Oh no. Filmmakers have long taken the already frightening, already dicey image of the clown and exploited it by making intentionally scary harlequins and bozos in films both dramatic and horrific.

The plot confronts—and exploits—the core of every coulrophobic: aliens that resemble evil, ugly circus clowns land on Earth and kill everyone in their path. Wrapping them in cotton-candy ...

The animated character ... Nibbles is new on the scene, scary movie aficionados will recognize one of the biggest horror icons of the last few years. Art the Clown of the "Terrifier" series ...