Terrifier 3.

Review #2273: Terrifier 3.

Cast: 

David Howard Thornton (Art the Clown), Lauren LaVera (Sienna Shaw), Elliot Fullam (Jonathan Shaw), Samantha Scaffidi (Victoria "Vicky" Heyes), Margaret Anne Florence (Jessica), Bryce Johnson (Greg), Antonella Rose (Gabbie), Chris Jericho (Burke), Daniel Roebuck (Santa Claus), Tom Savini (a bystander), and Jason Patric (Michael Shaw) Directed by Damien Leone (#2271 - Terrifier, #2272 - Terrifier 2)

Review: 

“Yeah, I do set boundaries on myself. I would say there’s no subject matter that’s too taboo that I won’t tackle it, if I really feel it’s necessary to the story or something. But then if I decide to go in that direction, it’s my responsibility to execute it in a tolerable way and to see if I could still make it palatable somehow—because we could certainly make these scenes 10 times worse than they are. But then you’re really going to alienate everybody. And ultimately, I want this to be a fun experience for the audience, even though that’s—of course, taste is subjective and we’re clearly going beyond the boundaries of what some people feel is accessible, acceptable, and what their taste is.”

...I really should kick myself for not inquiring earlier about the Terrifier films. No, really, I should. These are films that Damien Leone clearly put his soul into when it comes to making clear-headed horror film that ended up far better than I expected them to be. The interest for these films is a hell of a thing to think about. Leone aimed to make sequels that would not simply just be gorefests for its mime clown killer but instead build on the weird journey that arises from having both gore and humor. Leone has stated countless times about the kind of curiosity that the films have generated for its fans, ones who really are "trying to find ways to deal with the horrors of reality". You don't always get horror sequels that increase their budget (apparently $2 million here) from before, but this is one of them, complete with deciding to be a Christmas-themed horror movie. It also begins with a cold open because Leone aimed to remind one quickly about the creep factor intended with this lead character right then and there from someone who has stated their appreciation for Black Christmas and Tales from the Crypt's "And All Through the House". The aim of gore and disgust for a certain type of audience was the perfect bait for me to watch on opening night, but I would like to personally thank Cinemark for having a "one-day only" double feature of the second film and this one so I could make up for my stupidity. A fourth film apparently is in development, so we shall see where that could go in gut-churners.

I wonder sometimes why I enjoy certain kinds of "depraved" movies. Mayhem is fun when you are ready for where it is going to go in terms of enthusiasm from the person behind the camera, and I think certain people go for these kinds of movies because they like it as a vessel of release from what they see in their own life. You could see garbage or flowers in the proverbial field of life, but you sure need something to deal with what you see day after day, and movies are quite the way to confront that itch. With Art the Clown, we have a guy who awakens after a five-year sleep to go right back to the craft of dedicated, equal-opportunity mayhem that seems to reflect the viewer when it comes to dedicating time to the craft. It is the kind of movie to inspire the same amount of wincing (if not more) when it comes to the execution of carnage in a 125-minute venture for relative curiosity. LaVera and Scaffidi are the key returning (speaking) people returning for this film, and each do a pretty useful job in showing the reflection of what it means to live in the shadow of terror (if one forgets, the second film ended with a birthing scene). One can either be chilling or resourceful when it comes to coping with seeing the face of their plight then and back and again, and each are committed to making those moments engage with the audience. This is an atmosphere of strange swords and possessions that I enjoyed seeing play out to the end for 125 minutes because it pushes that envelope just a bit further beyond having a Santa impersonator get their beard ripped off (think "bomb" and go from there). While it might not make as much of a splash as it would like when it comes to examining the after-events of terror, but it has enough energy to rise above say, an average 80s slasher (complete with Clint Howard showing up for whatever reason), and it is clear from its ending that no matter where it ultimately ends up, one probably won't be shortchanged. I do think there will be a fun debate over just which sequel is the standout feature (the second might be a smidge better). You don't get many sequels that seem to polish further on the previous venture, particularly since the second already polished what had come before in the first film. But here we are with a movie I enjoyed pretty well and look forward to getting around to again maybe a few years down the line when thinking back to gory yuletide stuff.

Overall, I give it 8 out of 10 stars.

Terrifier 2.

Review #2272: Terrifier 2.

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.

Terrifier.

Review #2271: Terrifier.

Cast: 

Jenna Kanell (Tara), Samantha Scaffidi (Victoria), David Howard Thornton (Art the Clown), Catherine Corcoran (Dawn), Pooya Mohseni (the Cat Lady), Matt McAllister (Mike the Exterminator), Katie Maguire (Monica Brown), Gino Cafarelli (Steve), Cory Duval (the coroner), Michael Leavy (Will the Exterminator), and Erick Zamora (Ramone) Written and Directed by Damien Leone.

Review: 

"The main reason we put that violence in is that I wanted it to really stand out. Since I’m a special effects artist, I knew that was going to be one of our strong suits going into the movie. So just packing it with special effects and making them as graphic as possible, I knew that we would stand out. I wanted it to be as graphic and as grisly as possible. I knew people were going to leave the movie talking about the hacksaw scene. It’s so insane and graphic that you know people are going to talk about it. I just tried to put as many things like that in the movie as I could. Nowadays you don’t really have to worry about the rating board unless you’re in Hollywood, which is the one percent. No one is in Hollywood anymore.

Sure, even the indies should get the spotlight. Actually, I was interested in covering Terrifier because its sequel had actually made it onto my local theater two years ago. I didn't have enough time to look into Terrifier and I didn't want to look really dumb in just watching a sequel. So, here we are with making up for lost time. The concept of Art the Clown first came with a short film done in 2008 called "The 9th Circle" by Damien Leone, who had honed his craft as a special effects makeup artist after seeing a VHS tape (called Scream Greats) that covered effects done by Tom Savini and Rick Baker. His love of older slasher films (in particularly "the more graphic ones, the grittier, the more violent ones") influenced him in his pursuit to make a fresh and modern slasher, particularly with a clown. That film, along with another short film "Terrifier", were included as part of the direct-to-video anthology film All Hallows' Eve (2013), which had the framing device of a babysitter discovering some tapes involving the clown (as played by Mike Giannelli), as scripted and directed by Leone. He directed another video feature with Frankenstein vs. The Mummy in 2015, but Terrifier would become his first film to go out in theaters. He made an attempt to crowdfund a film involving Art the Clown (now played by David Howard Thornton when Giannelli retired from acting) on Indiegogo, which interested producer Phil Falcone enough to give them the remaining money needed to make the film. In addition to directing/writing, Leone also edited the movie. The movie was played mostly in festivals but picked up a limited release a few years later. The sequel received more funding (private and campaigning) that resulted in an a more substantial theater release in 2022. The third film is set to be released in theaters tonight.

The best credit that comes for a film like this is that for the money it was made, it sure was worth every penny. I will go on the record by saying that critiquing films as being some sort of "torture porn " is extremely disingenuous. The critique was incredibly stupid when hacks tried to apply it to the Saw series, and I sure as hell am not going to let it go unguarded just because a movie wants to rumble someone's stomach with what *horror* is. Yes, you can have your light, "suspenseful" movies get balanced out with films interested in brutality. You might say it is strange to put some defense for a movie that is really just "fine", but if you can't find a good argument for an average movie, what chance does one have when trying to cite the virtues of a truly great one? The atmosphere of grime that comes from such a small locale is fascinating to me, particularly when it is combined with a horrific threat that has to use pantomime to drive home the point of basically making a "greatest hits" slasher as a film. Sure, there isn't much to the characters (Leone has gone on record as regretting the lack of character development with the lead girl), but I don't find it too much of a big complaint mainly because of the pained delight I had with the film. Thornton is a quality mime that manages to make the art of collecting blood (and other things) onto that delightful suit come off with a dark amusement, at least to me (how does one see a scene where he decides to use a gun and decide, no, I hate this?). The saw sequence is particularly stark in its execution of, well, cutting down someone with certain patience. The climax in particular is quite unnerving to me when it comes to being distinct from the usual "final" survival and escape. I look forward to finding time to see the second film and maybe even the third one when it comes to tests of a certain type of extreme horror and having fun seeing the craft come to life.

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.