As you probably know, my taste in Halloween-y things ranges from things meant for people years (okay, sometimes decades) younger than myself, to the darkest of horrors. I love spooky cute, but I also love a good gore fest, especially when it's set on Halloween night.
It probably comes as no surprise that I absolutely love the Terrifier movies and particularly the character of Art the clown. And I consider myself extremely lucky to have caught Terrifier 2 in the theater on opening night.
Before you ask, no, no one threw up or fainted at my showing. A couple of people got up and presumably went to the bathroom but I didn't see a sense of urgency in these people that told me they were about to toss their popcorn. At almost two and a half hours long, this is a movie some people simply may need a pee break halfway through. A few people behind me did gasp a lot, though.
Aside from a few moments that triggered my ommetaphobia, I got through it perfectly fine and thoroughly enjoyed all of the kills. I can handle a lot for someone that used to be so scared everything. But I will say, the hype behind this movie is definitely real. It's a bloody good time, but if gore isn't your thing, you'd best stay far away. Art may play some of his kills for laughs, but he doesn't hold back. I don't think he knows how. This character is the definition of "chaotic evil".
Terrifier 2 picks up right where the previous movie left off. Art has popped up from his slab in the morgue and is wreaking havoc on the doctor that brought him there. He wastes no time getting right to the point...he does this pretty amazing stunt where he pops out the morgue guy's eye and then shoves it in his own eye socket...for all intents and purposes this should have disturbed me a much greater deal, and I'll admit I tried not to look directly at it because of my phobia, but this manner of behavior is just so Art, I kind of loved it. He is just such a fun, over the top character and I don't think anyone else could pull off the types of things he does. With any other horror character I can think of, if they did some of the things Art does, it would feel like too much somehow, not even just the gore factor but it would just would feel cartoony in a way...while somehow Art makes everything work, even though we're never quite sure what he is or how he came to be.
Normally, these kinds of situations annoy me. I'm a backstory kind of ghoul. I like to see things explained and understand why characters are the way they are. But I think in Art's case, it almost makes him even scarier, to not know. Is he supernatural? Is he working for some unnamed force? What keeps him from being able to die? We really don't know, but this is one instance where I truly enjoy the ride and being kept guessing. Whatever Art is, wherever he came from, whatever makes him tick...I just love him. Whatever he's trying to accomplish, no matter how brutal or ridiculous, he pulls it off.
Terrifier 2 also introduces us to a new final girl, Sienna Shaw, and her brother Jonathan. These characters are far more fleshed out than the girls from the first movie, or anyone in Art's initial jaunt, All Hallows' Eve, and I found them quite likable. Sienna and Jonathan have an interesting past, with a late father who seemed to be able to foretell the events with Art before they happened, drawing pictures of him, his victims, and the superhero that Sienna would ultimately have to become to beat him. (A callback to the second short in All Hallows' Eve? Possibly. I have always wondered about that story.) For most of the movie I thought that Art was actually going to be revealed as their father, but this doesn't happen. I do wonder if this will all connect eventually though, in future installments, as I feel like they spent a lot of time building up this story to not come back to it eventually. At any rate I hope Sienna will be the Terrifier franchise's Laurie Strode, and stick around until whenever, if ever, Art dies for good. Because honestly? I'm not sure he can!
Other notable characters include the horrifically mutilated, would-be final girl, Victoria, from the first Terrifier (Stick around for the post credits scene to find out just how deep in this she really is, it's a doozy!) and an adorably creepy mini-Art, known only as the "Little Pale Girl", and believed to be one of Art's first victims in Miles County. She is a scene stealer and I'm praying for merchandise.
With all the press this movie's getting, I'm positive there will eventually be a Terrifier 3, and I am 100% here for it. I can't wait to see what crazy, depraved scheme Art will come up with next, and maybe have a little bit more of his motivation explained. I'm sure there are plenty of people who hated this movie, but I personally think it's a game-changer. Art has proved himself as the next great slasher, and as the OG icons slowly die off, due to legacy sequels, copyright issues, the aging of the actors involved, etc., I, for one, am glad Art is here to fill that void. This is his time, and I can't wait to see where he goes from here. He is an absolutely wild character, but I think he's going to end up a horror legend. Whether or not the Terrifier movies are your particular cup of tea, you have to appreciate what they're building here.
Stay spooky, my friends.
PS, you can find my thoughts on Art's first two films here.
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