Terrifier 2: The little horror film that could
In the past, I have been more than cynical to the idea of what mainstream horror has turned itself into over the years. With the ever-growing milked franchises and the failed frankenstein experiments of nostalgia hits of the horror past, I wasn’t looking for faith in horror for the future. It seemed that the era of independent home grown horror was something of the past that has no real future in a world of mega blockbusters and dying smaller film cinemas.
That spark of joy reignited in me when I heard about the groundbreaking gore-tastic flick that exploded onto the scene, known to the cult fans as the long awaited sequel to an overlooked horror slasher. This was Terrifier 2.
Written, directed, edited, special fx make up all done by Damien Leone, with the returning silent star David Howard Thornton who plays the films main character and antagonist, Art The Clown. Terrifier 2 is a sadistic, depraved, violent, bloodsoaked spooky haunted ride of all senses. For someone like me, who doesn’t really take part in violent horror films, I was excited to see what Terrifier 2 would bring to cinema.
After following the films growing success, starting with a budget of $250,000, and is now currently sitting at a box office total of $8 Million, with massive screen attention from everyone on social media, to the point where news was starting to spread that the film was causing people to pass out, throw up and even just shake in pure fright at what they are watching. To the point where even mothers in the states were trying to ban the film from continuing to show. To hear stuff like this as a passionate horror fan, is music to my ears.
Unfortunately the UK wasn’t able to screen Terrifier 2. It wasn’t purchased for cinemas, however it was cheaper purchased for home BLU Ray and Streaming releases. And for halloween being the perfect night to watch it, I sat down to subject myself to the screens goriest picture that is Terrifier 2.
If you are looking for suspense and tension, with gripping paranoia, and the sense of you don’t know what is going on. Shrouded in a mystery of horror and unease to a situation that can leave you skin cold to the bone….Then this film is not for you. However if you want a film that starts at 10 and just keeps going until you are either not able to watch anymore or just too horrified to look away, then this my friend is the film for you.
This film isn’t as much of an endurance test as Martyrs or Funny Games. But it’s an excuse of the celebration of gore and violence that grabs you by the hand and takes you along for the ride. This film is a celebration of the blood and gore galore of the forgotten banned films of the 1970’s. Where violence was in excess, and we the audience wanted all of it.
In terms of the film, it improves on acting, story and overall look. The budget of $250,000 really helped. To say the least. But what really shined for me, first and foremost, was the shared work and dedication to a motion picture that would get snubbed over by people who think that horror cinema isn’t real cinema. The craftsmanship of the scenes, the pacing of the shots and the overall experience of watching this.
Took a run time of 2 hours 10 minutes, felt like it was 90 minutes.
BUT WARNING WARNING: THIS FILM IS NOT FOR EVERYONE! This film wanted to up the stakes of its previous film outing. And it succeeds. There is a rather infamous scene in the film that has now people on the internet sharing stories of how they reacted when they first watched it. For me it was a scene that I wanted to pause myself after watching to remind myself what humanity was and what my existence was leading to. You think after that the film would calm itself down and maybe not push farther than it needed to….Nope. It keeps on going and doesn’t stop. This film really does make you haven’t eaten anything after watching this. It’s understandable why most audiences have found themselves throwing up in cinema screens. Even me, a hardened veteran of seeing some of the most graphic scenes in cinema, found myself wincing at the sheer thought of what I was subjecting myself too.
However, I kept watching the film, and I found myself laughing, I found myself cheering for the main character and I found myself having the most fun I’ve had watching a horror film, of an independent nature, in a long time.
This film deserves all its successes and accolades. Seeing the actor playing Art the clown getting emotional online over the film’s success was a sweet and tender moment that reminds you that home grown horror can still exist in the world of the over the top and the over enthused. I wish nothing but success for the people at Terrifier and what subsequent films they will continue to make from this. And I hope and I pray that cinema can start looking towards the guys who are going to make an impression without studio finance, without millions put into advertising. Just threw simple word of mouth and the “you have to see it to believe it,” conversation.
It is a blood drenched, soak up, horror film that stuck out like a sore thumb, getting everyone’s attention. This film got 11/10 from me. I love this shit!