Fear of Clowns

Lynn is haunted by a nightmare where she appears as a young girl, witnessing a carnival car crash and a clown with a decomposing face. The dream reflects her coulrophobia and foreshadows the creeping danger that will surround her life. She wakes unsettled, unsure if the visions are only dreams or warnings.

Shortly after filing for divorce, Lynn endures violence from Bert when he learns the news. He fights for full custody of Nicholas and demands a share of her earnings and paintings, signaling how far he is willing to go to control her life.

One night, a shirtless clown named Shivers with black eyes and a battle axe gazes at Lynn's house and then walks away. The following morning, news arrives of a nearby family massacre, heightening the sense that Lynn's fears may be connected to real violence.

At a gallery exhibit, Lynn meets Tucker Reid, a roller coaster tycoon, who buys one of her paintings for $8,000. He invites her to his office, laying the groundwork for a growing relationship and professional collaboration.

After the gallery tour, Lynn and Tuck are attacked by a mugger named Heston, but the pair manage to escape unharmed. The incident rattles Lynn and deepens the sense that danger is following her.

Lynn answers a call from the gallery owner and faints after spotting Shivers standing on her patio. The eerie sight triggers police involvement and skepticism from authorities about her fear of clowns.

At the gallery, Lynn reluctantly accepts a $20,000 commission to paint a man's father—a clown and convicted child molester. The assignment forces her to confront a dark subject while her fear of Shivers remains ongoing.

Bert and his lawyer outline their demands: custody of Nicholas, child support, and half the rights and profits to all of Lynn's paintings since their marriage. It’s revealed that Bert has been out of work for six months.

Shivers continues to stalk Lynn and murders her friend Amanda. He is tormented by voices that insist he will improve only if he continues to terrorize Lynn.

In a parking lot, Bert hires Heston to kill Lynn so he can collect life insurance, but Heston pushes for more money as the chaos caused by Shivers and the police complicates the plan.

Shivers orchestrates events that escalate the danger: a party clown distracts a guard at Lynn's home, and Heston later breaks in but is shot by Lynn and Tuck during the struggle. The same night, Shivers murders Bert at his Tokyo residence after Bert tries to arrange Heston's attack on Lynn.

Shivers breaks into a theatre, where he kills two employees after abducting Nicholas and uses him to lure Lynn out. Detective Peters arrives at the theatre after a 911 alert, and DNA under Amanda’s nails links Doug Richardson to Shivers, tying the clues together.

In the climax, Tuck blinds Shivers from a projectionist booth, allowing Peters and officers to arrest him. Lynn heads home with a fragile sense of relief, but the ending hints at lingering fear as she dreams of Shivers escaping prison and attacking her and Nicholas.