Terrifier Review: Is Art the Clown the Scariest New Slasher?

In this episode of Scream Creeps, Jeremy and Josh return to review the 2016 cult horror film Terrifier. This marks their first foray into the franchise before tackling the viral sensation Terrifier 2.

The discussion focuses on the film's gritty, low-budget aesthetic (reminiscent of 80s grindhouse cinema) and the terrifying silent performance of Art the Clown. Josh compares Art's silence to a mime, noting it makes him uniquely unsettling compared to other slashers like Freddy or even Jason. The hosts break down the film's lack of a deep plot—it's essentially a relentless night of killing—but praise the practical effects and gore. Specifically, they dissect the infamous "hacksaw scene," which Josh calls the goriest kill in the movie, where a character is sawed in half from the groin up. They also touch on the bizarre opening interview scene, the "dead cat" twist (wait, wrong movie—they reference a ring from a vending machine here), and the surreal ending where Art shoots himself but survives.

Key Highlights
[00:46] The Origin: Introduction to Terrifier, its low budget of $35,000, and director Damien Leone's background with the character in All Hallow's Eve.
[04:22] Silent Killer: A discussion on Art the Clown’s unique persona—he doesn't speak, grunt, or make noise, acting more like a deadly mime than a traditional slasher villain.
[06:42] The Aesthetic: The crew notes the film's gritty look, comparing it to old 80s/90s slashers with its film grain and practical effects.
[13:15] The Hacksaw Scene: A deep dive into the movie's most notorious kill—Dawn being sawed in half upside down—which the hosts agree is the highlight for gorehounds.
[16:24] The Scalping: Josh recounts the bizarre scene where Art wears the skin/breasts of a homeless woman to taunt the protagonist, highlighting the film's disturbing humor.
[19:06] The Gun Twist: The team laughs at the scene where Art, after a brutal physical fight, simply pulls out a gun and shoots the final girl, subverting slasher expectations.

What is Scream Creeps?

A horror podcast talking about everything horror with The Heart of Geek group. We will talk about anything from tropes to comparisons and all else horror. We hope you enjoy :)