Writer and Director: Damien Leone
Full disclosure from the start: Terrifier 2 is not for everyone. In fact, it’s almost certainly not for most people. It is an unflinchingly brutal and gory horror film, and if that isn’t your cup of tea, please move on to the next review.
Still here? You have been warned…
Created by Damien Leone, psychotic killer Art the Clown first appeared in a couple of his short films which were then integrated into Leone’s first feature: the anthology horror All Hallows’ Eve (2013). This led to Art getting his own full movie with Terrifier (2016) for which this is obviously the sequel. Art’s appearances basically focus on the standard stalk-and-slash horror film template as seen in the likes of Halloween or Friday the 13th, and like these other famed horrors, the antagonist here is also unspeaking and unwavering in his need to kill. However, unlike Michael Myers or Jason Vorhees, Art the Clown does not wear a mask. Instead he acts completely and very expressively in mime, right down to being completely silent as he seemingly screams in pain or laughs maniacally. With his unsettling look (a grotesquely angular face in white clown make-up, rotten teeth always on show in a rictus grin, and an often blood-spattered black and white clown suit) and his relentless pursuit of extreme violence and murder, Art a true contender to sit at the main table alongside horror icons like Freddy Krueger, Pinhead, and Leatherface: although Art’s brutal kills make Chucky look like something on CBeebies.
The original Terrifier was blood-soaked and vicious. It’s famed “sawing the woman in half” scene is one that won’t be forgotten by anyone who sees it (and whatever you imagine it to be, it’s doubtless actually even worse). Terrifier 2 is more than happy to take that level of gore and violence and (somehow) amp it up even further. Art’s victims all reach an extremely bloody and brutal end, sometimes quickly, and sometimes awfully slowly. There is a lot of face and head trauma involving decapitations, gouged eyes, scalping, thrown acid and violent application of mashed potato (don’t ask) and this is all shown in great detail, with Leone’s camera holding on the violence that is fantastically brought to life thanks to some extremely impressive (and stomach-churning) special effects (also by Leone). Thankfully all of these effects seem to be completely practical, and if there is any CGI here it is minimal and very well disguised. These masterpiece kills are generally filmed fully lit, which allows the viewer to marvel at the craftsmanship as they try to keep down their lunch.
Although this sequel has more plot than the original, there still isn’t much of a storyline. Somehow surviving his apparent demise at the end of the first film, Art the Clown (a stellar turn by David Howard Thornton) returns to create more chaos. However the difference here is that he now has a nameless sidekick in the shape of a little girl version of himself, who manages to be even creepier than he is (superbly portrayed by Amelie McLain) and Art seems to have a specific target for his evil in the shape of teenager Sienna (Lauren LaVera) whose late father seems to have some sort of link to Art, putting her little brother Jonathan (Elliott Fullam) and mother (Sarah Voigt) in peril. Starting with the brutal murder of her friend Allie (Casey Hartnett making a very disturbing scene even more disturbing with her excellent reactions), Art works his way towards Sienna, murdering everyone who gets in the way and finally luring her to an abandoned (and yet somehow fully functioning) carnival house of horrors.
The levels of violence and gore cannot be overstated here, but what writer/director Leone and performer Thornton expertly do is to make Art a surprisingly amusing character. His antics in a Halloween store are very funny, and even as he is performing the most heinous of acts, there is always a little twinkle of fun within the character. It is a disconcerting balance and the juxtaposition of horror and comedy is perfect, with his understated peeved reactions when things aren’t going his way being priceless. What also adds to the character’s menace is that unlike most other movie killers, Art operates very openly. Halloween is a perfect cover for his look, and so he is able to walk among everyone else, dosing out murder and mayhem whenever the mood takes him, with his ever-present black garbage bag full of the tools of his trade slung over his shoulder.
At 160 minutes, the film is a little bloated. This runtime does allow for some nice little character developments among the leads and the soon-to-be-dead supporting cast of characters, but for this type of horror movie it does feel somewhat self-indulgent. Also there is the problem of balance and tone. The best set piece is Allie’s murder at around the halfway point and nothing that follows lives up to it. Also, in an attempt to enrich the film’s world, Leone has unfortunately created a confusing and unsatisfying third act that is reminiscent of when the Halloween and Friday the 13th franchises both jumped the shark – although they both at least waited until at least four films in. When the kills are this creative, perhaps Leone should just keep everything else simple.
As previously stated, Terrifier 2 is not for everyone. However for those with a love of horror, and possessing a strong stomach, this film is one of the best and refreshingly unblinking movies of its kind in years. Its budget was no doubt relatively small, but it generally looks good, has an excellent cast and features some of the most amazing practical gore effects ever committed to celluloid. And in the form of Art the Clown, this is no doubt one step closer to creating a true horror icon.
Signature Entertainment presents Terrifier 2 on Digital Platforms, DVD and Blu-ray alongside Terrifier 1 & 2 Blu-ray box-set 24th October.
