By Paige Taylor
With a limited theatrical release across the country this week amounting to $1.2 million at the box office, I think it’s safe to say the slasher genre is alive and well this Halloween. The indie film, thats budget was a modest $250k, is a direct sequel to the 2016 indie superstar, Terrifier. And if Terrifier was a perfectly crafted love letter to 80s slashers, then Terrifier 2 is an 80’s horror fan’s wet dream.
“Resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the clown returns to Miles County to terrorize a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night.”
And terrorize he does. The gore in this sequel is not for the faint of heart, though fans of special FX will drool over Leone’s work, especially a scene that includes animatronics in its practical effects to make it horrifically unforgettable. Terrifier 2 keeps up with the shock and awe of its predecessor, with deaths that will leave you thoroughly disgusted yet entertained and ultimately questioning your own sanity for eating it up. More importantly, it keeps the overall 80s feel that made the first stand out so beautifully. The score. The cinematography. It all just works. I’m even willing to forgive some bad acting as a nod to 80s horror, (the mother’s one dimensional line reads are reminiscent of Nancy’s mom in “A Nightmare…”) because the characters that need to be good, nail it. Newcomer, Sienna (Lauren Lavera) has all of the makings of a fierce, tenacious final girl, while David Howard Thornton returns as Art the clown, a role he was simply born to play, making Art possibly more captivating than ever. Terrifier 2 shines brightest when its focus is on its star killer, mixing both gore and comedy in the unhinged way we’ve come to expect and love. The demented mime manages to make us laugh during the most twisted of moments, something I think parallels the catharsis of the horror genre.
It only falls short in confusing plot holes and messy storylines. This theatrical release was promoted as being completely uncut and unedited, yet the 2hr:30 min run time left plenty of room for some editing which could have have helped make the film that much more memorable. Some brilliant moments were lost in my mind amid seemingly endless scenes that took me out of it a bit. I think I can speak for most fans of this cult classic worthy universe Leone has created: Leave the blood, clean up the script.
All in all, this was some of the most fun I’ve had in theaters in a while, and the film definitely begs for a rewatch when it hits streaming services. It’s a sickeningly good time.
🔪Madame of Horror
Madame of Horror 
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