After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to the timid town of Miles County where he targets a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night.
David Howard Thornton, Laura LaVera & Elliot Fullam.
Terrifier 2 is not only a step up in budget, but a step up in quality, yet only ever so slightly. My experience with the first Terrifer was an extremely mixed viewing, while I appreciated the dedication to make a feature film on a micro budget, the script and acting fell flat that it became increasingly more distracting throughout the film. This has that same issue, just a little stronger.
What made the first film such an enjoyable experience for me was Art The Clown, played flawlessly by David Thornton. Every scene featuring him was so effortlessly entertaining, he always made me really like the film in the end. So, to no one’s surprise, he was most definitely the highlight here. With the much larger budget, the capacity of Evil with Art increased. Finding new and fun ways for death sequences, upping the gore and stakes.
When I heard about people passing out in their first time watch of the film, it was an instant intrigue and desperately needed to be watched. And while I am glad to have seen it, I felt such a lack of disconnect from the film with its blatantly obvious artificial LED lighting, which as I understand, was from an artistic standpoint. It was a constant reminder of the micro budget that this had.
Much like the first film, the dialogue stands out far too much. Clearly written with the intent to be “cool” or “edgy”, which, as a late teenager, found to be cringe inducing. Although I can appreciate the actors attempt at making these lines something, the director throws them in too many scenarios in which they aren’t capable of, acting wise.
Despite all this, I much preferred the fantastical element introduced at the end of the previous instalment, setting up a much more fantastical sequel with more mythical plot lines. The mystery behind all the events are unexplained, yet that didn’t particularly bother me, I always enjoy films that allow the audience to accept what is happening with too many questions. As long as it’s self aware of that matter.
Overall, Terrifier 2 is a step up from it’s previous instalment that left me interested in the trilogy being completed. While heavily flawed, I had an enjoyable experience and I’m sure others will too.
