Terrifier (2016) User Reviews

Too dumb to live, apparently.

[TokyoGyaru · 5/10 · 1 January 2021]

Do you ever watch a slasher film and the characters make SO MANY DUMB CHOICES that you stop hoping they'll get out of it and hope they're put out of their misery instead?

Yeah, this movie is like that.

Art the Clown is a plus because he is truly terrifying-great costume/makeup and great characterization on his part. But the victims ultimately committed the sin of making me not care if they lived or died. They weren't bad concepts, just poorly executed (no pun intended). The film harkens back to some traditional slashers in the mystery of who the killer and his motivation, so that doesn't bother me at all for a slasher film, but the characters' dumb choices are awful no matter the kind of film.

Wasted opportunity....

[spyroskonst · 5/10 · 30 March 2018]

Off to the good stuff first. * The killer clown is the creepiest and scariest i have ever seen. * Considering its budget, the cinematography, gore, effects and make up are outstanding. * The killings are amazingly enjoyable. In this part the movie does not hold back! * It starts out very promising.

Now for the bad stuff: * They kill the main actress at the half of the movie. So.... there is no one really to care about. * The killer clown could have EASILY been killed AT LEAST 5 times during the movie. Once you realize the pattern as a viewer (the clown hurts the victim, victim fights back, knocks off the clown, runs away, the clown re-hunts the victim), it becomes extremely boring and predictable. * They put supernatural stuff crap at the end of the movie, so the clown can be resurrected at any time, hoping the producers to have an easy sequel excuse.

The worst thing of the movie is the "pattern" as i mentioned. I ruins a movie that had the potential of becoming a cult classic.

Better than expected

[spammer-08884 · 6/10 · 28 March 2018]

I didn't hold out much hope for this movie. Was expecting the usual bad acting and shoddy plot. However I was mildly surprised. If you like gore, a little bit of nudity and a killer clown that kind off pulls of crazy without saying a word then this could be for you. Don't expect a Spielberg plot though.

Better than the wonky cam, let's run through the woods movies.

Decent mindless slasher

[horrorgasm · 5 September 2018]

Yes there is almost no plot and it's very nihilistic and gratuitous, but it makes up for that with a truly creepy villain and some very well done and incredibly brutal gore effects.

The acting is perfectly fine. Nothing amazing, but it's perfectly acceptable. A lot better than you usually get in a low budget horror these days.

This isn't a movie that's going to revolutionize the genre, but it's a fun throwback to the good old days of unstoppable silent killers terrorizing people for arbitrary reasons.

Brutal n gory with sufficient atmosphere.

[Fella_shibby · 7/10 · 25 June 2021]

I was not keen on seein this as i haven't seen any of the director's previous films. (Cos the killer in this movie is a spinoff).

I saw this after reading a glowing review by Coventry.

This movie is indeed terrifying in terms of brutality n gore but what i liked more is the atmosphere.

Another good aspect is that nothing is shot in dark n one can easily make out what is going on. No flickering lights, no shaky cam n no fast cut editing.

There is a kill in this movie which is way too brutal than the Sean Bean's one from Black Death.

The only thing i wanted to kno more is the background story of the killer, his motives n the some clarity bah the supernatural ending.

Aft liking this, i wanna check out the director's previous films.

All the Fun of the Unfair...

[Xstal · 6/10 · 24 October 2022]

Here is a film that will induce a big frown, as a marauding psycho wanders around town, with oversized boots and a dark crooked smile, a bag full of tools to remove and restyle, expresses emotions with gesture and mime, will take all you've got when you've just reached your prime, no mercy or pity, as you beg and you plead, feasting on all features, as you drain and you bleed.

If inflicting and unleashing violence and pain on another individual utilising a range of tools is your thing then step on in and enjoy the disturbing world of Art the Clown as he carves his way through several torsos while teaching Takashi Miike and the butchery trade a thing or two about carcass dissection.

Like watching hide & seek for 90 mins; tedious & a bit dull

[derekjager · 4/10 · 1 April 2018]

This film really needed a PLOT. And characters, some people to root for. Instead, the poor pacing, lack of tension and suspense made for a kind of dull film experience. Yes, Art is a crazy, vicious clown killer. If that's all you want, then you'll see it here as he wounds, kills and dismembers people. The problem is, he will injure someone--a woman's ankle is almost torn out--and the next scene, she's running. People have their heads bashed in...and later, are able to get up and function. It really doesn't make a lot of sense and since Art seems to pop up in more places than possible, he's never really a surprise--he's overused. Clearly the director knew the story was thin, so every few minutes, Art pops up to attack someone. It really is disappointing since the short films showed some potential but when a whole film is given to Art, he's boring and predictable. I'm sure there will be another one--I hope the screenplay is given as much attention as the gore effects.

One will be terrified of this clown

[TheLittleSongbird · 6/10 · 17 April 2018]

'Terrifier's' cover looked very cool and eerie. Furthermore, the concept was really intriguing and one of the best for any film personally seen recently. There are some halfway decent killer clown films out there and have an appreciation for horror. So yes 'Terrifier' was watched with some anticipation and want to like it, as well as some apprehension with so many wastes of potential on recent film viewings.

While it is an uneven film, where the first half is better than the second half, 'Terrifier' turned out to be much better than expected. Considering the budget and there are also a fair share of killer clown films that are not good ('Clowntergeist' was a significant recent example in this regard), it could easily have been a bad film if executed in a way that wasted its promise. Luckily, 'Terrifier' didn't fully live up to its promise but it doesn't waste it either.

Quite a lot to like here. 'Terrifier' starts off really well, great even. Despite the slightness of the story that doesn't really do anything new, the first half was tightly paced and genuinely scary and suspenseful with well-timed shocks. The killings are gory, without being gratuitously so while not holding back, nail-biting and inventive. Enjoyed the 80s throwback feel to the atmosphere.

Visually, 'Terrifier' looks pretty impressive for a film made on a high-budget. It's beautifully and stylishly shot, slickly edited and atmospherically lit. The make-up and effects were surprisingly and refreshingly good, seeing as there have been so many recent film viewings where the make up and effects looked terrible that was a real pleasure to see. The killer clown Art is truly freaky and is up there with Pennywise actually as the stuff of nightmares.

Acting from the main cast is better than average, with a likeable lead actress and a fiendishly good David Howard Thornton. It's all competently directed and there is a real eeriness too to the music score.

However, 'Terrifier' sadly has a second half that is not up to the same level. Although there is creepiness, suspense and a few of the killings are inventive, the thinness of the story affects the momentum and things become dull, silly and repetitive, there is a pattern here and one that repeats itself so often that it becomes very predictable quickly. The ending felt rushed and incomplete, leaving the viewer in dumbfounded confusion.

Not that 'Terrifier' was perfect already, it wasn't, but the flaws are more apparent and more problematic in the second half than the first. Not enough of the characters are rootable or interesting enough, with the most likeable characters disappearing too early and any development is sketchy and cliched. The lead character and oddly enough Art are the most interesting characters here.

Although the main cast are fine, the side characters are very annoying in how they are written and portrayed. There are also too many annoying and illogical actions and decision-making which made parts hard to swallow and ridiculous. Too much of the script is limp, ridden with clichés and too often underdeveloped and silly.

Overall, pretty decent with a lot of good merits although with significant problems. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Promising Beginning, Terrible Collection of Stupidities and Clichés

[claudio_carvalho · 4/10 · 7 April 2018]

The overrated "Terrifier" is a horror film with a promising and funny beginning, with the alcoholic Dawn acting like a stupid and the clown accepting the silliness. Until the moment Tara and Dawn are abducted, the film works reasonably well. However, when Victoria drives to give a ride to her sister and Dawn, she hears that there is a serial killer in the area. But even being aware of the dangerous situation, she begins to take a series of very stupid e clichés attitudes culminating in the awful conclusion. My vote is four.

Title (Brazil): Not Available

Note: On 20 October 2022, I saw this film again.

Creepy, disturbing and not bad horror flick

[851222 · 7/10 · 17 August 2018]

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Terrifier" (2017) has to be one of the most cruelest and disturbing horror i've seen in many moons. Its not particularity good, but it does its job in keeping you in an pleasant viewing as well as showing some very disturbing stuff - this movie is not for children, that is for sure.

Overall, "Terrifier" is not bad horror movie overall. Its very disturbing, but its not a gore fest (i hate those). Nice horror flick for those who love this genre, for all others - you better stay far away from this movie.

Terrible

[matthewnoorman · 2/10 · 30 July 2020]

How the heck are people giving this a good rating? The film has zero story line, piss poor acting, and the most overuse of gore in such a generic and unscary way, this film is so predictable its sad. And this film sets the record for most cliches in a horror movie and one of the dumbest protagonist in history. Terrifier has no suspense, no fright, and in no way at all is this a good film. Please if you gave this a good review please never review a film again. You don't know anything about it.

Doesn't try to be anything other than what it is

[stuartvanlinden · 8/10 · 25 February 2019]

If you love old school gory psycho killer horror fare this is unmissable. "Terrifier " has no interest whatsoever in being smart, satirical or post modern, it just wants to wear its mean spirited, gory grindhouse heart on its sleeve - and good for it.

You don't know horror if you rated this 1 star

[jordan-298-233843 · 7/10 · 21 June 2020]

First off art the clown goes way back almost 20 years. There was independent film which is real creepy then there is all hollows Eve which is an anthology watch those then you will appreciate art the clown cheers !

Your usual psycopath from nowhere that kills aaaand kills. That's about it.

[olimpia_smajlaj · 3/10 · 3 April 2018]

Nice clown. Stupid and pointless story. At one point it became boring just about killing one, killing another. It started off in a way it actually made me curious about it.. then boo. Your usual psychopath with no background story that goes on a killing spree precisely on Halloween night. I did like the killings though. Lol it's for the sake of blood and gore that I'm rating this 3.

old school slasher but with a lack of suspense but worth seeing for the gore

[trashgang · 7/10 · 30 April 2019]

Pro's and contra's on my side for this flick. If you watch this being a teen you will turn it off for so many reasons. If you are an old school geek like me then this offers a lot.

Starting this ultra gore one you will notice the color grading, a pure throwback to the heydays of the slashers. And once the opening credits are shown you will get it, this is going to be an ode to the slashers and seventies horrors.

Let that be the reason why teens will turn it off. Not used to see straight in your face horrors full of on-camera effects without the use of CGI. Is it all good, sadly it isn't. Some scene's are too long and there isn't really any suspense. Once the clown comes in you know what is coming, gore. Some reactions are strange or victims doing really stupid things that's what lowers my rating.

For lovers of seventies, eighties horror pick it up. Gorehounds can pick it up too, it's full of red stuff and torture that some will be disgusted.

Nice try this flick, and it was really a time ago that I've seen a horror with gore and effects like this.

Art the Clown slashes up a storm!

[kathaas-78661 · 7/10 · 7 September 2018]

I saw Art the Clown in All Hallow's Eve so pretty much knew what to expect here.

It's all Art, all the time! Some creative killings and activities here, I give him that...and there are some funny moments, as well.

Overall, my husband and I liked it - we went in expecting sort of a B movie quality slasher film and that's what we got!

What's the plot?? He follows someone into an abandoned building and winds up hunting everyone inside. The end. I'm not sure how "deep" other viewers wanted this film to be, but take it at face value and you'll have a good time.

Total Crap!

[danocaster · 2/10 · 29 March 2018]

What a waste. The movie starts out pretty good, with decent cinematography but quickly turns into a tedious bore. The killer clown is eerie at first but then it becomes apparent he's gonna be another Jason or Michael Myers, meaning you can't kill him no matter what you do. However, where the filmmakers really screwed up is by (SPOILER ALERT!). killing off the best character in the movie by far, Tara, the dark haired girl. I thought that the actress was very good and sympathetic and by killing her off in the first half it just wrecked it. We had no one else to care about.. After that all you have is super clown killing everybody. Some of the reviews make you think that you're seeing another great horror classic but I don't think so. A lot of work went into the gore effects but I wish they would have spent as much time on the story. It really goes bad in the second half and I was happy to see it end.

A Senseless Exercise In Violence & Viscera

[CinemaClown · 31 October 2022]

A brutal, barbaric & bestial horror packed with harrowing kills & senseless savagery, Terrifier is completely devoid of basic narrative fundamentals and exists solely to shock, upset, disturb & disgust its viewers with its endless gore & no-holds-barred carnage but for those with a taste for the extreme, this indie slasher may just prove to be a welcome thrill-n-kill ride.

Written, produced, edited & directed by Damien Leone, the plot is merely an outline with nothing of value brewing underneath and only exists as an excuse for the filmmaker to indulge in the old-school tricks that power the violence & viscera. The make-up & special effects are worth noting but with an absent narrative & no characters to support, the film doesn't cover a lot of distance.

Further hampering the journey are the shoddy dialogues & awful performances, not to mention that it's also lacking in tension and is rather predictable & repetitive. The cardboard characters keep making the idiotic choices throughout the film which only diminish our interest in their fate, if there was any. Nevertheless, David Howard Thornton impresses in his role and is sickening to watch.

Overall, Terrifier is as repugnant & repulsive as it is raw & ruthless and often gets carried away with its scenes of torture & terror. While there is an audience for this kind of cinematic offering, the film remains a forgettable ride for the most part. Still, Art the Clown does exhibit promise & potential to become a horror franchise icon but his character & mythology needs to be fleshed out better than how it's done here.

Not the but but not the worst

[andreabruson · 6/10 · 12 September 2023]

This is a movie that certainly will not be remembered for the script or the directing but I guess those were not supposed to be the goals.

The acting is fine enough for a film like this.

Instead, if you are looking for a fun horror to watch, you found one!

The practical effects are really amazing and nothing, I mean NOTHING, is left to the imagination.

Art the Clown is, in my opinion, one of the best creepy killer ever created in the story of this genre and it deserves a little place in the Hall of Fame of slashers characters, with his great makeup and costume and silent madness.

Definitely a movie worth watching but don't expect to see a masterpiece or you will get deluded.

Terrifier: Brutal but generic

[Platypuschow · 5/10 · 18 May 2019]

Art the Clown started back in 2011 with a short movie by the same name, truth be told I didn't like it. The creator Damien Leone would keep Art around in his feature film All Hallows' Eve (2013) but as a small role.

Now here we are and Art has his own movie, but is it any good? Honestly, not really but it's better than his last solo outing.

It follows the standard slasher formula and sees a couple of girls on Halloween night come under attack from a psychotic clown.

So again this is generic stuff, it embraces all the usual tropes and though not predictable certainly has no surprises. It's also pretty ugly and oddly paced throughout.

What Terrifier does have however is sheer unadulterated brutality. This is gory nasty no holds barred merciless stuff, I was quite shocked actually. Considering the budget they make all of it look really good, so kudos to the sfx department.

I love clowns as antagonists but Art doesn't seem to tick enough boxes for me. He's less of a clown and more of a mime and doesn't seem to be an interesting enough character to carry his own film.

Passable stuff but by this time next week I'll have forgotten it.

The Good:

Impressively grisly visuals

Jenna Kanell

Unpredictable

The Bad:

Doesn't exactly flow

Poor cinematography

This one goes all the way!

[BandSAboutMovies · 7/10 · 3 September 2018]

What does it take to have my wife, who has been watching horror movies since she was 9, to get up and walk out on a movie? Well, Terrifier holds your answer.

If you are afraid of clowns, stay away from this movie.

If you are squeamish about gore, don't even start watching it.

Basically, just know that this one goes all the way. And then some. It's like someone told the filmmakers that they were in Italy in 1980 and had bought stock in latex, food coloring and corn syrup.

Al the Clown first showed up in the anthology film All Hallow's Eve. Now, he's back, as the film opens on a talk show hostess interviewing the only survivor of a massacre where she was the only survivor. As the host asks if the woman saw her attacker die, we pull back to reveal Al the Clown destroying a TV set.

Following the interview, we hear the talk show host make fun of the mutilated victim, who soon shows up to gouge out her eyes.

If you've made it this far, you haven't seen anything yet.

After a night of partying, Tara and Dawn are walking down the street and encounter Al carrying a bag of weapons. Dawn yells at him as Tara tells her to settle down. They decide to sober up at a pizza shop when the clown shows up again, leading to Dawn taking selfies with him. Al gets up and gives Tara a toy ring before the owner kicks him out.

The girls return to their car to find their tires slashed and have to call Tara's sister for a ride. They're going better than the pizza shop employees, who are quickly butchered and decimated by the sinister clown. Soon, Tara and Dawn are captured by Al and Tara is forced to watch Dawn get...well, I don't want to ruin it. But I will say that this was the exact moment that Becca got upset and shut off the blu ray. It's that unexpected and intense.

Needless to say, this is the slasher for those of you who have been waiting for a modern version that can live up to movies like The Prowler. My disclaimer above is no joke: this is one brutal movie filled with gallons upon gallons of teh red stuff.

David Howard Thornton, who plays Art, is amazing. He imbues the character with sheer menace and you can see that his mime training really pays off. He's creepy just sitting there or walking on by. Once he gets on a tricycle or starts killing everyone in his path, he gets downright terrifying. Hey - the title makes sense. Director Damien Leone also directed All Hallow's Eve and Frankenstein vs. The Mummy and is someone to watch. Unlike so many modern horror movies, there's definitely attention paid to mood, pacing, color and lighting.

Ruined my halloween

[Ravexina · 3/10 · 1 November 2019]

One of the stupidest movies I have ever saw! The logic of this movie is (-infinity), it has nothing to offer except some gore scenes!

If you really want to be scared and have a fun time ignore this title! trust me... But if you're okay with a sadistic murderer who doesn't die and just creates bloody gore scenes this sh* has been made for you.

Loved it!

[guambrat1 · 8/10 · 6 October 2018]

This movie was insane. I am a horror lover and I don't see a lot of horror movies that actually deserve to be called a horror movie. This one does. It definitely has some of a B movie vibe, but not at all in a bad way. I actually enjoyed that aspect because it felt like it added to the film. This movie is definitely twisted and graphic, but it delivers.

Special effects wizardry...

[urthpainter · 6/10 · 3 April 2018]

...does not make this move anything more than a detailed exhibition in depravity. This is an ugly film, full on sinister content. I'm not saying this is necessarily bad - Terrifier has a kind of directness and purity that I'm sure many slasher/horror fans appreciate. I just need a bit more than violence for it's own sake. I like a villain with a bit of a back story - any story - any story at all? No questions are answered - who, what, when, where, why? Again, I'm sure that someone could tell me why none of this matters with regarding this particular movie, and what Terrifier actually does. Which is?

Horrific violence done with incredible, practical effects. These effects must be seen to be understood. They are effects that make you feel emotion, horror and true discomfort. Can't remember the media reference: book, movie, TV show - but the villain talked about the space between when someone is alive, and when they become an inanimate thing. This can happen in infinite ways, and the writer director of this movie prefers intense physical trauma. His ability to first introduce an actor, then show a brutal death with gory effects, then show the corpse being mutilated? This movie is at the top of that list! No small feat to be sure. I can't even imagine the work that goes into these scenes, and how to make it work in the editing room after the fact. These scenes are the work of a master in this specific area - practical fangora style effects. This guy needs more jobs in Big Budget films!

But that is my opinion, and what I feel Terrifier brings to the table in terms of merit. But also, in my opinion, get this guy a script please! His direction isn't bad! I thought the actors had a kind of believable nature with their dialog and actions. His effect work is jaw dropping (maybe jaw removing?). But this movie has very little content, and almost zero point or depth of meaning. For some, this approach may be admirable, even ideal - but I want a more rounded film with something to actually say.

great effects/shallow content: 6 out of 10

Damn haha

[Clive_W · 1/10 · 6 September 2020]

If your looking for a pointless horror flick, this is not one to check out, even by b movie standard this was poor. I'd strongly recommend the sequel!