I think I am fully desensitized. I know, I also didn’t think it could happen. Ever since I watched Cannibal Holocaust where real life animals were brutally killed on screen… I don’t think Hollywood blood and violence really affects me now. 

I came to that realization about halfway through Terrifier 2.  

Written and directed by Damien Leone, this 2hr, 18m film starts immediately following the first film. I have to admit, I’ve never seen the first film, so I was a bit confused as to what was happening. However, the new story starts to follow a new character Sienna (played by Lauren LaVera) and her family so my confusion didn’t last long.  

Apparently, Art the Clown (played by David Howard Thornton) was resurrected at the end of the first film, and he decides to vanish for a year. After that year, he comes back to Miles County to terrorize Sienna and everyone that gets in his way. 

Like, Art murders everyone. There’s about two characters that survive. Art the Clown is a sadistic fiend that embodies evil. He goes above and beyond with murder and body mutilation. If you’re squeamish at all, I don’t advise watching this film.  

The script sets up Sienna to be the pro to Art’s con. For the most part, the setup is too obvious. For instance, Sienna spends a lot of time prepping her Halloween costume which is an angelic warrior. The script drives home the plot point of her father gifting Sienna a sword before his death. There’s so much time focusing on the sword that we know that Sienna will be using it to chop down Art by the end of the film. 

The best part of this film is the acting of Thornton and LaVera. LaVera did a heck of a job as Sienna. I loved all the emotion that she put out there. However, the star of the show was Thornton as Art the Clown. He was hilarious, which is weird to say. Art doesn’t talk so Thornton made up for the lack of communication by exuding emotion through his actions, his walk, and especially his eyes and mouth. While the film is a beast at 2 hours long, Art’s hilarity didn’t make it seem that long. 

I will say that the film didn’t need to be that long. Normally, horror films are between 60-90 minutes, but Terrifier 2 lasted 158 minutes.  

I can understand why people could be upset watching this film. With all the corpse mutilation and general terror from Art the Clown, it’s no wonder why people are talking about this film.  

Overall, I thought this film was just okay. The storyline was weak, but the action and humor of Art the Clown sort of cancelled each other out. I heard that a third film is being produced. Hopefully they will explain the origins of Art the Clown. 

31 Days of Horror Rankings: 

1. Deadstream (2022) 
2. Willy’s Wonderland (2021)  
3. Grimcutty (2022)
4. Smile (2022)
5. V/H/S/99 (2022)
6. Watcher (2022)   
7. The Spine of Night (2021)
8. Mad God (2022)
9. Slaxx (2021)
10. She Will (2022)
11. Cannibal Holocaust (1980)
12. Escape Room (2019)
13. We Have Always Lived in the Castle (2018)
14. The Cellar (2022)  
15. The Last Rite (2021)
16. Terrifier 2 (2022)
17. Revealer (2022)  
18. Sissy (2022) 
19. Halloween Ends (2022)
20. Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (2022)
21. Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1982)
22. The Collingswood Story (2002)
23. Werewolf by Night (2022)
24. Firestarter (2022)
25. The Bunker Game (2022)