Viewed – 02 June 2016  online-rental

They say be careful what you wish for.  I grew up in the eighties, a golden era for horror, but also a time when censorship was rife.  I recall watching slashers like Halloween or Friday the 13th and wishing those kills had been more graphic.  Yeah, I was that kid; a bit of a gore-hound.  These days it’s different.  Censorship hasn’t got the strangle-hold on the genre it once had, and that can be a good or bad thing depending on your taste.  For me it’s an all you can eat buffet!

Terrifier is my first introduction to freaky homicidal clown ‘Art’, initially showcased as part of the short ‘All Hallow’s Eve’.  Here he stalks a bunch of individuals on Halloween night, picking them off in increasingly brutal ways.  Immediately I found this is an effective horror icon and one of the most messed up looking creations I’d seen in a long time.  His sheer presence makes the movie, let alone the way he playfully despatches his victims.  The characters, as wafer-thin as they are, managed to get me routing for them and wondering who might survive.  Unlike similar movies they’re not all that annoying either (apart from one drunk girl).

Director Damien Leone was clearly working with a low budget, with all the cash obviously put into some decent practical effects that thanks to the help of some slick editing make each kill really pack a punch.  The acting varies from passable to very amateurish, and the movie seems to wallow in it’s clichés a bit too much.  Yet we do get some great camera work and an effective, grainy 80’s aesthetic, meaning I still came away impressed.  Certainly not for everyone, but if you’re serious about horror, this is one to see.

Verdict:  3.5 /5