Damien Leone’s “Terrifier”

Terrifier (2016)

Effective grindhouse slasher that lacks the depth to be considered a classic

Terrifier is a rollercoaster ride that’s probably best watched in a crowded cinema. Promising a tasteless, no holds barred slasher flick, it delivers just that and nothing more. The premise is quite simple. After a night out drinking, friends Tara(Jenna Kanell) and Dawn(Catherine Corcoran) cross paths with Art the Clown perfectly played with silent menace by David Howard Thornton. Leone does well to build tension and the lighting in the film is reminiscent of Dario Argento. It’s great to look at particularly considering its modest budget ($35,000) and the makup effects for Art are fantastic.

Is it more than a rollercoaster ride? No. It’s a grindhouse-style gore fest with minimal story but that’s okay. The pace removes any time to even notice the fact that there’s no layers; what you see is what you get. It’s a tasteless funhouse ride of 86 minutes, a popcorn film for the horror genre that manages to pull off some genuine surprises while maintaining suspense throughout.

If you want to switch off your brain and experience the catharsis one gets out of watching a sustained, gooey horror and safely walking away, this is for you.