The Terrifier franchise is a gory and green slasher franchise, with all the perfect parts to create a horror icon. For starters, there's more than enough blood and violence for longtime fans to push their limits. Second, there's a terrifying and charismatic killer in Art the Clown, who's filled with mystery and a dark comedic flair. Finally, the films have kept things simple and let the story be told in its own bloody fashion. Even with all the perfect parts to create a long-running franchise, its sequel has become more of a surprise than a given.
Hitting theaters with a broader release, more extended budget and longer runtime, Terrifier 2 defied expectations to become a surprise hit among horror fans. Even with horror movies like Halloween Ends and Smile, Terrifier 2 has still managed to cut and slash above all others to create a tale that disgusts and fits within its strange narrative. With such a poorly received first film that was seen by only a small amount of viewers, how did its sequel gain so much traction?
Was Terrifier a Successful Horror Film?
Narratively, Terrifier was a simple story in which one woman must survive a harrowing night against Art the Clown. But Art, a silent and bloodthirsty killer, wasn't an average slasher, as his desire for blood is shown to take on a somewhat supernatural importance to him. What resulted was an intense film that tested even the most seasoned horror fan with its level of violence. Even though the effects and David Howard Thronton's Art the Clown were praised, the film wasn't a success.
Part of what made Terrifier anything but a hit was due to the content. While the film had its fair share of gross-out horror and irreverent violence, it lacked a strong foundation to justify it. As a result, some critics felt the movie was forgettable. This was bolstered even more when most low-budget slasher films, especially in the '80s, followed a similar path. There was also the belief from some critics that the franchise still needed more time in the proverbial oven, as the concept was solid, but it didn't feel ready to be unleashed on the masses yet.
What Brought Terrifier 2 To Life?
Terrifier 2 felt like a horror miracle given the responses to the first film. However, the release of the sequel proved there were many moving parts to make the sequel a reality, and a lot of that had to do with word of mouth. While most big-budget films that turn into franchises get green-lit by studios and obtain a higher budget, indie films focus more on garnering their funding the hard way. In this case, Terrifier 2's budget was largely garnered thanks to Indiegogo, which exceeded its initial goal and created a larger budget than the original.
With the impact of fan support, Terrifier 2 proved many things that the first film had established. For starters, Terrifier 2's success has proved all the franchise needed was more time to explore its goals and lean into what worked best. In this case, that meant ramping up the violence and chaos without losing its charm. Second, it proved that fans speak louder than any official capacity, even if a film may not be critically beloved. While the original wasn't perfect, it scratched an itch for many and solidified a franchise that could improve with each entry.