The name Art the Clown might not initially spark fear within you. In fact, if you’re not sure what universe the character is from, you might think of a sweet clown with a friendly smile; all colorful and creative; but Terrifier fans know that he’s actually a terrifying killer clown with a taste for blood, and Terrifier 2 was so delightfully frightening that it just won a significant horror award.
The Chainsaw Awards by Fangoria kicked off in 1992 and have grown to become a significant honor in the horror community. Another honor in the scary movie realm is the ability for a movie or a character to make you feel so terribly unnerved that it’s almost hard to watch the film — something Art the Clown excels at. So it comes as no surprise that Terrifier 2 won big during the awards tonight. The most noteworthy of which being that the film received the Chainsaw Award for Best Limited Release.
The Chainsaw Awards might not be as regal a ceremony as, say, the Oscars, but the honor is higher as far as horror buffs are concerned. Plus, fans will remember that Terrifier 2 was submitted for Oscars consideration; Bloody Disgusting got a kick out of fans asking for the film to be nominated, so much so that they couldn’t miss a chance, as they shared with Variety.
“No, it will never actually happen. Yes, it’s a total goof. But you know what? The thought of having members of the Academy endure an extreme unrated horror movie that they would otherwise consider beneath them? That’s just too hilarious of an opportunity to pass up.”
For those who have never gone on an adventure with Art the Clown, you might wonder why it was so funny for BD to submit the film for Oscars consideration, but it has a lot to do with the fact that some audiences had viewers pass out and get sick during some of the goriest scenes in the movie. Yes, people took to social media with stories of friends passing out and strangers around them leaving the theater to vomit. It’s an intense watch, and that’s putting it lightly.
Terrifier 2 didn’t stop at best limited release; by the end of the night, the horror film took home four Chainsaw Awards, and the masses who piled into theaters to watch the movie or preferred to view it at home with the lights on will both tell you the same story: it’s one of the most unnerving movies in horror as a genre, specifically in the slasher sub-genre.
Here’s to Art the Clown; may he continue to terrify us for years to come.