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Amazon.co.uk Review
Doctor Who isn't really known for its villains having a high level of creepiness for anyone over the age of 10 but if you have any sort of clown phobia, this adventure is sure to confirm your worst fears about them. The Doctor (Sylvester McCoy) and his companion Ace land on a barren planet that is hosting the Psychic Circus, which has fallen on hard times. Now, any soul unfortunate enough to stumble into the big top is forced to entertain in the centre ring with typically fatal results. The Doctor tries to find out who or what is behind it all and the resulting story comes off like an allegory for the series itself. After a creative slump in the mid-1980s, Doctor Who was finding its footing again, although the story is burdened by throwing as many disparate elements as possible (including an animated corpse, a wolf girl and even the Gods of Ragnarok) into the mix. The Gods, not unlike the audience, demand to be kept entertained, but for the most part the best the Doctor can do is some cheap conjuring tricks while waiting for the inevitable climax. The most effective element throughout is the menace provided by Ian Reddingon (a regular on EastEnders) as the Chief Clown, sending victims to their doom with wave of his hand and a perpetual smile painted on his face. --Ryan K. Johnson
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The greatest show in the galaxy is one of the greatest Dr.Who stories. Good story, acting and impressive villians and monsters. The Doctor and Ace arrive on the dusthole that is called Segonax, where they meet some bizarre characters. They then stumble upon the Psychic Circus, an intergalactic entertainment show that have been on this planet for some time now. The reason for this is that a sinister alien force has taken over this once innocent tent and either turned the characters evil or loopy or both. There is only one way to destroy this sinister force...watch on. The Chief Clown and the robotic Bus Conducter steal the show, the werewolf moment is impressive and I thought the suspense of the Gods of Ragnorok was great. A great fast paced story, definately Who at it's best and an audience gripper.
9 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
The once glorious Psychic Circus has set up on the desolate world of Segonax, and when the Doc + Ace arrive they are forced by the sinister Chief Clown to take part in a deadly talent show along with other ''visitors'', in which the performers are judged by an old-fashioned family of three and, if judged as unsatisfactory, are vapourised. With the aid of werewolf Mags and the Bellboy, the Doc sets out to discover the true identity of the unsettling family and winds up having a few brawls with robotic clowns.....
After the disasters of the late Baker/early McCoy eras Doctor Who finally gives us a great season, to which this story is a perfect end and the second best (after the truly awesome Rememberance). There's never a dull moment, with sinister robot clowns, murderous bus condutors, werewolves and zombies being just a few of the attractions. McCoy's at his best so far, while Ace really is starting to shine. Easily the scariest Who in years.
James
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Having been "persuaded" by a junk-mail robot, the Doctor and Ace go to visit the cirus on the planet Segonax. After two brushes with death, courtesy of dangerous robots, they arrive to find all is not as innocent as it seems.
This is Dr Who as it should be made. There are no mentions of other adventures, no reliance on the series past. Instead we have a self-contained entertaining story which constantly surprises and wrong-foots us by throwing in a variety of characters, from a 2000 AD-ish Nord the Vandal to an apparently harmless old ex-public schoolboy explorer. The hearse drawing up and lowering its window to reveal an undertaker with a painted clown's face has to be one of the most strikingly surreal moments in the history of the series. In fact this story is filled with haunting images, from the kites which are actually spying equipment to the Gods and their stone amphitheatre.
There are plenty of strong characters, and every one is there for a reason. The family commenting on the action (who in a way pre-date the X Factor), the production team who work unceasingly despite increasing pressure, the anal retentive 'big fan' who is convinced the recent shows are shadows of their former selves despite never having seen its earlier days. It's tempting to think the terrifying Stallslady (with her open contempt for the circus) was inspired by Mary Whitehouse. But I digress.
The Chief Clown is a memorable villain who I'm sure will strike a chord with anyone who, as a child, wondered what was behind those painted-on smiles. Mags is played just right, comes across as both a victim of circumstances and a repressed monster. Witness the scenes of genuine emotion - Ace trying to put on a brave face in wishing Bell Boy all the best, knowing full well what he's going to do to himself. It all looks and sounds great thanks to strong directing, imaginative design and an atmospheric soundtrack. Sylvester McCoy shows how good a Doctor he can be when given the right material. He manages to be eccentric, sympathetic, intriguing and at times even slightly sinister himself. The only trajedy of the McCoy era is that it was so short. Given imaginative, inventive tales like this one it had real potential.
This is Dr Who as it should be made. There are no mentions of other adventures, no reliance on the series past. Instead we have a self-contained entertaining story which constantly surprises and wrong-foots us by throwing in a variety of characters, from a 2000 AD-ish Nord the Vandal to an apparently harmless old ex-public schoolboy explorer. The hearse drawing up and lowering its window to reveal an undertaker with a painted clown's face has to be one of the most strikingly surreal moments in the history of the series. In fact this story is filled with haunting images, from the kites which are actually spying equipment to the Gods and their stone amphitheatre.
There are plenty of strong characters, and every one is there for a reason. The family commenting on the action (who in a way pre-date the X Factor), the production team who work unceasingly despite increasing pressure, the anal retentive 'big fan' who is convinced the recent shows are shadows of their former selves despite never having seen its earlier days. It's tempting to think the terrifying Stallslady (with her open contempt for the circus) was inspired by Mary Whitehouse. But I digress.
The Chief Clown is a memorable villain who I'm sure will strike a chord with anyone who, as a child, wondered what was behind those painted-on smiles. Mags is played just right, comes across as both a victim of circumstances and a repressed monster. Witness the scenes of genuine emotion - Ace trying to put on a brave face in wishing Bell Boy all the best, knowing full well what he's going to do to himself. It all looks and sounds great thanks to strong directing, imaginative design and an atmospheric soundtrack. Sylvester McCoy shows how good a Doctor he can be when given the right material. He manages to be eccentric, sympathetic, intriguing and at times even slightly sinister himself. The only trajedy of the McCoy era is that it was so short. Given imaginative, inventive tales like this one it had real potential.
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