Killjoy (film series)

Lore & Background

The Killjoy series began in 2000 with the first film, starring Ángel Vargas as the titular clown. A sequel, Killjoy 2: Deliverance from Evil, followed in 2002, with Trent Haaga replacing Vargas due to the actor being busy with other projects. The first film had a budget of $150,000, significantly larger than the $30,000 budget of its sequel. Both early films were largely in the blaxploitation genre with predominantly African American casts, though this element was diminished in later installments.

Killjoy 3 was released in 2010, eight years after the previous film, and was shot while Full Moon was filming Puppet Master: Axis of Evil in China. This installment shifted toward a teen-slasher style and was noted as a genuine effort in black comedy. It also established that Killjoy can be summoned through a blood pact, whereas earlier films used spoken rituals. In 2014, Full Moon launched a Kickstarter to fund Killjoy's Psycho Circus, seeking $60,000 with an additional $100,000 from the company, but the campaign ended unsuccessfully on September 3, 2014. The film eventually premiered on October 30, 2016, on the El Rey Network.

Merchandise includes a replica doll released in 2003, resin statues of Killjoy and Batty Boop from Killjoy's Psycho Circus in 2017, a latex mask based on Killjoy Goes to Hell in 2017, and a cloth face mask in 2020. The character also appears in crossover comics, including The Gingerdead Man meets Evil Bong and Dollman Kills the Full Moon Universe.

Reader's Guide

The Killjoy series is a low-budget slasher franchise that exemplifies Full Moon Features' approach to horror, blending blaxploitation elements in its early films with later shifts toward teen-slasher and black comedy. The series is notable for its recurring demonic clown antagonist, who is summoned for revenge but always proves uncontrollable. Despite negative reception for the first two films, the series continued with a third installment after an eight-year gap, and later entries were funded through unconventional means, including an unsuccessful Kickstarter campaign. The franchise's significance lies in its persistence within the direct-to-video horror market and its crossover into Full Moon's shared universe through comics. Jimmy Totheo of JoBlo described the series as 'cheesy b-movie goodness,' reflecting its cult appeal. The series also generated a range of merchandise, including dolls, statues, and masks, indicating a dedicated fan base. Its legacy is tied to Full Moon's brand of horror and the enduring trope of the evil clown.

Did You Know?

• The first film had a budget of $150,000, while its sequel had only $30,000.
• Trent Haaga replaced Ángel Vargas as Killjoy for the second film because Vargas was busy with other projects.
• A Kickstarter for Killjoy's Psycho Circus launched in August 2014 but ended unsuccessfully on September 3, 2014.
• Killjoy appears in the crossover comic Dollman Kills the Full Moon Universe, published in 2018.