‘Is that even a good idea?’ 

‘Couldn’t that type of thing scar the children?’ 

‘Who is this Wrinkles anyway, and why?’ 

These are just some of the questions that were flying around in my head as the trailer played for new documentary Wrinkles the Clown; a film about a real clown in Florida who gets hired by parents to scare their ill-behaved children.

What I like most about director/co-writer Michael Beach Nichols’s movie is that it provides answers to all the questions I had. Answers delivered by parents, children and a psychology expert. We also get to hear from clowns who only ever aim to bring cheer. Others in Florida and different parts of the U.S. who have had some kind of experience with Wrinkles also share their thoughts.

Overall, I think the most revealing thing in Wrinkles the Clown is perhaps what the person who dresses up as Wrinkles actually thinks about parents who hire him to scare their children. Personally, as someone who’s always had an overactive imagination, I really can’t picture ever concluding that hiring a scary-looking clown to scare my ill-behaved, currently hypothetical children into good behaviour could ever be a good idea. But then again, my ill-behaved children truly are completely hypothetical.

I admit that Winkles the Clown isn’t exactly on my list of favourite documentaries, especially on account of the story edit, but I’m happy to have got answers to all my questions and learned a thing or two about the history of clowns.

Give Winkles the Clown a chance if you’re really, really curious.

Happy Film Loving,

G