Anyone who has caulrophobia is about to have a really bad day, with the return of the indie horror Clown Motel series.
We caught up with actress Laura Ellen Wilson to spill the blood on the latest clown carnage from director Joseph Kelly.
What can you tell us about Clown Motel: 3 Ways to Hell?
Clown Motel 3: Ways to Hell is the 3rd movie in the franchise. In the 2nd movie, a military group was sent to the Clown Motel on a rescue mission, but never returned. Clown Motel 3 starts with a new military group being sent to rescue the group that never returned. It’s a crazy ride!
What can you tell us about your character Sergeant Gunny?
Sergeant Gunny is 2nd in command under General Milan and is working hard to prove herself, as the General’s retirement will be announced after this mission. She is highly respected by her comrades and doesn’t back down from a fight.
There is a massive cast with plenty of well-known genre names, did you get a chance to working with many of them?
The movie was shot in 2 locations – The Official Clown Motel in Tonopah, Nevada and Nelson Ghost Town, Nevada. My role was filmed only at The Clown Motel and I worked very closely with Ron Russell (MacGyver, Charlie’s Angels) who played General Milan. The other named actors all worked at Nelson Ghost Town so I didn’t work with them directly however, we all finally met at the premiere in Beverly Hills late 2025.
How does this film compare to the previous Clown Motel films?
Clown Motel 3 has the largest cast of the previous films and features some fantastic special effects. The kills are bigger and gorier and the fight scenes are more intricate and technically well choreographed.
What is the best part of working in independent horror?
I love independent horror because the majority of the time, we all live on set together and we become very close. I gain a new ‘film family’ with each indie horror I work on.
Do you have any funny stories from the set of Clown Motel 3?
I have a bunch! The funniest one would probably be our first night staying at the motel. There is an old cemetery on the grounds of the motel with graves dating back to the late 1700’s. We all decided to do our own ghost hunt and walk the cemetery at 1am. I personally didn’t feel any presence but several of the guys felt strange things like cold spots and things brushing their faces and really freaked themselves out!
Why do you think clown movies are so scary for horror fans?
I think the technical aspect of the makeup hiding their facial reactions and identity along with the over-the-top happy personality puts people on edge. Depending on some clowns makeup, the oversized lips and eyebrows distorts the face and that oddness is heightened by their bizarre costumes. Clowns are also known for being highly unpredictable!
Where can people watch Clown Motel 3?
Clown Motel 3 is currently at the very end of post-production and is projected to be released worldwide on Amazon and similar streaming services in May 2026. It will also be distributed in physical media at Walmart and Target!
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