which could easily allow for the ideal of Frendo to expand beyond his small town. This could be a way for a prospective sequel to revisit the clearly political edge of the book, which highlighted the ways communities can fall into vicious trends while pointing towards a scapegoat for their general anger at the world. This could even already be teased by the jack-in-the-box in Quinn’s car at the end of the film.

This similar set-up paid off for the original novel, which has been followed up by two sequels: Clown in a Cornfield 2: Frendo Lives and Clown in a Cornfield 3: The Church of Frendo. Quin is the lead character of all three, gradually growing from the defiant survivor of the first story into a more proactive and vindictive character as the story progresses. A potential sequel to Clown in a Cornfield could push her along on that journey, setting her up as a dark modern riff on what the archetypal “final girl” can become if pushed too far.

The Real Meaning Of Clown In A Cornfield

You Can’t Run From Your Challenges, So You Might As Well Fight Them

Clown in a Cornfield is modern critique on the tropes of the slasher genre, poking fun at many of the stock characters and tropes while indulging in them for gory (and occasionally comedic) effect. At the core of the movie is a story about overcoming challenges and adversity, however, embodied by the arcs of Quinn, Glenn, Cole, and Rust. Quinn and Glenn have been “running” since the death of Quinn’s mother. This is the core of their argument in the film, and their bonding moment at the climax comes from them deciding to face threats (even murderous clowns) head-on.

Cole is disgusted with his father’s actions and calls out the town elders for failing the younger generation by running away from their responsibilities, something the Frendo killers don’t have a good reʙuттal for. Even Cole was running from something, namely his love for Rust. Their big kiss at the end of the film solidifies the movie’s true theme, wherein the people willing to face their fears don’t just survive the Frendo ordeal but are able to save others in the process. It’s a sweet underlying message that adds depth to Clown in a Cornfield‘s goofy kills.