I first came across Damien Leone’s Terrifier franchise while scrolling through Netflix a few years ago. I’d heard some small mutterings around the internet regarding the film, and decided to check it out. It was alright, but didn’t hook me as strongly as it captured the affections of its modest cult-following at the time. I wasn’t aware that a sequel to the first Terrifier film was even made until I saw news reports of the film causing people to faint in movie theaters. Despite not being super impressed with the first film, I became determined to see Terrifier 2 the first chance I got. Was it pure interest or un-accounted for masochism? Honestly, probably both. Part of me assumed that the reports were a case of overhyping and exaggeration. I’m happy to say, that was certainly not the case.
The film picks up immediately on the tails of the first film. After being shot dead by cops, Art the Clown is resurrected by an unknown entity. He brutally murders a mortician, locates his supernaturally strong garbage bag full of weapons, and makes his way to a laundromat to wash all the blood and gore off his suit. The narrative then switches the central protagonist Sienna, who’s connection to Art the Clown isn’t explained until the final moments of the film. The story utilizes a sort of cat-and-mouse flow to show Art stalking and killing Sienna’s friends and family as well as random passersby — for generally no apparent reason.
Normally I’d say context is so important for storytelling, that without it I’m lost pretty quick. While a lot of things in Terrifier 2 go unexplained, I can honestly say it only adds to the appeal of the story. We get small hints of reasoning here and there, as well as occasional clues to what/who Art the Clown really is, however nothing is ever fully confirmed. This adds to the visceral terror of our central villain. We only ever see him in his black and white clown outfit, his teeth reminiscent of a shark’s mouth, all identifying features distorted by makeup. All we get from Art are exaggerated expressions. He never speaks or makes any kind of vocal sound, even when seemingly in fits of laughter. All of this creates incredible tension that only seems to give when Art finally stops taunting his victims.
The strongest aspects of this film are in director Leone’s VFX artistry, and David Howard Thornton’s menacing performance as Art the Clown. I didn’t realize until after watching Terrifier 2 that Leone (the mastermind behind the entire franchise) is also behind the visual effects. The cinematography, soundtrack, and acting calls to mind campy B horror films from the 80’s and 90’s. The practical visual effects seem to be the main purpose of the film’s existence, with Leone and company gleefully pushing the limits of gore to the most absurd levels. Thornton’s silent yet menacing performance is incredibly powerful, turning the audience’s stomach in knots the mere moment he shows up on screen.
It’s hard to actually find things for me to criticize about this film. It’s a very specific kind of vibe for a rather niche audience. Everything is intentional, from the campy dialogue and acting to the cartoonishly over-the-top graphic violence. The decontextualized elements of the story exist to drive home the visceral terror of it’s central antagonist. This movie is entirely self-aware and uses that to its advantage. It makes drastic improvements upon the original which lacked cohesion, and makes extremely effective use of its $250,000 budget.
Without a doubt, Terrifier 2 is one of the goriest films I’ve ever seen. For reasons entirely unrelated to the cartoonish levels of gore depicted on screen, it’s also one of the most genuinely frightening films I’ve watched. The tension built up within the mystery of Art the Clown’s character, his silent demeanor, and chilling facial expressions make the film’s trailer alone a difficult experience for some to sit through. The cinematography is wildly colorful and expertly shot, the acting is perfect for the aesthetic, and the runtime never feels tiresome. If you’re squeamish or not fully accustomed to slasher horror films, I’d say give this one a pass. However, if you like campy and absurdist movies with a twisted antagonist, Terrifier 2 will provide a bloody good time. My best advice going into this one would be to avoid using cannabis while watching (I learned this the hard way), and keep a ginger ale on stand by if you start to feel nauseous.
Kellyn Kavanagh (they/he) is a local writer, photographer, and musician. They first started writing what they now know to be flash fiction stories in the third grade when they learned how to make little books with a couple sheets of printer paper and a stapler. Their work typically focuses on non-ficiton journalism, short horror fiction, and very depressing poetry.
