Terrifier

Director – Damien Leone

Starring – Jenna Kanell, Samantha Scaffidi, Catherine Corcoran and David Howard Thornton

Runtime – 85 minutes

Release date – 15th March 2018

Plot – A maniac named Art the Clown terrorises two friends on Halloween and everyone who gets in his way.

REVIEW:

When I sat down to watch Terrifier, I wondered if I needed to see All Hallows Eve first, as it’s the first-ever appearance of Art the Clown. However, I quickly found out that there’s no direct connection between the two films. You don’t need to have watched All Hallows Eve to understand Terrifier. While Art the Clown’s sinister persona is introduced in the earlier film, Terrifier stands on its own, and no prior knowledge of Art is required to follow the plot.

The first 30 minutes of Terrifier felt slow-paced, not in a way that builds tension, but more likely due to budget constraints. While the initial atmosphere is dark and unsettling, it takes a while for the plot to truly get moving. Once the horror begins, though, Art the Clown wastes no time unleashing chaos. Unfortunately, the slow start makes it hard to engage fully, and it feels more like a student film than a polished piece of work.

One of the film’s biggest downfalls is the acting. Many of the performances come off as shoddy, with laughable reactions to death scenes and injuries. A prime example is when Art pins down Tara; you can clearly tell his hands aren’t applying any real pressure, which takes away from the believability of the moment. The characters’ reactions and decisions, like when Tara knocks Art down and just yells at him instead of finishing him off, add to the film’s frustrating, eye-rolling moments. These choices undermine the intensity of the scenes and make it harder to fully immerse in the tension, as the characters’ actions often feel illogical or forced.

That being said, Terrifier shines in its practical effects. The infamous saw scene is grotesque and memorable, though I didn’t find it as stomach-churning as I expected. For me, films like Hostel are more likely to make me squirm due to their higher production quality and more convincing performances. While the gore in Terrifier is certainly a talking point, it’s not enough to elevate the film beyond its limitations.

One of the most disappointing aspects of the movie is its lack of a strong narrative. While Terrifier succeeds in delivering brutal kills and body horror, the weak story and poor acting overshadow what could have been a truly terrifying experience. Art the Clown is an unsettling villain, and the practical effects are impressive for the budget, but they can’t carry the entire film.

In the end, Terrifier had a lot of hype but didn’t quite live up to it. Though it offers good practical gore, it suffers from its low quality, weak story, and subpar acting. I’m hopeful the sequel, with its larger budget, will fix some of these issues and provide a more satisfying horror experience.

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