Director Damien Leone turns his excellent short film into a feature-length presentation with this gruesome throwback to '80s slasher flicks. Art the Clown is just as creepy and sadistic as ever. I was a little disappointed to find that his supernatural qualities were toned down outside of the startling morgue scene. So in the end he comes off less as an unstoppable demonic entity and more like a weirdly resilient dude in a costume. Didn't hinder my enjoyment of the character or overall movie much at all though as Art is still very unsettling in appearance and takes the same gleeful amusement in his cruelty. His pantomime routine is quite amusing in a demented sort of way, giving the film a pitch black sense of humor. Stripping Art of his otherworldly abilities is something that was most likely done to avoid Pennywise comparisons. A futile effort as, despite being entirely different kinds of horror films, the simple fact that they both have clown antagonists and came out around the same time means that Terrifier will always be juxtaposed with that equally great Stephen King adaptation by the majority of people. A shame as they are very much their own beasts. I love the low-budget, grindhouse aesthetics. It really sells the exploitation style horror Leone was going for. It gives the deaths a nastier, sleazier appeal and even makes some of the more lackluster practical gore effects easier to forgive. The scenes where Jenna Kanell is stalked through a warehouse garage are coated in purple neon light and are just gorgeous. One of the movie's greatest strengths is it's ability to usher in and kill off new victims in a believable manner and at a regular pace. Not only do we get to see more of Art's twisted torture sequences, but it also means that we don't get stuck watching the same person narrowly avoid death again and again before the credits roll. It makes the night that never seems to end go by a little bit smoother. Not that you'll actually want it to conclude. Terrifier has sick surprises for you around every corner that only get more disturbing as it progresses. It isn't for the faint of heart because this movie crosses some lines most modern horror films wouldn't even dream of anymore. This one is for the horror buffs. Admittedly, the whole thing is a little formulaic. You're just watching people get hunted and executed by an enigmatic psychopath. Not exactly an original premise or anything. What makes Terrifier work though is that it really does manage to feel like a dirty grindhouse horror film from 30 years ago. It's a non-stop barrage of mean-spirited thrills and creepy antics from a silent menace who will make your skin crawl. Art the Clown is such an unsettling creation that Damien Leone and David Howard Thornton deserve to become household names in the genre. Check this one out if you love brutality, have an iron constitution, and miss old-school horror.