Let it be known, I was making the case for Art the Clown as the best slasher villain since the 80s a couple of years ago. Terrifier was that damn good, instantly putting Art alongside Jason, Freddy, and Michael Myers in my eyes. Terrifier 2 solidifies that statement and reinforces the fact that director Damien Leone is the new master of gore.
But is Terrifier 2 a good movie?
In many ways, yes. But in many ways, no.
Without question, the practical effects and gore are some of the best in recent memory, if not the best. There isn’t a single kill scene that isn’t over-the-top splattery, with up-close, in-your-face blood and chunks of meat. It’s so bloody and disgusting that those scenes go from being purely horrifying, to also being quite funny. Some people might see this as a weakness in the horror genre, combining horror and comedy. I do not.
At first, I thought the reports of people becoming sick at the theaters when viewing this film were pure propaganda, intended to market the movie as a film you might not be able to handle, turning it into a challenge for potential viewers. While this may be the case in certain instances, I now have no doubt some people left the screening feeling a bit ill. There were scenes that gross. Like the one where the mom walks in on Art playing with her daughter. Jesus! Or the scene involving mashed potatoes. Lol!
The gore is unbelievably good! That alone makes Terrifier 2 worth your watch.
So what wasn’t great about Terrifier 2?
Quite a lot, actually. One thing I didn’t like from almost the very beginning was that Art the Clown has apparently been turned into a paranormal entity of some sort. Like Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers, Art can withstand all manner of trauma and keep on ticking. Not only that, he seems to have taken on some Freddy Krueger qualities as well. The main protagonist, Sienna (Lauren LaVera), has a terrifying dream about Art in which part of this nightmare manifests in real life. Why? I saw no purpose for this. I kind of understand making Art, to an extent, invincible. Because at some point, avoiding death by natural means would become more absurd than avoiding death by unnatural means. But the dream stuff?
The plot also made very little sense. It bounced all over the place, with more holes than a target hit with birdshot. We’re never told what the connection to Sienna’s dead father is. It’s never explained why Art seems to specifically go after the people he is. It’s never explained why Art now has a creepy little sidekick. (The sidekick character is indeed creepy as hell.) The ending is nothing short of perplexing, leaving you scratching your head.
All that being said, it’s a lot of fun. Freddy Krueger has always been my favorite slasher, but Art the Clown is a big rival for that top spot now. He’s hilarious but in a less childish way than Freddy, after the first few Nightmare on Elm Streets. And the film had a real 80s vibe that I really enjoyed.
PC3’s Horror and Exploitation Movie Scale of Awesomeness!
Gore - 10
Special Effects - 8
Nudity/Sexuality - 3
Wow Factor - 9
Acting - 6
Fear Factor - 4
Story/Plot/Originality - 3
Cinematography/Atmosphere - 7
Sound/Music - 6
Fun Factor - 9
Terrifier 2 gets a very bloody 65 PHEMSA. It has its flaws, but it’s a lot of fun. It’s left wide open for sequels, which I’m sure are in the works. If you’re looking for some top-shelf gore, you can watch Terrifier 2 on ScreamBox, or in select theaters. Also, Terrifier is available on a number of platforms, inlcuding Tubi.
Holy hell. I just looked up Lauren LaVera, who plays Sienna, a high school girl . . . she's 44 in real life. She does not look 44. Is that accurate??? I need whatever demon oil she's using.