Terrifier 2

That Marvel possibly cottoning on that maybe two hours plus movies are just getting too much (Both Dr Strange and the recent Thor came it at just over two) will hopefully spread beyond. However it seems too early for the makers Terrifier 2. That comes in at around two hours twenty. Not that it is much of a problem as it’s pretty well paced with barely a dull moment. No, time is certainly not one of Terrifier 2’s problems.

Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) is resurrected in a very strange way and then sets his sights on the town of Miles County as before. This time it’s Halloween and the object of whatever is driving him is a family that has recently lost their father. Mother Barbara (Sarah Voigt) daughter Sienna (Lauren LaVera) and serial killer obsessed Jonathan (Elliott Fullam) with whom Art seems to have a psychic connection.

Truly there isn’t that much else as when the clown hits town he kills anything that appears to get on his nerves or annoy him. And some that don’t as this isn’t about complex motives and psychological profiling. So a shop assistant gets slaughtered for asking him to pay up while someone in a laundrette just ends up with a pole through the mouth for being there.

And primarily this is about the violence of the kill. This isn’t some grandiose Saw type puzzle, from writer and director Damien Leone, this is just anything that comes to hand. A truly vicious attack that leaves the victim almost skinned and barely alive is reminiscent of the Mary Kelly photo after Jack the Ripper attack. Mother turns up and he next we see is her head brain scooped out filled with sweets that Art then offers to the Trick or Treaters.

The characters are fine while LaVera and Fullam working well as siblings. The others aren’t that rounded being there as Art fodder.
There are weak attempts at black comedy with the clown’s eyes and mannerisms but they fall flat as these killings are far too cruel and grim for any humour to be gleaned. That though in the end down to the taste and tolerance of the individual viewer.

What this is about, and confirmed late in the film, is building on the first film by upping the violence and adding in a little girl that could be related to Art. This is franchise and ‘universe’ construction.

It has a full theatrical release and my guess is it will have to make its money in the first week as I can’t see many wanting to repeat the experience.