Apocalypse Clown is the whacky but self-explanatory title of George Kane’s latest film that I had the privilege of getting to preview at the Lighthouse cinema on August 16th. I found the premise and title intriguing and when I found out it was an Irish production, my interest was piqued. With the outstanding international reception of Irish films last year such as Banshees of Inisherin and An Cailín Ciúin (The Quiet Girl), I was excited to see what Apocalypse Clown had to offer.
Also written by Kane, he collaborates on this film with the Irish comedy band ‘Dead Cat Bounce’ consisting of Shane O’Brien, Demian Fox, and James Walmsley. The film achieved best Irish Film at the 35th Galway Film Fleadh 2023. This low budget adult orientated film is a chaotic and bizarre black comedy that follows a troupe of failed clowns, and an aspiring journalist, and as they embark on a journey of self-discovery after a technological blackout has struck society, plunging it into darkness and anarchy.
The sudden death of the international clown icon, Jean DuCoque, brings together our diverse trio: Bobo (David Earl), a disheveled clown who is enduring an identity crisis, Pepe (Fionn Foley) a mime devoid of any talent, and Funzo (Natalie Palamides), a penny-wise lookalike street clown who has ‘gone bad’. After a violent brawl with an opposing group of vengeful street performers they end up spending a night in jail. When the group emerges, they find society in anarchy and a state of disarray.
Earl leads with an exceptional performance of an extremely inappropriate and depressed clown yearning for wannabe journalist Jenny Malone (Amy De Bhrún) after a drunken one-night stand. However, Palamides steals the spotlight with her theatrical portrayal of Funzo. Her dedication to this character is commendable and her helium-pitched ‘European’ accent adds to the absurdness and unpredictability of this fiery and weirdly loveable character. While Foley portrays a mime, his performance speaks volumes as he accurately depicts an insecure and anxiety ridden mime craving the approval of his now deceased mentor.
Credit must be given to the visually striking cinematography that juxtaposes the tranquil and picturesque countryside of Ireland with the nauseatingly vibrant features of clown attire. Visually, the movie embraces its low-budget appeal with simple but striking costumes and make-up, giving the movie its unique selling point and creative niche. Each costume accentuates the characters performance and personality. Funzo radiated by her fiery and daring reds, Pepe consumed by melancholy blues and Bobo’s tattered and worn dreary neutrals. I was transfixed by the intensity of this mesmerising colour palette and thoroughly crafted theatrical attire and I became engulfed in this freakish but enthralling world.
Apocalypse Clown felt to me like an amalgamation of multiple sketches put into one film. This may be due to the input of several writers in one script. While this film effectively showcases tonal contrast visually, this juxtaposition is lacking within the narrative itself. I felt like the script, though certainly full of laughs, just could not settle into a fluid story.
Overall, Apocalypse Clown is a distinct piece of Irish film that stands out amongst other films that are currently being released. What the film lacks in plot direction it makes up for in its quirkiness and visual charm that leaves a lasting impact. While the movie has its flaws, I think Kane has made a wonderfully peculiar piece of work. After a successful year of significant Irish film, It was refreshing to view an up-beat and freakishly fantastic style to emerging Irish cinema.
Throughout the duration of the movie, I found myself erupting with laughter along with the audience, creating a lively and delightful atmosphere. It’s rare you see something unique in movies, especially with a saturated trope such as ‘self-discovery’, but I found the concept of a group of clowns battling identity issues both laughable and moving. All in all, I was immediately captivated by this movie by just hearing its title and I was left with a hopeful outlook of the future of Irish cinema and creatives.
Apocalypse Clown will be showing in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from the 1st of September.
