Terrifier (2011)
8/10
Terrifier (2011) Review
9 January 2014
A twenty minute short that will leave any fan of the slasher film genre begging for more. This is violent, special effect loaded, and creates a sense of hopelessness and dread that will haunt you even in the minutes afterwards.

I know more than one person who is terribly scared of clowns. And I am not talking about scary looking clowns either. They are scared if even the traditional colourful, happy clowns who sport a bag of tricks. So, imagine, exposing these people to one of the creepiest looking clowns in existence. Art the clown is just that, and he is not exactly human either.

How do I describe how Art the clown looks? White face paint. Black lips. Rotting teeth. Long Pointy nose. Mountain shaped eyebrows. Black and white costume. Black top hat on the side of his head. Blood spills, shining vividly, and brightly when on his skin.

How do I describe how Art the clown acts? He smiles when caught in the middle of a violent crime. He laughs hysterically, and mocks, yet no sound comes out. Mysteriously appears in random places.

How do I describe what Art the clown does? Sinister. Violent. Bag of weapons is his bag of toys. Defecates all over public washrooms. Kills no person in the exact same way. Brings victims back to his garage for mutilation, or just does it in public.

Art the clown is a murderous entity. Likely a demon of sorts. Who does not seem to like humans very much. His final kill shows his opinion on women, yet his first kill does not make me think he favourites men either.

For a short film, a lot is accomplished. Filmed in a gritty, old school Grind-house type way, Terrifer creates an atmosphere that is comparable to sitting down in an electric chair just waiting for the trigger to be pulled. You know, complete hopelessness, essentially.

Anyone who gets in Art's way, or lays eyes on him, might as well just give up, reminiscent over the good times, and kill themselves quickly before the clown gets the chance to play with them.

Starts in the traditional sense with a girl, played by Marie Maser, lost at a gas station. The attendant (Michael Chmiel) helps her, after dealing with a weird man dressed in a clown costume, who decided to poop all over the place in the washroom.

The clown, Art, played by Mike Giannelli, walks away harmlessly. Well, after stealing a garbage bag for whatever reason, anyways. Minutes later, the attendant hears a noise, and goes back into the station. Can you guess what happens next?

This is your classic chase between a slasher and his final girl. With a classical filming style, decent enough acting, a wise soundtrack consisting of mostly piano riffs, and a killer clown that is capable of making It's Pennywise jealous, you are in for a treat.

Hell, I'll GO even further and downright say if handled correctly, this killer could be the next major slasher. An anthology film titled All Hallows Eve, was released recently, featuring this short, and while I have not watched it, all I keep hearing is that Art the Clown was the only good thing about it.

Someone give Damien Leone a big budget, and let him write a script to an hour in a half long film featuring Art the Clown. Judging from his twenty minute magic, I think the man has a pretty good idea of what works in a slasher film.

Superpower Film Scale: 4/5 On the verge of greatness

1: Villainous Waste

2: Careless Bystander

3: Hero unaware of powers

4. On the verge of greatness

5. Heroic film
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