User Reviews

This is a comedy that you will either find hilarious or, if you are like me, sit stony-faced for 90% of the time. Having seen the initial reviews, I had high hopes for a really good comedy, and I really really tried to enjoy this, but most of the comedic moments just fell flat with me. There was the odd moment that made me giggle, with Natalie Palamides, as the crazy demented Funzo, being the standout, but the laughs were very few and far between. Still, give it a go, I may be in the minority here, as the the current reviews on IMDb and Rotten Tomatoes are pretty good, with most being very positive.

I thought this film was alright and better than some reviews would give. Some down on their luck clowns go to the almighty clown the first funerals. While their my favourite clown of the bunch, funzo causes a continuous faud with a statue of liberty Nd another man. Her along with bobo, and three other clowns end up in jail with a roster but when they get out the world seems to have ended. The clowns then set out to find other humans. Put on a show and give their late friend the burial he deserves. I thought the cast was pretty good and each clown was unique and actually pretty funny. The plot was something you don't always see either. Overall a good comedy.

Excellent remedy for wasting an hour and forty-two. Given the initial premises, it seemed interesting. Then it turns out to be a product without ideas, without a precise audience, a lot of improvisation, English humor - poor, even for its Englishness - poorly characterized characters, gratuitous violence, empty or non-existent plot development, characters who continually scream, without reason, (why?). The director confuses intelligent satire with post-modern nonsense and pastiche. He almost seems to beg the audience to be indulgent, exactly like the protagonists of the story. It's as if they tried to manipulate material that they were absolutely incapable of manipulating. And it shows.

Had some hopes of a laugh or two but very disappointed. Not a single funny scene, you would think that a move with clowns would produce something rather than nothing. Storyline had hopes but didn't excite me at all. Barely saw any apocalyptic action. Was very disappointed with the production. Pretty terrible really. No known actors which interests me to know that someone could make a break but there is nothing that makes anyone stand out. Had read some high ratings of this but cannot see what about this film kept anyone watching. Truly terrible movie that brought nothing. Really struggled through the second half in hopes of seeing something interesting but was left disappointed.

When a legendary clown dies while berating Pepe (Fionn Foley), a hapless wanna-be clown, the remaining clowning community in Ireland gathers for his funeral, including lovelorn Bobo (David Earl), pompous The Great Alphonso (Ivan Kaye) and the thoroughly crazy street clown Funzo (Natalie Palamides) who has already made enemies of two human statues after she bit off the ear of one of them. In addition, journalist Jenny Malone (Amy De Bhrun) attends the funeral, thinking it's at least a step up from the filler material she had previously been given. Before the funeral is over, the human statues have found Funzo and a fracas results in them all being jailed overnight. Come morning, their cells are miraculously open and the streets are empty - and none of their electronic devices work. Could the end of the world have happened while they were out of commission? If so, what could the world possibly need more than a group of clowns, ready to bring joy and laughter amidst the chaos?

This is a hilarious comedy, full of clownish humour and a few scary bits too - just what you want in a movie starring clowns! There is a fair amount of satire, and some of the gags are rather broad, which might be a problem for those liking more sophisticated humour, but again - it's about clowns, of course it's going to be broad! Definitely worth seeing, particularly if you're starting to freak out about the real end-of-the-world scenarios playing out around the planet these days; this will at least let you laugh for an hour and a half.

In case you missed it, there are some very strong productions coming out of Ireland these days, films and series both. A trend worth watching. Speaking of worth watching, this absurdist gem from writer/director George Kane is also in that category. Film historians will remember when this bizarre style of comedy -- non-sequiturs, inane characters, joined only by the flimsiest of plots -- was the rule, not exception. America in the 60s. Props to Kane and his team for not only retrieving that lost format, but for stretching it to the very limit. A solar flare end-of-the-world survived by roving clowns holds the attention nicely. Not every gag works, and not every character succeeds, but the off-the-wall performance of Natalie Palamides as Funzo more than compensates. Recommended. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))

The setting is simple, and yet so bizarre, that it's a wonder that this got funding -- but thank God it did! A group of washed-up clowns find themselves embroiled in a plan to save the day (or ruin it) when the power goes out from a supposed solar flare and everything goes to chaos.

While at times silly (though intentionally so), this film is packed with humour, both in the setting, the writing, and the very physical performances given by several of the actors.

It is this latter that makes this film really shine, elevating it from a fun romp to something more impressive. Natalie Palamides as Funzo and Ivan Kaye as the Great Alphonso are particularly outstanding, and not only deserve strong praise for their portrayals here, but deserve more major roles elsewhere to showcase their talents.

There's plenty of very Irish humour and references here that others might not get, but that's part of its charm. It's good to see Ireland put out interesting and odd cinematic experiences.

This is such fun nonsense. It's like watching a slapstick film when you were a kid, laughing at ridiculously outrageous jokes that shouldn't be funny, not caring that nothing makes sense. Except with a good dose of solid swearing.

I've always thought clowns were weird, and definitely not funny, but these lot were great. Obviously, their actual clown acts were rubbish but that's what made it.

Everyone plays their role perfectly and just the right side of hammy.

And when you can spot the build up to a joke a mile off and start chuckling with anticipation and glee, like it's the 100th time you've seen it, then you know you've been entertained.

With what I presume was a modest budget for this film, I couldn't but appreciate the clever filmmaking from Kane and co. The movie zips along and is an absolute bombardment of beautiful one liners and breakout performances. Seen this film 3 times now and every time, the disgusting underrated Tadgh Murphy's attempt to get a tea order brings the house down every time. Everyone slays in this and knows exactly what they're required to do. It's so clever you'd be raging you didn't think of it. All the hats off to the writers and special mention for the editing. My god it flies by when you're having fun.

Below an eight are what you get when you're throwing pearls at a bunch of empty chairs. It can make one feel like jumping out a window.

But i know...it's not football...has no CGI...no car chases...no T&A...it's not 'Ireland has talent' AND...your local pharmacy has been out of stool softeners for a while, the bills are piling up, you've been sleeping on the couch for years, your dog died and you got another dog and that one bit you and then you put it to sleep. Forever. And you loved 'airplane'(and all the sequels)...but you just didn't find this one funny. Yeah. That's understandable. Why not try 'clown school'? Or, better yet, try writing an existential clown script that has every cliched joke you could EVER hope for...so that the cascade effect becomes genius and you finally realize that the movie is a metaphor on human existentialism... or go watch Oppenheimer...now THERE's a funny movie.

This is not something I thought would be genuinely enjoyable, yet alone really good! I figured it would be cheesy and cringy. However, the performances are spot on, and the dark humour is perfect! There are plenty of laugh-out-loud moments, and some clever hooks. It has the feel of so many movies that have come before it, yet it is most definitely unique. In combination, I'm not sure any of these elements would have worked in the same way if they weren't in Ireland. It is a movie I would watch again, and one I'll be recommending to friends. Testament to the skill of the director in pulling this off.

Apocalypse Clown: There is something Beckettian about a bunch of Clowns accompanied by a journalist who have survived a solar flare which has apparently ended technological civilization (at least in Ireland). The journey across the Midlands in a a starter handle clown car as anything more advanced won't work. They encounter new age travelers who dance the blues away. But they are pursued by psychotic living statue performers (James Joyce & the statue Of Liberty) who hold a grudge against the equally deranged Funzo, she once mistook lighter fluid for laughter fluid. This is a strange quest which diverts into The Great Alphonso seeking world Domination by recruiting an army of children. Throw in a one-eyed Boyband Singer/conspiracy theorist (the other member drowned in Alphonso's gunge tank on his ill-fated TV show) along with the death of the Director of the International Clown Academy, Clown funerals, circus big tops, the sadness of an age where clowns are no longer appreciated and hundreds of gags fill this entertaining horror/comedy. At 102 minutes ir;s perhaps 12 minutes to long but well worth a watch. Directed & Co-Written by George Kane, 7.5/10.