“Terrifier 2” a spectacle of slasher horror, reintroduces us to Art the Clown, a character whose outfit and grin make the iconic Pennywise seem tame. Adorned in a jester’s costume, complete with a white harlequin head cover, Art’s blood-soaked grin gleams as he partakes in his gruesome killings. Brought to life by David Howard Thornton, Art exhibits the chaotic joy and swift, violent movements of a true sociopath.
“Art the Clown, who is played by David Howard Thornton with the gleeful air and rapid homicidal movements of a true maniac, totes around his arsenal of tool-box blades in a black garbage bag, and we see him do things like chase a victim into an office, where he hammers him in the face, bringing his weapon down with the force of the damned.”
A Story of Madness and Mayhem
The plot is brought to us by Damien Leone, who also dons the hats of writer and special make-up effects designer. Despite the storyline’s relative simplicity, it’s clear that the focus lies in the madness of Art. The film’s unique selling point is the extraordinarily creative and sickeningly detailed murders that Art indulges in.
The Rise of a New Horror Icon
The first “Terrifier” movie, released in 2016, catapulted Art into the league of infamous horror figures. Since then, the anticipation for its sequel has been mounting. Considering the low-budget production, the sequel has already grossed $7.6 million, a commendable feat. It also stays true to Art’s philosophy: excess is the essence of horror.
“Set mostly on Halloween night, “Terrifier 2” is a distended holiday-horror film that lopes along for 2 hours and 18 minutes. Yet that more or less matches up with Art the Clown’s philosophy of mayhem: More is more.”
Nostalgic Vibes and Extreme Gore
“Terrifier 2” transports viewers back to the glory days of the late ’70s and early ’80s slasher films, with an unapologetically gruesome yet comedic portrayal of carnage. It has typical genre elements such as expository dialogue, no-budget acting, a synth-pop score, and an aesthetic reminiscent of the pre-cable TV era. This, coupled with the refreshing innovation of a silent but horrifyingly playful clown, sets “Terrifier 2” apart from the recent slew of horror films.
A Reflective Gorefest
Extreme horror films have often made viewers question their fascination with gruesome and cruel content. Watching a film like “Terrifier 2” can make viewers ponder their boundaries and question the appeal of such movies. Is it the thrill, the fun, or perhaps an expression of human nature’s darker, empathetically detached side?
“When you sit in a theater and watch ‘Terrifier 2,’ the fact that you’re getting onto a wavelength of debased cruelty along with the viewers around you should make you think, ‘Why am I even watching this?’ A lot of fans would answer, ‘Because it’s fun! It gives me a kick!’ But what’s the kick? It may be a kind of distilled expression of the end of empathy.”
A Marathon of Brutal Set Pieces
The movie primarily strings together an array of brutal set pieces into a skeletal narrative, emphasizing Art’s deranged cruelty. Throughout the film, we watch him slice, gouge, peel, dismember, and torture his victims with unabashed joy, allowing viewers to experience the narrative from the unsettling perspective of a serial killer.
While some aspects of the movie venture into surreal territory, such as Art’s friend, who is a ghoul-next-door version of him, or the cereal Art Crispies filled with razor blades and bugs, these moments only enhance the film’s twisted charm. Scenes involving worms, maggots, and projectile diarrhea further underline the film’s commitment to grotesque horror. The humor of “Terrifier 2” lies not in its dialogue or characters but in the relentless absurdity of the violence.
While not for the faint-hearted, “Terrifier 2” delivers a compelling horror experience that appeals to the darker corners of human fascination. The movie doesn’t shy away from its grotesque content but instead celebrates it, making it a rare, honest, slasher film that unabashedly exposes its gory allure. Whether this shock-filled ride appeals to you depends entirely on your appetite for horror.
