Before Terrifier, Art The Clown Haunted A Hidden Horror Gem You Might Not Know About
The slasher genre has long been a favorite among horror enthusiasts, but many of its offerings are often low-budget, one-off films that fail to gain traction, or simply reboots of beloved classics. We find ourselves inundated with more of the same from franchises like Halloween or Texas Chainsaw Massacre, while rare gems like In a Violent Nature emerge, offering a glimpse of fresh potential in the genre. Crafting a new slasher icon is undoubtedly challenging. However, one character that has suddenly captured the spotlight in recent years is Art the Clown from the Terrifier series. Originally portrayed by Mike Giannelli and later brought to life by David Howard Thornton, Art has managed to escape the confines of his films. Following the unforeseen success of Terrifier 2 in 2022, this deranged clown has become a horror sensation, spawning costumes and merchandise that solidify his status as a modern slasher phenomenon. But Art’s rise to fame was anything but conventional.
Art made his first major appearance in 2013 within the horror anthology All Hallows’ Eve. This marked the directorial debut of Damien Leone, allowing audiences a glimpse into Art’s twisted world, although it would take almost a decade for the character to achieve widespread recognition. With Terrifier 3 on the horizon, it’s a fitting moment to revisit Art’s modest beginnings in the realm of low-budget horror.
Art the Clown first surfaced in Leone’s short film The 9th Circle, where he played a minor role in a ritualistic horror scene. Leone subsequently created a standalone short titled Terrifier, which focused entirely on Art. The genesis of All Hallows’ Eve stemmed from producer Jesse Baget’s recognition of the potential embedded in that short. Leone originally had no intention of creating an anthology; he simply intended to showcase Terrifier on DVD and expand Art’s audience. Reflecting on the situation, Leone stated that the anthology provided an opportunity to introduce Art more broadly while building a fan base.
In that era, home video releases still held significant clout, and rather than bringing in another director, Baget entrusted Leone with the entire project. By combining the previous Art shorts with a newly filmed segment, they crafted a hodgepodge aimed at gaining traction for Art’s character. All Hallows’ Eve is set on Halloween, revolving around a brother and sister who stumble upon a sinister VHS tape in their trick-or-treat bags. Despite the babysitter’s hesitance, they watch the tape, which features the shorts Leone had previously created, culminating in the shocking finale that is Terrifier.
While All Hallows’ Eve may not be a masterpiece, it effectively catapults Art the Clown into the spotlight. Many newcomers likely encountered this franchise through the surprising box office success of Terrifier 2, but does the anthology merit attention today? This is subjective. In many ways, All Hallows’ Eve reveals its low-budget origins, employing two pre-existing shorts and resulting in a film that suffers from its limited investment, yet managed to achieve enough box office success to inspire a sequel, All Hallows’ Eve 2, released in 2015 and lacking Leone’s directorial touch.
All Hallows’ Eve is easily accessible for streaming or for purchase on platforms like VOD and Blu-ray. However, it’s clear that the film has its rough edges. The framing device feels disconnected and contrived. Admittedly, there are many elements throughout the Terrifier series that confound logic, yet Art remains an intriguing figure. His very presence ignites a fascination that keeps horror fans captivated as they delve into the narratives surrounding slashers rather than the stories of the victims.
One of the anthology’s critiques lies in its middle segment, unique to the film and showcasing a low-quality alien attack with Art only appearing in a painting. Leone has noted that he purposefully refrained from giving Art a leading role within that segment, believing that showcasing too much of him would detract from the big reveal to come in Terrifier.
Even so, Leone recognized that Art stood apart: he was the engaging element keeping viewers talking. This realization ultimately led to the decision to create a full-fledged Terrifier film a couple of years later. To conceptualize this, think of it like this: All Hallows’ Eve resembles an EP that garners a band a record deal—akin to Nirvana’s early days. Terrifier can be seen as Nirvana’s Bleach, showcasing the band’s raw potential. Then comes Terrifier 2, echoing Nirvana’s breakthrough album Nevermind, which transformed Kurt Cobain into a grunge icon, much like how Art the Clown has solidified his place in modern horror lore.
