‘Terrifier 2’: Art The Clown’s Latest Twisted Cinematic Outing Is A Must-See (FrightFest 2022 Review)
David Gelmini
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If you have seen the first Terrifier, you pretty much know what to expect with Terrifier 2. Art the Clown embarks on yet another killing spree, and God help anyone who gets in his way. Except now, the film has a 140-minute runtime. This gives our favorite killer clown even more time to engage in mayhem and depravity. While the first movie was incredibly brutal and sadistic, director Damien Leone turns things up to eleven for the sequel. This was unquestionably the most violent film to be screened at FrightFest 2022 because Art the Clown really does view each of his murders as works of art (no pun intended).
Art isn’t alone throughout Terrifier 2. He’s now accompanied by a similarly psychotic unnamed female clown. Sure, she was only a figment of his imagination. But that certainly did not stop Art from gleefully inviting her to join him on his rampage. Even the most somber viewers will probably crack a smile when Art plays patty cakes with his imaginary friend. David Howard Thornton, who portrays Art, is clearly an exceptionally talented actor and mime performer. Needless to say, Art’s movements and mannerisms throughout the film will leave you in stitches. It’s particularly amusing when he silently laughs while slaughtering his victims.
Lauren LaVera plays Sienna, a troubled teenage girl who recently lost her father. Sienna dreams of becoming an artist, and she creates a magnificent angel costume to wear on Halloween. On the other hand, her mother, Barbara (Sarah Voigt), clearly has anger issues, and her brother Jonathan (Elliott Fullam) is off in his own world most of the time. She clearly just wants to be a normal teenager. But, Sienna gradually comes to accept the reality that she is destined to confront Art the Clown at one point. And the sacred dagger her father left her just might play a role in the showdown. All three actors portraying the family members deliver strong performances which help to make their characters seem believable. That in turn makes us all the more concerned when they become targets of Art’s murderous crusade.
Leone previously stated that Art was unaware of his supernatural abilities until the end of the first movie. While Terrifier 2 does not feature an abundance of supernatural elements, it’s certainly implied that Art is more than a regular human…if he even had any humanity to begin with. He pulls off a woman’s arm with his bare hands. He survives a shotgun blast to the chest.
By now, Art is practically as much of a horror icon as Michael, Jason, and Freddy. We’ll probably never know the full extent of Art’s powers or even how he gained his abilities, but none of that matters. Because Art the Clown is as much of an idea as he is an actual character at this point. As we learned from a certain 1980s graphic novel, ideas really are bulletproof.
Now regarding the actual killings showcased throughout the film. Let’s just say that if you thought the hacksaw scene from the original Terrifier was brutal and depraved, you really haven’t seen anything yet. Without going into spoilers, Art mutilates one of his victims in such a horrendous way that you’re utterly convinced she could not have survived. So then you’r mortified when she opens her mouth and weakly manages to talk before Art finally finishes her off. Needless to say, horror junkies will proudly be ranking and debating the kills in Terrifier 2 for years to come.
There’s also an extended dream sequence taking place in a restaurant known as the Clown Cafe. We can guarantee that you will not be able to get their theme song out of your head. Although your friends might think you are a little strange if you start singing “Food’s a little funny at the Clown Cafe”. So you might want to make sure the song does not leave your head. Either way, this was an odd sequence that didn’t have much of a purpose other than to emphasize to Sienna that she’ll eventually need to face Art.
Having said that, however, the 140-minute runtime really did feel like it breezed by. Aside from the aforementioned Clown Cafe sequence, at no point will you feel like Terrifier 2 was too long or that it was padding for time. Most viewers will be desperate for more by the time the end credits roll, because most of us simply cannot get enough of Art the Clown. Although the extended mid-credits sequence is hugely enjoyable in its own right, so don’t skip it. FrightFest director Paul McEvoy called Terrifier 2 the “War and Peace of slasher movies” in the intro before the world premiere because of its long runtime, and it could also be described as the ‘Citizen Kane of killer clown movies”. With its strong performances, brutal kills, and laugh-out-loud moments, horror fans simply cannot afford to miss Art the Clown’s latest cinematic outing.
Summary
Terrifier 2 takes everything that made the first movie so memorable and turns it up to eleven, making it essential viewing for horror fans.
