Some say that clowns get a bad rap. Theory being that a few bad apples have used the guise of the otherwise trustworthy buffoon for their own maniacal missions, trading in red noses and balloon animals for killer candy and deadly ice cream.

So what do you think?  Are they misunderstood friends to children and favorites of circus-lovers everywhere or rainbow-clothed jesters of Satan? Check out our list of the most evil clowns around and you be the judge. But beware when they knock you dead, they really knock you dead.

Violator -  Spawn
Short on height, but big on girth, this demon-turned clown wants nothing more than to enlist some souls into Satan's army.

Shakes - Shakes the Clown
Let's be honest, even without the makeup, Bobcat Goldthwait is kind of a bozo. Alcoholic, depressed sex-addict Shakes isn't even the worst of the clowns in Palukaville, that title falls to the rage-a-holic TV clown Binky and the drug-pushing coke-snorting rodeo clowns he hangs around with. This movie basically reinforces what you've always suspected clowns do in their spare time.

Clowny the Doll - Poltergeist
This scene taught children everywhere a very valuable lesson. You can't just cover up the clown doll gazing at you fiendishly as you fall asleep. Because the minute you close your eyes, that doll will be gone. But, he won't forget that you tried to get rid of him, he will be back and he'll make you pay.

The Joker - The Dark Knight
Dandy, showman and above all, artist, The Joker loves to make you smile. Unfortunately, it often involves a switch blade. The embodiment of man's dark side, his many nefarious tricks kept Batman on his toes and his pranks always killed.

Proto Clown - The Tick
Proto Clown described as "terror unleashed from the secret cotton candy place of your dreams," is a testosterone fueled giant clown of limited vocabulary wearing polka dot pants and bone-breaking shoes. Basically, a Frankenclown. Beware of his crushing clown hug and whatever you do, don't EVER tell him he's funny. That just makes him angrier. And when Proto Clown gets angry, clown smash!

Zombie Clown - Zombieland
Poor Columbus, he's overcome nearly all his neurosis to survive a world over run by zombies. Except one: Coulrophobia: the irrational and exaggerated fear of clowns. Plus, this isn't just any zombie clown. This is a growling, drooling zombie clown. But Columbus has more than luck on his side; even extra aggressive zombies have a tough time running in extremely large shoes. One strong man mallet later, and problem solved.

Buster - We All Scream for Ice Cream (Masters of Horror)
You'd better be nice to your local ice cream man, kids. Combining both evil ice cream man and crazy clown scenario, We All Scream for Ice Cream tells the story of an ice cream truck driving clown who gets his sweet revenge on the now-grown men who once tormented him with a little help from some kids who can't get enough of frozen (dad shaped) treats.

Captain Spaulding - House of 1000 Corpses
Part side-show narrator, part Uncle Sam, part Back Woods yokel, Captain Spaulding is your terrifying tour guide through the history of Dr. Satan's gory beginnings. Chicken, gasoline and torturous antics can all be found at his road-side stop.  Always creative in his killing, one has to respect his devotion to his craft.

Alien Clowns - Killer Clowns from Outerspace
"Big top... Big shoes... Big teeth!"  Anything under the big top can kill you when a deadly circus of killer alien clowns pitches its tent in town.  These dastardly jesters know every trick in the book and then some: sickly sweet candy and pizza deliveries (it's not completely clear why clowns would be delivering junk food in the first place, but that's beside the point), popcorn Uzis, cotton candy webs of death, kaleidoscopic ray guns and deadly noisemakers all make short work of their victims. If you're lucky they'll make you their ventriloquist dummy.

Pennywise the Dancing Clown - It
Rule of thumb: if a clown in a sewer offers you a balloon animal, just walk away. His bark may be bad, but you'll find that Pennywise's bite is much worse. Armed with blood balloons, killer fortune cookies and all manner of devilish devices, Pennywise sounds like your raspy voiced creepy uncle and looks like a clown version of Richard Simmons. Basically, he's your worst nightmare.