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Terrifier 2
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Wikipedia article
'Terrifier 2' is a 2022 American slasher film written, directed, and produced by Damien Leone. It is a sequel to 'Terrifier' (2016), and is the second film in the franchise. It features the return of David Howard Thornton and Samantha Scaffidi, who respectively portrayed Art the Clown and Victoria Heyes in the first film, and stars Lauren LaVera, Elliot Fullam, Sarah Voigt, Kailey Hyman, and Casey Harnett. The story follows Art's resurrection and pursuit of Sienna Shaw (LaVera) and her younger brother Jonathan (Fullam) on Halloween nighta year after mutilating sole survivor Victoria (Scaffidi) and committing suicide upon police confrontation.
The film originates from a feature film concept Leone began developing shortly after filming his directorial debut short film 'The 9th Circle' (2009). The concept of the planned film focused heavily on a heroine in an angel costume battling the Art character. It ultimately fell apart, but after the release of 'Terrifier' (2016), Leone wanted to bring the heroine back as the protagonistshe would evolve into Sienna, someone Leone describes as the "heart and soul" of 'Terrifier 2'. Leone spent three months writing a character-driven screenplay following criticism of the first film's perceived lack of narrative.
Funding for the film was exacting as the script was more ambitious than the first film and required a bigger budget. Leone turned down some companies due to pressure to trim the script and to sell the rights of the Art the Clown character. Once Leone secured funding from private investors before filming, he launched an Indiegogo campaign with a $50k goal to film a practical effects-driven scene. The campaign was a massive success, reaching over 430% of the initial goal with a total of $250k donations. Despite this, Leone has yet to honor commitments made to many of the campaigns contributors nearly three full years after these donations were received. It is one of the numerous films impacted by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic with principal photography coming to a halt mid-2020 due to the pandemic lockdowns. Filming resumed in September of that year.
'Terrifier 2' had its world premiere at the FrightFest on August 29, 2022 and is scheduled to be released in the United States on October 6, 2022.
Premise
After mutilating sole survivor Victoria Heyes (Scaffidi) and committing suicide upon police confrontation, Art (Thornton) is resurrected by a sinister being a year later and begins a hunt for two unsuspecting siblings in the Miles County area on Halloween night.
Cast
*David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown
*Lauren LaVera as Sienna Shaw
*Elliott Fullam as Jonathan Shaw
*Sarah Voigt as Barbara
*Kailey Hyman as Brooke
*Casey Hartnett as Allie
*Samantha Scaffidi as Victoria Heyes
*Felissa Rose as Ms. Principe
*Tamara Glynn as Shopping Mother
*Nedim Jahi as Travis Bryant
Development
Writing
Damien Leone revealed February 12, 2019, in a post on his social media showing the cover page that the first draft of the screenplay was complete. After writing and directing the short film 'The 9th Circle' (2009), Leone began developing a feature length film focusing on the Art the Clown character and a heroine in an angel costume battling him. This version of the film ultimately got scrapped. After the 2016 film got criticism for its perceived lack of narrative, Leone spent three months writing a character-orientated screenplay for the follow-up film.
He opted to bring back the angel-attired heroine a decade later and adapt her into Sienna Shaw. Leone describes much of the screenplay revolving around the teenage girl. He describes Sienna as his favorite character he has ever written. Leone describes the screenplay as much bigger in scope than the previous film and recollects not considering a budget while writing.
One of the factors during writing was establishing an adversary to Artsomething inspired by the relationship between superhero Batman and supervillain Joker. During a lunch with Leone and David Howard Thornton, Sienna's actress, Lauren LaVera, was told of this intended dynamic between her character and Art. Besides Sienna, LaVera recollects the script focusing heavily on Sienna's younger brother Jonathan, their mother, and her friendsall of which play a crucial part in the story.
Casting
Both Thornton and Scaffidi were confirmed to reprise their respective roles of Art and Victoria, becoming the only returning cast members of the prior film, other than according to IMDb a brief voice cameo by Michael Leavy (who played Will the Exterminator who got beheaded in the original Terrifier) as the Club Announcer and DJ voice. There are also rumors of Steven Della Salla and Jason Leavy, the two cops in the original film returning in a cameo fashion. This would make sense considering the three are also all producers on the second installment. On September 11, 2019 it was announced that actress Lauren LaVera was cast in the lead role of Sienna Shaw. On October 15, it was announced that Felissa Rose, Chris Jericho and Tamara Glynn had joined the cast in cameo roles.
Filming
While Leone had secured full funding for the film from a handful of private investors prior to filming, he launched an Indiegogo with a $50k goal to finance a practical effects driven scene and to attach a well known actor to the project. The campaign was a major success, grossing over $125k in the first week. It reached a total of $250k by the end of the campaign, 430% more than the initial goal.Filming began in October 2019. While a majority of the film's main storyline has already been completed, principal photography was halted due to COVID-19, becoming one of many films impacted by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. On September 7, Leone revealed that he was in the process of working on the prosthetic makeup for Victoria's disfigured face in preparation of filming Samantha Scaffidi's scenes. As Sienna's costume received a positive reception when production stills were officially released, when asked about the attire, LaVera described liking it on the first day of wearing it but began to feel disdain for it throughout the course of filming as it was uncomfortable to wear. She even obtained blisters from wearing it. Filming quietly resumed and wrapped on July 10, 2021.
Story
Terrifier 2 has taken on a fantastical approach akin to it's prequel All Hallows Eve, which portrays Art the clown as possessing supernatural abilities such as teleportation and invulnurability.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10403420/reviews?ref_=tt_sa_3"Sienna's dead artist father was linked to Art, drawing pictures of the clown and his victims in his sketchbook. Sienna's father also gave her a sword before he died, which turns out to have magical properties that the plot doesn't explain very well (or at all). Furthermore, Art has a sidekick, a little girl, one of his previous victims who is now demonic. The finale in which Sienna becomes a super bad-ass warrior wielding her magic blade to give Art a bit of his own medicine."
Marketing
A teaser trailer for 'Terrifier 2' was released on July 24, 2020. MovieWeb's Jeremy Dick commented on the teaser, stating that "the teaser is pretty exciting to watch for anyone who enjoyed the first movie." Matt Joseph of We Got This Covered also reviewed the trailer, writing "This trailer, though brief, does at least promise a bigger, bloodier and more terrifying sequel, one that should have no issue pleasing those who found much to like in the original."It was also announced that a three issue limited release comic book series would be issued prior to the film's release.
Release
'Terrifier 2' had its world premiere at the Fantastic Fest on August 29, 2022, and is slated for a theatrical release October 6, 2022 by Bloody Disgusting. The film is intended to later stream on Screambox, as well as play at various "prominent genre festivals" prior to its official release. Leone had previously expressed a desire to release the movie "road show style" once it is finished.
Future
Both Leone and Thornton have confirmed that a 'Terrifier 3' is planned, along with further installments that will slowly build on Art's background and motives. Having the heroine of 'Terrifier' (2016) driven insane, 'Terrifier 2's protagonist is set to be a franchise lead and return in future films and related media. Leone has also stated himself that he may have more than enough material for 'Terrifier 3' to warrant a 'Terrifier 4'.
References
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