As the film continues to make headlines with its limited theatrical release, Stephen King has weighed in on Terrifier 2. This year has seen some incredible horror titles see the light of day, as well as continuing many classic franchises such as Halloween, Hellraiser, and Orphan: First Kill. Written and directed by Damien Leone, Terrifier 2 has resurrected yet another slasher franchise, bringing Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) back to the big screen to continue his demonic and gory mission on a new Halloween night. The micro-budgeted film, which earned some of its budget from an Indiegogo campaign, was originally planned as a limited release, and now has been released on 800 screens across the U.S.In a renaissance year for horror, Stephen King, a renowned writer of the genre, has been vocal about his opinions on various film releases. The author, who rose to fame as a horror author over 40 years ago, has created many successful stories that spawned such film franchises as The Shining and It. While King's stories are often adapted for the big screen, the author has a true love of the genre and enjoys showing support for horror films outside his own, including a particularly glowing recent review of Fall. Now, he has offered his take on Terrifier 2.
King tweeted his amusing and brief reaction to the film, acknowledging its gore factor with a simple sentence. His mention of the film's "old-school" style gives a nod to the practical effects and classic over-the-top slasher style employed in the movie. Though King's post keeps it simple, the acclaimed writer's reference to the film "grossin'" him out is high praise from him. See the post above:
Why Terrifier 2 Is More Popular Than Original
Franchise villain Art the Clown actually appeared before 2016, in Leone's 2013 anthology film All Hallow's Eve. The original Terrifier, also helmed by Leone, was relatively recent, having come out in 2016, but faced a long delay before the sequel. Terrifier 2 has managed to outstrip both films in terms of publicity, due to reports of viewers fainting and vomiting at screenings, its Indiegogo campaign, and pure word-of-mouth advertising. The sequel has also earned a boost in its Rotten Tomatoes score, from a 56 percent approval rating from critics for Terrifier to an 87 percent for Terrifier 2.
Terrifier 2 is a rare case of a horror sequel surpassing the original's box office and popularity. The unique horror film clearly made an impression on audiences in screenings due to its violence and the franchise villain's gruesome actions. Terrifier 2 relies more on the blood and gore and less on traditional jump scares or suspense, building on Art's story and adding some good old-fashioned slasher content to 2022's impressive horror roster. Audiences can decide for themselves if they agree with King's review with Terrifier 2 in select theaters across the country.
Source: Stephen King/Twitter