"Terrifier" (2016) Review

It's already been a rough Halloween night for Tara and her friend Dawn, and things are only going to get worse. In a drunken stupor, the pair encounter a gangly and suspicious looking man in a clown outfit. It's not long before they realize that this clown doesn't do backyard birthday parties. 

"Terrifier" is a 2016 horror film by written and directed by Damien Leone. Starring Jenna Kannell (Tara), Samantha Scaffidi (Victoria), Catherine Corcoran (Dawn), and David Howard Thorton as the show-stopping, and menacing Art the Clown, this brutal slasher flick is definitely not for the squeamish or faint of heart.

Apart of a recent wave of underground horror films, "Terrifier," features a tiny cast, a shoestring budget, gruesome carnage and unnerving torture. 

Being a streamlined slasher flick, the viewer isn't offered too much of a closer look at its main characters. "Terrifier" never really lets up, and there isn't much room for the characters to breathe--that's the point. The viewer gets just enough of a glimpse at Tara and Dawn, and then Art the Clown takes center stage with his ghastly grin and wordless machinations. While there aren't many standout performances in the flick, it's David Howard Thorton's portrayal of Art the Clown that's sure to scare the socks off even the most avid horror fan.  

Speaking of Art the Clown, his makeup looks absolutely nightmarish. The grueling hours spent in the makeup chair really paid off--so the team that worked on Thorton's look deserves major credit. Apart from the main villain's fantastically ghoulish visage, the effects used for the kills are worth noting as well. Admittedly, the film features some offscreen mayhem, but what the viewer does witness is pure nightmare fuel. No spoilers, but let's just say that there's a scene that features a hacksaw...and that's all I'm going to say."Terrifier" does not pull punches when it comes to bloodshed, and it looks quite good--if that's your thing. 

It's clear that Damien Leone knew what he was doing when he made this flick. It is a pure, heart-stopping, blood-soaked slasher. This will satisfy any gorehound out there, and that's exactly where "Terrifier" excels. 

On the other hand, that's also the film's weakness. At an hour and a half, certain scenes feel drawn out to pad out the runtime. Instead of focusing on the action at hand, it pulls the viewer's attention away to a throwaway character that has nothing to do with the story. 

There were definitely moments where I felt they could have used Art the Clown more effectively, and sometimes his presence seems fruitless. This leads me to my final point--you should never show too much of your villain. No matter how central (and he is the star!) he is to your story. The less the viewer sees of Art, the better!

So if violent, gory, low-budget slasher flicks are your deal, you're definitely going to enjoy "Terrifier." Hopefully with the next installment, (the trailer is out and looks interesting) Damian Leone will dig deeper into his infamous villain, and add some weight to his gruesome exploits.

"Terrifier" is on NetFlix now, and the new trailer for "Terrifier 2" is also out. Don't say I didn't warn you though!

 

       

  

"Train to Busan" (2016) Review

When a chemical spill causes a zombie apocalypse in South Korea, the passengers aboard a train headed to Busan must fight to survive. Seok-woo (Yoo Gong), a finance manager in Seoul is dealing with business and family problems. In an effort to appease his daughter and repair his marriage to his estranged wife, he accompanies his daughter to Busan.

"Train to Busan" is a 2016 Korean horror film written by Park Joo-Suk and Yeon Sang-ho, and directed by Yeon Sang-ho. Starring Yoo Gong (Seok-woo), Ma Dong-seok (Sang-hwa), Jung Yu-mi (Seong-kyeong), and Kim Su-an (Soo-an), "Train to Busan" features a very talented ensemble cast of actors. This apocalyptical zombie thriller is South Korea's sixth highest grossing domestic film. Ma Dong-seok (Sang-hwa) was also nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category for his role in the film. 

As seen here in the states, zombie flicks are churned out faster than you can blink, and many of them have been rather insubstantial in terms of character depth. That's not the case with Yeon's "Busan." 

There are many layers to our main character, Seok-woo (Yoo Gong) and his relationship with his daughter, Soo-an (Kim Su-an) is complicated. Ma Dong-seok, while exemplifying the token buff guy of the cast, shows a range rarely seen in zombie movies. Jung Yu-mi, Ma's counterpart, is natural and aptly emotional while Yoo Gong's daughter (Kim Su-an) provides some near tear-jerking performances. Lastly, what big movie wouldn't be complete without a villain that is easy to hate? Kim Eui-sung's role as Yon-suk, while a bit cliché, is also dynamic. There's definitely a lot to appreciate in the cast and script of this outstanding thriller.

Big props should be given to the team who worked on the zombie and visual effects. There are several sequences that use extras rather than CGI zombies, and it makes a big difference. The zombies in "Busan" are similar to those in "World War Z," and are seen running quickly throughout the movie, but their subtle movements are also of merit. The makeup effects for the zombies are great as well. I'm not sure of the budget, but most of the visual effects are excellent--aside from a few scenes involving large trains and zombie falling out of the sky 😆. 

If there's anything working against the film, it's its runtime and setting. At almost two hours, "Train to Busan" can feel a bit lengthy for a zombie movie, and being limited to the confines of a train makes it difficult for the movie to spread its creative wings.

There's a lot "Busan" gets right though--plenty of zombie action, emotional situations, and a group of characters you actually care about. It offers much more than you'd expect from your typical zombie flick. 

If you're new to Korean cinema, this is a great place to start. Of course, you have to like zombies, too...but who doesn't like zombies?! 😅Do yourself a favor and check out "Train to Busan." You'll be pleasantly surprised at how effective the film is at pulling on your heartstrings. There's even an animated prequel from Yeon Sang-ho called "Seoul Station," and keep your eyes peeled for the official sequel "Peninsula" coming soon!