In the midst of autumn’s chilling atmosphere, Helloween arrives as a visceral throw-back to the kind of horror that wears a mask as much as it wields a knife. Set against the still-fresh memory of the 2016 “killer clown” chatter, Claydon’s film plunges us into the reign of one man-turned-symbol of chaos: Carl Cane (Ronan Summers). As psychiatrist Dr Ellen Marks (Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott) and investigative journalist John Parker (Michael Pare) race to uncover the truth behind a nationwide clown-cult uprising, the film blends cult slasher aesthetics with psychological dread. What initially seems like familiar horror territory quickly twists into an allegory of control, identity and the darkness hiding in plain sight. The question then becomes: will Helloween entertain, or will it haunt?
In a world of Hollywood blockbusters, it’s great to get a movie that is made in the UK and doesn’t try to look like an American import. Helloween is proudly British and taps into that damp-street late-October feeling that gets under your skin. The pacing is quick, the kills are mean, and the clown at the centre of it is played without winking at the camera, which makes it even nastier. He isn’t funny or tragic; he’s just wrong in the head, and that is perfect Shocktober energy.
There are a couple of moments that give away the budget, but the film never stops being fun and never stops being creepy, and that is more valuable than a glossy finish. The best thing about it is the tone because it never feels like it is chasing the US slasher revival or the self-aware meta thing; it feels like a film that actually wants to haunt you in the small hours when you have to cross an empty kitchen in the dark.
The soundtrack works well for the content material, which lets the quiet do the scaring for once; you feel the space of every corridor. It’s not going to be studied in film schools, but it is going to get replayed every October because it understands why we put these movies on, not to admire them but to get rattled for 80 minutes. Helloween is one of those movies that lands exactly where you want it to land on a cold weekend with lights off and volume up — pure grimy seasonal scare-fuel and another reminder that the UK can still produce a nasty little chiller when it wants to.
Phil Claydon has crafted a character whose menacing presence rivals that of Michael Myers and Pennywise. Sothcott and Pare deliver compelling performances as Dr Ellen Marks and John Parker, respectively. However, Ronan Summers’ portrayal of serial killer Carl Cane is particularly noteworthy, with his captivating depiction of the deranged antagonist.
The cinematography looks great on the Blu-ray and works very well, as most of the scenes are dark; you get plenty of definition. The Blu-ray of Helloween also comes with good special features, including a commentary with director Phil Claydon and a making-of featurette.
A Brutal British Clown-Cult Slasher
Movie title: Helloween (2025)
Movie description: During 2016’s “killer clown” craze, Dr. Marks and journalist Parker trace the source to jailed serial killer Cane recruiting followers for an anarchist movement. When Cane escapes, they race to stop his murderous Halloween scheme.
Date published: October 19, 2025
Country: UK
Duration: 1h 20m
Director(s): Phil Claydon
Actor(s): Ronan Summers, Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott, Caroline Wilde
Genre: Horror
Summary
Helloween is a proudly British, damp-night slasher: fast, mean, low-budget but potent, anchored by a chilling Carl Cane and a tone built to haunt long after lights-out.
Karen Woodham is the founder and owner of the Blazing Minds. She is also a Cinema reviewer and works with RealD 3D reviewing the latest 3D releases and IMAX, she has also had several articles published in various publications including the first edition of SFW Magazine. In 2015 she became an Award Winning Blogger and also has her website listed as one of the UK’s Top 10 Film Blogs.
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