Tina Andrews

When pop legend Frankie Lymon died, he left behind a string of hit records ... and a string of ex-wives.

When pop legend Frankie Lymon died, he left behind a string of hit records ... and a string of ex-wives.

Frankie (Gary Busey) and Patch (Robbie Robertson) have a system. Frankie wears clown makeup and sits in the dunk-tank cage, howling insults at midway passersby. Patch is out front collecting dollars from marks eager to make Frankie and his big mouth take a dive. It's a good town-to-town living for the two pals. Then Donna (Jodie Foster) came along. A charismatic star trio energizes this grit-and-glitter slice of carnival life that's as atmospheric as a stroll down midway USA. Indeed, music man Robertson, who co-produced and penned the story on which the screenplay was based, once worked as a carny. He and his collaborators ensure that time spent with the impressive sights and unique personalities of this traveling show will be downright unforgettable.

Every carnival needs a decent draw. Something fierce to pull in the rubes. Get ready for the new one in town, with a freak show that'll really leave the crowd screaming. In the small rural town of Reliance, Nebraska, a carnival is laying camp. Owner Edward Caprini (Alan C. Peterson, Shooter) is looking forward to showing off the latest addition--a creature so rare he's willing to murder someone to get it. None of it is sitting too well with local Pastor Owen who's rallying against the sinful carnival preparing to sow its indecent seeds in his God-fearing community. Sheriff Sam Atlas (Lou Diamond Phillips, Che) sees things a little differently. What could be more harmless than a traveling carnival? But even he has second thoughts after checking out the grounds. Samara (Simone-Elise Girard, E.R.), the carnival's lovely clairvoyant, has visions of doom. And that unimaginable beast, rumored to be the Jersey Devil, rattling around in his cage doesn't look half as harmless as Caprini insists he is. That night, when the Devil is unveiled, the crowd goes wild. So does the beast, tearing through the panic-stricken patrons in a violent, feral rampage. In the pandemonium, it disappears into the woods leaving a trail of eviscerated corpses in its wake. As Sheriff Atlas steps up to organize a solid tracking team to capture the carnivorous fugitive, he joins forces with Samara, who knows more about the Jersey Devil than anyone. She knows what it wants. She knows what it feeds on. She knows how to stop it. But when they cross paths with the pastor's bloodthirsty avengers, hellfire will be ignited, in the shadow of the beast. Step right up and see Carny, the monster attraction that delivers on every terrifying promise.