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Movie review: Terrifier 2 (2022)

18 Friday Nov 2022

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It’s been 6 years since Damien Leone’s torturous creation Art the Clown inflicted audiences with his harsh and violent manner of dispatching victims with revel and glee. His silent mockery as the fatalistic few who encounter him is part of the shock manner which juxtaposes the brutal way that he delves into his maniacal fantasy. 

The sequel (currently screening in select cinemas) paves way for further immersion into the realms of macabre reverie with Art being resurrected by some unknown entity, lending itself to a more mystical approach to the narrative. In doing so, it stretches the reams of believability, where anything can be possible in this franchise. There are great moments involved in dream-like sequences and visions that would even make Freddy Kreuger envious, but where Freddy has the gift of the gab, Art has the gift of the gore.

Leone even marks time for humour to be included as Art (once again portrayed by David Howard Thornton) finds solace in an imaginary girl who is equally dressed in clown attire. In particular, there’s a quirky and quaint scene in a laundromat where Art goes to wash his blood-drenched clothes following a pretty gnarly murderous event. 

The tale picks up with a broken family dynamic centred on Sienna (Lauren LaVera), who may have magical qualities of her own, inherited from her now deceased father; her brother Jonathan (Elliot Fullam), who is subjected by misrepresentation and feels ostracised as a result; and the grieving, over-protective mother (Sarah Voigt).

There is something intrinsically drawing both Sienna and Art together, where their orbits will inevitably align among the clown’s killings,that will bring about an ultimate match up, but not necessarily a finality; a potential for further instalments yet to come.

The Prognosis

Dubbed by Director Mike Flanagan (Midnight Mass) as the birth of the Megaslasher, Damien Leone has created an extension of the splatter movie, blending it with slasher tones. The gore factor has been dialled up to the max, which is also surprisingly peppered with macabre humour. Terrifier 2  goes above and beyond its predecessor with a bold and fantastical tale, providing an ARTform that cements its antagonist at the heart of modern horror.

  • Saul Muerte

Movie review: Terrifier

04 Thursday Oct 2018

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Back in 2013 Art the Clown was first introduced to our screens in all his shocking glory as part of Damien Leone’s horror anthology, All Hallows’ Eve.

Thanks to Dread Central, Terrifier was given a limited theatrical release, but this unfortunately didn’t include Australian shores.
Instead, Terrifier came across my bloody and broken radar through the horror vine thanks to some tuned in people after my own heart.
It harkens back to the days of video stores when you come across a gem of a movie, enticed by the vhs cover, in this case gloriously shoving the fucked up clown front and center. It’s his movie after all and boy does he own it.
In some ways it feels like Leone decided to let go of the leash and let his twisted creation run amok without a moments hesitation. The end result is sheer bloody mayhem that would turn those with a weak disposition into a quivering wreak and no doubt reaching or should I say retching into their vom bag.

All this should send the hardcore horror fans into a state of ecstasy at the mere thought of a horror film that isn’t afraid to go dark and push the boundaries of taste in the gore department. No doubt most of you are already aware of this movie.

For those yet to be imitated, Terrifier starts off with a television journalist interviewing one of Art’s victim, scarred beyond recognition but has lived to tell the tale.
We also learn of Art’s disappearance from the morgue, setting up the notion that he is on the loose.

With a shock moment unleashed, the story picks up proper with two female characters, Tara and Dawn who are stranded in the city after their car has a flat tyre.
The warped journey as only just begun though as they encounter Art at a dodgy kebab shop, who takes a shine to Tara before marking his territory.
Feeling rightfully unnerved, the girls seek out rescue from Tara’s sister Vicky, who they entice out to be their saviour.
But will she make it to them in time, or will Art unleash his next canvas using their mutilated bodies?

The Diagnosis:

Terrifier is balls to the wall gross out fun that isn’t for the faint of heart. Sure, there are some shaky moments throughout but this makes the movie all the more gritty. For those eager to delve into a world of gore and brutality, Art the Clown is your perfect remedy.

  • Saul Muerte