You can’t keep a murderous clown down.
The soulless art that the Clown has one ultra low budget close-up in “Terrifier” 2016. He’s back for a sequel belatedly, bloodshed more than any movie in recent memory.
And, if you’ve seen the original, you know how director Damien Leone previously set that standard.
The sequel expands on the clown’s world while doubling down on the macabre humor that makes Art a worthy successor to Michael, Jason, and Freddy.
In fact, he could outshine them all in terms of sheer terror.
The film opens a few seconds after the original film is wrapped. Art the Clown is recovering well from a gunshot wound to the brain, and he’s eager to wash his bloody outfit.
He is a performer if nothing else.
The timeline will then pass a year, and we are introduced to a single mother and her two children. The oldest, Sienna (Lauren LaVera), is eager to show off her homemade Halloween costume, but Art’s rampage turns the holiday into a bittersweet one.
It doesn’t help that Sienna’s late father has an uncanny connection to the murderous clown, something writer/Director Damien Leone teased early on.
Turns out Art only likes to work out once a year – on October 31. Sienna and friends will learn this the hard way.
Leone knows her fan base, this earn a lot to make “Terrifier 2” happen, want more bloodshed. And he delivers.
The realistic effects are as disgusting as possible, and the camera rubs our noses at it. However, Art’s frenzied glee softened the blow, to a degree. His unfathomable fun ensures the franchise doesn’t revive the era of torture porn, thank goodness.
The first season, “Terrifier,” is full of ’80s horror, with some uninteresting performances and that old-fashioned bloodshed. The sequel continues in that vein, avoiding the cautious trend in modern horror.
LaVera’s curves are fully visible through most of the movie, for starters. One of the potential victims of smoking, the other 21st century is not. And then there’s the Paul Wiley track, which leans on a synthesizer riff that highlights the mayhem.
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Nothing gore would matter if Leone didn’t know how to build suspense. His tactics here are similar to the first movie. Some of the shocks we saw were coming a mile away, and we greeted them with an evil smile.
What will Art do next?
The rest? Leone understands that the element of surprise is still very important to the genre. It’s one of the many reasons the recent “Halloween” reboot started off strong but quickly ran out of creative gas.
“Terrifier 2”’s biggest fear is about the dance genre, but it’s done so perfectly that you won’t feel guilty about being startled.
It is impossible not to mention the work of David Howard Thornton that brought Art the Clown to life. Thornton’s masterful turn required a true clown’s toolkit, and his colorful makeup accentuated that skeleton’s mocking look. We’ve seen serial killers slaughter without emotion or wisdom, Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger respectively.
Art the Clown delights in his murderous ways, quietly devouring as his victims take their last breaths.
It… chills.
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Watch Art lose his balance after pummeling someone. It’s a slight wobble, but it adds to the carnival-like atmosphere that Leone and co. bring to the screen.
Rob Zombie’s horror quickly lost its appeal after “The Devil’s Rejects,” but Leone’s sense of unsettling visuals far outstripped anything Zombies could conjure in light years.
The franchise’s extreme gore can generate a lot of thoughts about dark pop culture. Fair enough.
However, no “Terrifier 2” would matter if Leone didn’t memorize the fundamentals of the genre. His skill, passion, and willingness to push the boundaries of horror, have made this series a must-see (assuming your stomach is made of cast iron or the like).
Not every element of the sequel is perfect. Art’s terrible accomplice, a clown girl that may or may not be real, feels like a stretch. A side storyline involving a clown-related diner, complete with its own jingle, adds to the uneasiness but remains a curious entry.
The most shocking part of the movie?
Run time is about two hours and fifteen minutes in a genre known for brevity. But “Terrifier 2” moves. You may spot moments that need to be cut, but the momentum of the movie never diminishes. (Just don’t leave after the ending credits start…)
“Terrifier 2” doesn’t stray from the core DNA of the saga, but it doesn’t have the “sequel” feel we’ve been here before. That could change with the inevitable third installment.
For now, enjoy Leone’s original vocals and the greatest horror performance of all time.
Hit or miss: “Terrifier 2” is not for the faint of heart or even the casual horror movie buff. If you’re not in both camps, you’ll be on a heckuva trip.
