Terrier (2017)

Directed by: Damien Leone | 82 minutes | horror, thriller | Actors: Jenna Kanell, Samantha Scaffidi, David Howard Thornton, Catherine Corcoran, Pooya Mohseni, Matt McAllister, Katie Maguire, Gino Cafarelli, Cory DuVal, Michael Leavy, Erick Zamora, Clifton Dunn, Xiomi Frans-Cuber

Clowns: you like them or you hate them. There is no in-between. Well, in the case of Art the Clown, there’s nothing to choose from. This face-painted entertainer is downright scary! Perhaps this is the most disturbing clown in cinema history…

In ‘Terrifier’, Art goes all out on Halloween. A year earlier, this clown made a name for himself by committing a number of brutal murders. This edition he wants to improve his record and he attacks a few drunk ladies, pizza bakers, bums and other night owls. Art’s modus operandi is rather simple: stalk, hostage and go wild with hardware store tools.

Director Damien Leone knows what is scary: silence. During this film, Art does not say a word. You don’t know what’s going on inside him and what his motives are. It exists and you have to deal with it. The soundtrack also reinforces the feeling of fear. You will feel a continuous buzzing bass in your stomach and cause an uncomfortable feeling. The murders themselves are portrayed in an unprecedented raw way. The budget was not generous, but that is compensated by the creativity of the massacres.

A naked lady being sawn in half with a rusty saw is such a creative and downright sick kill. The power of suggestion is also cleverly used. You don’t see everything, but you know that the unscreened murder is horrific. It helps to create a bad atmosphere. This ambiance is enhanced by the primal force of Art, which goes from one misdeed after another. This clown doesn’t stop killing and doesn’t intend to. In addition, the fact that the police force is on his tail is no reason for him to take off his striking white outfit and hide. The Clown continues with his bloody hobby.

The acting isn’t too good. Only Art is sublimely interpreted. The beef is not very noteworthy. Don’t let that stop you from checking out this raw slasher, though. This is must-see for genre fans!