Terrifier 2 remains one of the most surprising films of the past year or so, and not just because of its shocking brutality and nasty gore. The explanation lies in between the blood and screams, in the artistry with which filmmaker Damien Leone and his astounding cast and crew (including a magnetic, powerful Lauren LaVera in a star-making performance) manifest their collective vision — or nightmare. They managed to downright transmogrify each dollar of a relatively low-budget film so that it seemed to cost 40 times what it actually did. Beyond the aesthetic and technical mastery, the film is simply bolder than nearly any recent horror film, confident enough to embrace surreal fantasy elements and to gamble on its 138-minute runtime; most horror flicks shy away from 90, ironically fearful of their own diminishing scares. Leone wasn’t bluffing.
The truly one-of-a-kind Terrifier 2 not only drew five times as much as its initial budget needed from an Indiegogo campaign, but then grossed more than 60 times its budget. A recent 4K box set featuring Terrifier, Terrifier 2, and All Hallow’s Eve (every film Leone has directed featuring the terrifying murderer Art the Clown so far) sold out rapidly, though the films are of course available individually on home media and streaming (see below). But this all goes to show the immense popularity of the character and the director. These films have struck a chord, and the sound which reverberates has haunted and excited millions of us. The echoes continued with a successful Nov. 1st theatrical re-release of Terrifier 2.
As news and rumors swirl about the digital aether regarding next year’s sequel, Terrifier 3, and the possible plot of a fourth film, we spoke with Leone over email about his films, their reception (both positive and negative), and the future of horror — his and ours.
Art the Clown Will Not Die
Terrifier 2
- Director
- Damien Leone
- Cast
- Felissa Rose, David Howard Thornton, Samantha Scaffidi, Griffin Santopietro, Tamara Glynn, Lauren LaVera
- Release Date
- October 6, 2022
- Runtime
- 138 min
MovieWeb: The Nov. 1st theatrical event seemed like a real gift for the fans, what’s your reception to their reception of Art the Clown and Terrifier 2?
Damien Leone: The fan reaction to the re-release has been nothing short of amazing, and it feels as though it’s the original release all over again. That’s a testament to how supportive the Terrifier fans are, and it’s why we try so hard to deliver the goods.
MW: You ideated the character, and have made spectacular films with him, but when and why did you first envision a larger horror universe surrounding Art the Clown?
Damien Leone: Once I decided to bring Art back from the dead and embrace the supernatural in Terrifier 2, it just opened up an entire world of possibilities. It basically opens a gateway to the beyond or a dark dimension that can harbor all sorts of fantastic evil.
It was also imperative that we introduce a worthy opponent or final girl in Sienna, who could really stand up to Art. Once you establish a seemingly immortal and unstoppable villain, it’s only fitting that you introduce a hero that acts as a counterpart and shares some of the same supernatural characteristics.
The Lovers and Critics of Terrifier’s Extreme Violence
MW: There is a level of surrealism or absurdity, slight as it may be sometimes, of your films that almost protects the viewer from being traumatized by the imagery (well, most viewers). But you capture suffering in a hauntingly real way. This is a bit abstract, but which do you think affects people more (either in a titillating or shocking way) — the gore and violence of your films, or the human suffering?
Damien Leone: One of the main reasons I’ve found myself injecting more levity into the Terrifier films and a more heightened sense of the surreal is so I can approach the violence as realistically as possible. There needs to be a balance. If the gore is too extreme and the movie takes itself way too seriously, the audience is almost guaranteed to walk away from the theater feeling very depressed. This isn’t the overall quality I want Terrifier to have, but there is an artistry to capturing realistic gore that I admire. Unless you’re specifically going for laughs with your kill scene, the more realistic and disturbing the execution, the more visceral the reaction.
MW: Though Art is an equal opportunity killer, some people have seen violence against women as a predominant theme. Do you ignore reactions like that, or is there a thematic or meaningful function to the gendered kills?
Damien Leone: I completely ignore it on a personal level because I’m the furthest thing from a misogynist, but violence against women is a powerful component of the slasher genre, as is the final girl. This is the classic trope and it’s more profound than people give it credit for. Historically, men are more savage and more brutal than women. It’s the nature of man to battle one another, to conquer lands, to hunt, etc. A male psychopath attacking a vulnerable woman is more effective and more disturbing on many levels, in turn making the villain much more reprehensible. This makes the audience 10x more empathetic for your final girl, and it’s exhilarating to root for them. Now, I would understand the argument a little more if your male villain slaughtered women throughout the entire film only to have a male come in to save the day at the end.
My goal with Terrifier 2, especially, was to craft a very formidable final girl, who was very relatable and an obvious underdog against this seemingly immortal maniac. Audiences love an underdog, especially when they use their wits and courage to overcome extreme obstacles.
Damien Leone on Terrifier 3 and the Future of Horror
MW: Has the reception of Terrifier 2 changed your original vision for Art the Clown and Terrifier 3, and in what way if so?
Damien Leone: Not too much. The only thing I’m very conscious of when going into Terrifier 3 is trying to make a film under two hours and pulling back slightly on the mystical/fantasy element that was so prevalent in part two. A fair amount of fans were dismissive of those two components, but I personally love the fantasy element surrounding Sienna, and it is crucial to her character and her metamorphosis as Art’s nemesis. That being said, there is a way to maintain that element thematically while not focusing on it too much visually.
MW: When making Terrifier 2, and now in developing Terrifier 3, did you feel the pressure to get gorier, more horrific, and altogether more disturbing? If so, do you appreciate that pressure, and where does it end?
Damien Leone: I do! The gore or the special makeup effects have become an integral part of this franchise and topping the previous film’s big kill has become a staple. I want part three to be the goriest and most depraved of the franchise thus far, but I also want it to be the scariest.
Gore only gets you so far, and I’m just as interested in crafting a chilling film that really gives you the willies. I want to approach the film as if no one has ever been introduced to Art the Clown yet in order to make him truly terrifying.
MW: A lot of people believe that you’re at the forefront of the entire horror genre today. Who are some creators (or some projects) that you feel are at the forefront?
Damien Leone: Oh, wow! No pressure! That’s an honor and a privilege to hear, but I’m always trying to prove myself and grow as a filmmaker. I feel I have a long way to go and a lot to learn, but I’ll always do my best! I think the horror genre is in the midst of a sort of renaissance right now, and there are so many people making exceptional films! As far as newcomers go, I really admire the work of Robert Eggers, Ari Aster and Panos Cosmatos to name a few. They’re making very unique and exciting films that push the genre into more daring territory. Nothing irks me more than generic horror films that feel like they’ve come off an assembly line.
Well, the very last thing you can say about Leone’s films is that they’re manufactured on a studio assembly line. In fact, Leone is one of the most innovative, artistic, and thoughtful horror directors working today. You can watch All Hallow’s Eve on AMC+ and Tubi, or rent it on digital platforms; you can watch Terrifier on Tubi, Plex, Peacock, Vudu, and Prime Video; you can watch Terrifier 2 on Prime Video or rent it on any digital platform like Google Play or Apple TV.
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