ART IS BACK AND READY TO TAKE ON SOME STORY
I love that this Terrifier movie works as having some characters that we can care a lot about and get invested in. As well as start to develop a story that we can enjoy within all the gore madness. Art is still Art. His antics and mannerisms are so polished you would be shocked to even think this is only the second film David Howard Thornton portrays Art. He is fully developed as a horror villain and icon already at this point and I fucking love it. The director knows that it’s okay to make some insufferable annoying characters to kill off. It feels like a throwback to old slashers in that way and I love that. The backstory of the dad and Sienna being connected to Art in a way shown by the drawings I thought was a cool way to say there is this bond between them that isn’t obvious, but it’s there. I think there is a lot more they can explore on this. The advancement of the story and progression of the Halloween day and night gives Art plenty to work with in kills, interactions, and showings. Every scene with him is gold.
THE DEBUT IN TERRIFIER OR LAUREN LAVERA
When we needed it most, we got injected with the debut of Laura LaVera as Sienna in the franchise as our beloved final girl! And I’ve never seen someone so born to be a final girl quite like she is. Of course there are some classic final girls I won’t put her above, but she is right up there with them. She is hot, plays a great worried character throughout when faced with the visions and appearances of Art, and then developed into an absolute badass with wings and a sword to face a demonic clown. She gives us someone we can follow heavily between Art’s killing spree and her relationship with her brother is really warming. They found the perfect girl to play that roll and help that movie have as much success as it did in theatres and amongst fans. She is a gem.
THE KILLS THAT WE HAVE GROWN TO LOVE
This movie knows we want kills. And boy do we get them! The costume shop cashier gets FUCKED up. Bottle in the eye, butcher knife in the head, then head chopped off. That was all cause he pressed Art for buying a horn. The mother getting shot point blank with a shotgun was hysterical to me. I laugh anytime a slasher like this uses a gun just cause it’s easiest. Then setting her up at the table and feeding her mashed potatoes in front of her son was WILD. Now to the kill of the entire film and kill of the year. The dismemberment of Allie. This went on uncomfortably long and you didn’t think it would get any more cruel, but it did. A slash in the face was a slow start, then scissors through the scalp to rip that clean off and expose her brain was when we ramped it to a 10. Wasn’t going to stop there at all, stabbing, breaking her arm, ripping her hand in half, and then carving through her limbs and legs ensued. So once that had dragged on for a while, the excited Art runs in with bleach and salt and is pouring it ALL OVER HER. He literally rubs salt in the wounds and is making it snow with the salt. This dude is fucked.
FINAL IMPRESSIONS
I thought as a film this is a big step up from Terrifier 1. The longer run time helped but more characters, a little bit of story, and more exposure to Art is why this movie thrived. Plus the kills were basically viral discussions throughout its release. Helped lead this film to several additional theatres nationwide it was exposed to and played in. This helped Terrifier 2 sweep the nation for horror fans and helped launch Art into a stratosphere of horror icons that we haven’t seen since ghostface. Sure Victor Crowley is cool, but Art is already leaps and bounds above Victor as it pertains to pop culture craze.
C. A. ROETHLE
The Cinema Speakeasy Theatre Room 
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