Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Disturbing violence against women in clown horror movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Terrifier
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 42 parent reviews
Parents say the film is excessively gory and disturbing, making it unsuitable for children and sensitive viewers; it depicts graphic violence that some find shockingly brutal. While a few reviews admire the clown character and the entertaining aspects for a mature audience, many criticize the lack of a coherent plot and the overwhelming emphasis on gore, reinforcing concerns about its appropriateness for younger teens and kids.
- extreme gore
- not for kids
- lack of plot
- disturbing violence
- mature audience
- scaring clown
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 119 kid reviews
Kids say many reviews highlight the extreme gore and disturbing violence in this film, making it unsuitable for younger audiences; common scenes include a woman being sawed in half. While some find it entertaining and a fun slasher, others emphasize the lack of plot and realism, stating it should only be considered for mature viewers, with recommendations often suggesting an age of at least 17 due to its graphic nature.
- extreme violence
- gore fest
- not for kids
- lack of plot
- entertaining slasher
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In TERRIFIER, Dawn (Catherine Corcoran) and Tara (Jenna Kanell) are finishing up a night on the town when they realize that they're both too tipsy to drive. Tara suggests getting a slice of pizza while they sober up. A scary, unspeaking clown (David Howard Thornton) in a black-and-white outfit wanders into the pizza parlor and starts staring at Tara. After the friends leave, the clown brutally murders all of the employees in the restaurant. When Dawn and Tara get back to their car, they find the tires slashed. Tara phones her sister, Victoria (Samantha Scaffidi), for a pick-up, and then goes into a creepy nearby building to use the restroom. Unfortunately, the clown isn't through with them yet, and it's going to be a long night.
Is It Any Good?
An attempt to pay homage to slasher movies of the 1980s, this horror pic has a truly unsettling killer and some entertaining elements, but it ultimately goes too far with its cruelty toward women. Written and directed by Damien Leone, Terrifier is well cast, from the freaky-looking Art the Clown -- with his strange, sneering smile -- to the exterminator who initially looks creepy but turns out to be good. Tara is especially likable: She's a traditional horror heroine who seems to have been made up to resemble Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott in Scream. (We also hear a radio ad for "Craven's Halloween Store.")
But, perhaps in an effort to avoid the traditional formulas of all those 1980s movies, Leone sends his storyline flying all over the place. There's no real hero (or "final girl") to root for. The viciousness of the attacks and torture of the female characters seems a little outsized and excessive for what seems intended as an homage. Perhaps worse, a cruel prologue sequence offers heavy-handed foreshadowing to the movie's rather hopeless ending. If only Terrifier had found a better balance of characters -- and perhaps a measure of hope, which would have added more suspense -- it might have stood near the movies that inspired it.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Terrifier. What message does it send that so much of it is directed at women? Does the movie go too far? Who decides what "too far" means?
Is the movie scary? What's the appeal of horror movies?
How is drinking portrayed? Is it glamorized? Are the drinkers responsible?
Why do you think so many people find clowns scary?
What's the "slasher" subgenre of horror, and why was/is it so popular?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : March 15, 2018
- Cast : Jenna Kanell , Samantha Scaffidi , David Howard Thornton
- Director : Damien Leone
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Queer Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Dread Central Presents
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 82 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
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