Clown-N-Out

A feature-length dark comedy neo-noir thriller written by Mark Daponte, directed by Mark Hensley and starring Katy Mahard, Joe Heck, Max E. Williams, Monazia Smith and Zachariah Axel.

In Los Angeels, one night, an ex-con party clown named John (Heck) breaks into the home of young actress Elaine (Mahard). Unbeknown to him, she is suicidal and had just attempted to take her own life. He assists her and remains at her place and the two end up developing a rapport between them. However, danger is on the horizon in the form of a hitman (Axel) and a ruthless film producer (Williams).

Filmed on a budget of $4K and almost without a crew, this feature has a narrative that involves criminals, murder, home invasion, blackmail and a great deal of drama, however, the main focus is the awkward relationship that is generated between the intruder and the victim. Following a brief confrontation, the two of them begin to open up to each other, revealing their struggles and (to a certain degree) becoming friends. Initially, the story is a mystery (why John breaks into Elaine's property and why she tries to end her life is now known) and it is through dialogue and grainy flashbacks that answers are provided regarding the plot and the characters' situations. There are plenty of film posters throughout, which is a nice touch and the soundtrack has a good selection of songs, along with Vincent Jones' atmospheric music.

Although the plot is intriguing, the pace feels a bit too slow, primariy during the first third. This does not significantly bring down the film and the exciting third act adds a great deal of value.

Mahard is quite dramatic as a troubled woman who dealing with more than she can handle and believes that ending her life is the only option. Although she has reached rock bottom, she is a clever and ultimately strong person. Heck is an awkward guy. Estranged from his partner and child, with a criminal record, he too, is not doing well and decides that committing a vile act will lead him to a bettwe life. Clumsy and naive, his character provides the story with humour and so does Axel as a careless assassin. Williams' character comes across as the baddest person here, a foul-mouthed, manipulative and dangerous man. Acknowledgement also goes to Sharon, played by Smith, Elaine's supportive neighbour who knows how to handle a gun and whose screen time is probably less than what her character deserved.

This feature could be categorised as a home invasion thriller with guns and murder. However, mental health is one of the story's key themes, particularly depression, suicidal tendencies and loss. More upliftingly, self-esteem, self-reflection and the significance of support are also involved.

This film is decribed as 'a film noir that pays homage to the gritty independent films of the past and showcases the best of independent cinema'. It could very well be that it accomplishes that, however, what it certainly is is an intriguing viewing with an interesting story that addresses mental health issues and highlights the importance of support.