[REVIEW] Terrifier 2 is a Glorious Splatter Symphony
In a few short weeks, Damien Leone’s Terrifier 2 has managed to trigger the collective gag reflex in moviegoers across the US, and been rewarded with an extended theatrical lifecycle as a result. Its success is a resounding vote of confidence in some of the filthiest tendencies that the horror genre has to offer. Taken from someone who rushed to see it the moment it opened, the multitude of violence on screen indeed drew audible responses from a late night crowd. And by the time the film was over, it was clear that not even a 2 hour+ runtime could kill the buzz of seeing Art the Clown (played by David Howard Thornton) tear apart hapless teens with dastardly finesse.
Art has been signing his murders in blood for the past 14 years, and this sequel is as much as a celebration of its own history as the video nasties it clearly admires. Leone harkens back to the character’s roots by alluding to threads from All Hallows’ Eve, as well as recurring characters from Terrifier. However, the director rightfully moves past the sexually motivated killings that have been part of the series’ reputation thus far (excluding one unfortunate bathroom break). Leone is, instead, more interested in developing the sibling duo of Sienna and Jonathan Shaw (Laren LaVera and Elliott Fullam, respectively). Their rapport is the beating heart of the film that refuses to become the killer clown’s lunch.
Leone’s protagonists are perceptive enough to evade several killing attempts, yet flawed in ways that make their on-screen presence more believable. Sienna and Jonathan stand out in a year that has seen horror siblings tough out everything from aliens to demonic child abductors. Jonathan’s macabre obsession with Art the Clown makes him the gorehound audience-insert, while Sienna’s arc slowly positions her as the key to putting an end to the killings. In the meantime, Leone does not skimp out on the anatomical mayhem that has caused a national hysteria.
The signature Merrie Melodies-from-hell aesthetic that makes a mockery of Art’s victims is still effective. Though Leone’s influences can be traced back to grindhouse and SOV horror movements stateside, Terrifier 2 is a borderline Category III film. Deaths are presented with such a brutal finality that it leaves nothing to the imagination. One particularly drawn out kill sequence involving mutilation via bleach and salt is the centerpiece on a table decorated with bile and viscera. Without disturbing Art’s mystique, however, we get a glimpse at the warped motivations of the killer that introduce a surrealist element to series lore. As Art continues to bend the real world to his will, a creepy sidekick known as The Little Pale Girl (played by Amelie McLain and Georgia McPhail) accompanies him. Several clues point to the Pale Girl being a victim herself, but the film plays its cards close to the chest regarding possible accomplices.
Terrifier 2 also successfully elevates its final girl to mythic status. Sienna, who has balanced a turbulent home life and fractured social relationships, takes the reins as a Frank Frazetta-inspired Valkyrie, complete with rotoscoped lighting. The film has justifiably earned its reputation as a nasty exercise in exploitation cinema, but LaVera’s performance is what holds the entire project together. While it does suffer from pacing issues towards the back half, the film hardly skips a beat with Sienna. Her dynamic with Art is reminiscent of Nancy Thompson and Freddy Krueger, and there is a satisfying component to the climactic fight sequence between them that only works because her character is fleshed out properly. I did not expect to feel empowered by the end of this film, but there is an undeniable grit to Sienna that is a breath of fresh air. Compared to the hollowness of recent legacy horror films, this one proves that a good kick in the ass can motivate an audience more so than nostalgia-driven dopamine hits.
It’s a great indication of the horror genre’s standing with a general public when a film like Terrifier 2 can grow as a direct result of word-of-mouth. Leone has crafted a brave departure from the formula of its predecessor and it is inspiring to see original horror thrive in such a harsh climate. Moreover, its success all but ensures that every freak who enjoyed this beefy blood-n-guts burger of a film will get to see a follow-up make good on the shocking ending. It’s truly saying something that, out of all the ways the human body is mangled and toyed with, the final shot is likely the most horrific. Bring on Seed of Terrifier.
