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While Arthur Fleck is not technically a clown, the sequel to Joker aptly titled Joker: Folie à Deux certainly shows the character is some pretty creepy clown makeup. And then there is the film Terrifier 3 currently in theaters. In this case our villain is a clown. Art the Clown unleashes chaos on the unsuspecting residents of Miles County.

It’s not just the balloon animals and oversized shoes that creep us out about clowns. There’s something about clowns that unsettles us. Maybe it’s the painted-on smile, hiding whatever lies beneath. But while everyone knows Pennywise, there are darker, lesser-known clowns lurking in horror movies — ones you might not have heard of. And they’re far more disturbing.

Jingles the Clown from Jingles the Clown

Once a circus clown, Jingles escapes from a mental asylum and returns to his small town to enact bloody revenge. His exaggerated makeup and maniacal personality make him a deeply unsettling figure. Jingles started as a regular circus performer, but after a mental breakdown, he descended into madness, becoming a deranged killer clown. The film follows his escape from a mental institution, where he returns to his hometown for a blood-soaked revenge spree. What makes Jingles so horrifying isn’t just his maniacal killing spree, but his disturbing, almost childlike demeanor while committing brutal murders.

Stitches from Stitches

Jingles wasn’t the only clown out for revenge, meet Stitches. A dead clown returns for vengeance, but it’s his twisted humor combined with brutal, graphic kills that make him unforgettable. Stitches starts as a washed-up, foul-mouthed party clown whose career ends in a tragic (and darkly comedic) accident. But his real terror begins when he returns from the dead to take revenge on the kids who accidentally killed him. What makes Stitches particularly terrifying is his blend of dark humor with grotesque violence. His twisted, undead form is unsettling, with decaying makeup and a permanent, sinister grin that only gets creepier as his kills become more creative.

Horny the Clown from Drive-Thru

Horny, a demonic fast-food mascot, is both ridiculous and terrifying. His sadistic sense of humor and violent rampage through suburbia give off a bizarrely unsettling vibe, making him a hidden horror you’ll never forget. Horny the Clown is the mascot of “Hella-Burger,” but there’s nothing happy about this fast-food nightmare. A demonic clown with a taste for vengeance, Horny embarks on a killing spree, targeting a group of teens connected to a dark secret from his past. With his oversized clown suit, jagged teeth, and glowing red eyes, Horny’s appearance is unsettling from the start, but it’s his sadistic sense of humor that sets him apart from other killer clowns. He cracks dark jokes and taunts his victims before slaughtering them in gruesome, often bizarre ways.

The Killer Klowns from Killer Klowns from Outer Space

Despite the film’s quirky, campy nature, the Killer Klowns are terrifying due to their grotesque and surreal appearance. These alien clowns invade Earth with a circus-themed arsenal of death — cocooning victims in cotton candy, using balloon animal traps, and wielding deadly popcorn guns. Their exaggerated facial features, with sharp teeth hidden behind their painted grins, transform familiar clown tropes into nightmare fuel. What makes them so unsettling is how they blend humor and horror, luring people in with playful antics before mercilessly killing them. The movie’s eerie carnival music and their slow, deliberate movements heighten the tension, leaving you with the uneasy feeling that you’re trapped in their deadly funhouse with no escape.

Gurdy the Clown from 100 Tears

Armed with a giant cleaver, Gurdy is a circus clown turned mass murderer, and the film’s grimy, low-budget feel only enhances the horror. Gurdy the Clown is a haunting embodiment of madness and brutality in 100 Tears. Once a beloved circus performer, he transforms into a nightmarish figure after suffering abuse and rejection. Gurdy is a hulking, grotesque clown with a disturbingly cheerful facade juxtaposed against his sadistic tendencies. His clown makeup, with exaggerated features and a permanent, unnerving grin, is unsettling, and the film amplifies his horror through its gruesome portrayal of violence.

The Clown Doll from Poltergeist

While not technically a full character, the clown doll in Poltergeist deserves a mention for its iconic scare. The sudden transformation from harmless toy to malevolent figure is a perfect example of how clowns in horror don’t need to move much to terrify. At first glance, it appears to be just another toy, but its painted grin, beady eyes, and lifelike features make it unsettling from the start. The film cleverly exploits the inherent creepiness of clowns, transforming a seemingly innocent object into a harbinger of terror.

This list of obscure clowns in horror, exploit our childhood fears and subvert the joyful image of clowns, morphing them into figures of dread and chaos. From Gurdy’s grotesque violence to Stitches’ dark humor, each character brings a unique flavor of horror that lingers long after the credits roll. These clowns may not have the notoriety of mainstream icons, but they embody the primal fear that something innocent can conceal unfathomable evil.

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