Clowns are often people’s worst fears when it comes to watching horror, but this2010 Spanish thrillerpresents killer clowns in a way you have never seen them before.Álex de la Iglesia’sBalada Triste de Trompeta,orThe Last Circus,is a dark romantic comedyset against Spain’s socio-political turmoil.If this premise sounds strange, it’s because it sort of is, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t make for an entertaining and wild thrill ride.
The film begins in Madrid in 1937in the heat of the Spanish Civil War.A “Funny Clown” (Santiago Segura) is taken captive by the Republican Militia to fight on their side of the Civil War but is later forced to be a slave. The clown’s son, Javier attempts to free his fatheronly to witness his brutal deathat the hands of Colonel Salcedo (Sancho Gracia). Decades later, in 1973, Javier (Carlos Areces) follows in his father’s footsteps and joins a circus as a clown. Javier, is the “Sad Clown,” while a man named Sergio (Antonio de la Torre) is the “Happy Clown” and star of the show. AsJavier falls in love with Natalia(Carolina Bang), the circus trapeze artist and girlfriend of Sergio, dynamics begin to grow tense, andJavier turns into an unrecognizable characternot fit for a circus.
‘The Last Circus’ Brilliant Take On a Dark Comedy
What makes the film work so well is its contrast between happiness and sadness,presented in its most straightforward form—a happy and sad clown—but also reflected in itsportrayal of relationships, life, masculinity,and war.Clowns, both terrifying and amusing figures, become powerful symbols of war.One character even points out the socio-political state of Spain by saying, “You know what the real circus is? This country!” Towards the end of the film, there is a scene in which theclowns attack each other at the Monumental Crossat the Valle de los Caídos, a monument to honor the fallen victims of the war. It is a clearmetaphor for the stupidity of war.
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“Can you smell the circus, Georgie?”
The film also does a great job offilling its story with conflict and irony,especially with the main characters and setting. Javier wants to make people laugh and genuinely has goodness in his heart at the beginning of the film, but as he grows more disturbed, he only ends up harming others. Sergio, who is the popular “happy” star,is an abusive man off the stage who ends up with no fansafter his facial disfiguration. The very circus that looks to bring joy to local residents and children is filled with violent and chaotic workers. Withthe duality of happiness and sadness infused into the storyline,the film is able to effectively balance the comedic and dark elements,often acting as a poetic tragedy.
‘The Last Circus’ Has a Truly Terrifying Clown Character
What makesThe Last Circusso different from other terrifying depictions of clowns, such asArt the ClowninTerrifierorPennywise inIt, is how the film showsJavier’s brutal physical transition from a kindhearted man to a murderous monster.When Javier is young, he tells his father that he wants to be a happy and funny clown, but his father shames him into becoming the sad clown of the circus. He is told thathe has witnessed too much pain and death to seek joyand must instead pursue revenge. Despite this, there is still hope for his character, especially when he cares for Natalia after Sergio publicly beats and assaults her. However, as Javier continues to witness violence and injustice,he becomes increasingly plagued by the darkness of the world.His trauma manifests in a brutal attack,in which he uses a trumpet to repeatedly bash in the face of another character. Javier further descends into madness as the film progresses, evenpermanently disfiguring his face with a hot iron and sodium hydroxideand turning to machine guns as weapons.
The Last Circusis a fast-paced film that progressivelydescends into chaos, body horror, and disturbing images,yet still evokes empathy for the characters whose inherent goodness will ultimately be corrupted by life’s real horrors.Unpredictable, unhinged, intense, and visually intriguing,The Last Circusis a film that will leave viewers thinking about its characters and artistic choices long after the credits roll.
The Last Circusis available to stream on Max in the U.S.
The Last Circus
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