Cast:
Lauren LaVera (Sienna Shaw), David Howard Thornton (Art the Clown), Elliott Fullam (Jonathan), Sarah Voigt (Barbara), Kailey Hyman (Brooke), Casey Hartnett (Allie), Charlie McElveen (Jeff), Amelie McLain (the Little Pale Girl), Johnath Davis (Ricky), Samantha Scaffidi (Victoria Heyes), Leah Voysey (Clown Cafe TV host / Nurse), Chris Jericho (Burke), and Felissa Rose (Ms. Principe) Directed by Damien Leone (#2271 - Terrifier)
Review:
“I’m trying to transcend the slasher genre and make something you really haven’t seen in a long time… We’re always trying to push it as far as we can and deliver the goods above and beyond everyone’s expectations.”
Well, when you have a sequel, you go all out for it. When Damien Leone had envisioned a film involving the character of Art the Clown after filming his short film "The 9th Circle", it involved a character basically dressed up as an angel (with a plot outline that he described as "basically Rob Zombie's 31"). So, now here we are with a "heart and soul" for this feature film, which he wrote the first draft of the screenplay in 2019. While this film would have funding come from private investment, he did launch an Indiegogo campaign in order to do a practical effects sequence for $50,000 - it proceeded to make four times that. After a COVID-interrupted session of filming, the movie was finished in 2021 before release the following year. As before, Leone edited the film to go with writing/directing. There was enough demand for the film to be in theaters for more than a week, and it ended up making, well, millions of dollars.
Honestly, some of the horror movies are enjoyable not so much for the level of terror or gore they show but for the curiosity they generate when it comes to "how did they do that?" Maybe it is a geeky thing, but really, that bedroom sequence is a fascinating one in execution when it comes to the mix of churn and execution that really does drive the imagination beyond the splatter (for those who like to read details, here). Sure, it can feel long at 138 minutes when it comes to trying to go through the whole gauntlet of its setup (particularly since it was built with a sequel in mind), but I had quite the treat with the movie specifically because it just has the energy of a madman that takes you on a ride worth rolling with. For a movie about an equal-opportunity killer clown, it sure the kind of experience that can raise up a chuckle at the strangest of times (I say "equal-opportunity" because yes, he is as violent to men and women on the same level when it comes to general skullduggery, whether that involves nibbling or using a gun). The first film felt like a demo reel of potential involving a few decent effects and a budget that looked like its budget (around the Roger Corman level but not derogatory) that I accepted for all of its average executions. The second is the logical extension of having time to really draw out a solid lead performance to go along with the already apparent talent in drawing curiosity in a mime that really can be scary (funny or otherwise). Oh, and the gore, but I'm sure you don't need me to sing too many praises about (mostly) practical effects (incidentally, it isn't that often one can watch a "Not Rated" movie). Leone had stated one of his regrets in the first place was in the lack of character development, and it is evident that LaVera is given a chance to really make something worthwhile beyond the usual "final" cliches. In that sense, she is engaging enough to follow along with in likable charm that doesn't fold (i.e. get overshadowed too much by the obvious) under the pressure. The rest of the cast is generally interesting enough to be set up for the inevitable trap (i.e. not particularly hateable). Maybe I'm just a nut, but there are actually a few darkly amusing moments within such commitment to gore, probably best represented with the nightmare sequence involving an attempt at building cheer before getting tommy gun'd to death. Of course, I can also cite the costume shop sequence in casual terror and amusement, because seeing silly glasses getting tried on wordlessly is hard to resist. While I can't really explain the "Little Pale Girl" particularly well, I will say that having a wordless "patty cake" in a laundromat while one tries to clean up is about all one might need to explain the strange qualities that come up for the moments ahead. Admittedly, the climax is a strange one to swallow when it comes to drawing out how to keep interest in a sequel and not go completely into doing a "slasher ending" bit, which here happen to involve, well, swords and body stuff (some "final girls" end up coping better than others, suffice to say). But I accept it because it was a neat ride that did not bump off the rails into safe-town, so on that note I can safely say it did what one wants most from a sequel: live up to the original and exceed it with fanfare. Terrifier 2 has an obvious target in mind: people who go for the gore and the craft that comes from it. It invites interest in a third film, so on that note...
Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.
No comments:
Post a Comment