For a franchisenotorious for graphic kill sequences,Terrifierhasstarted building up substantial lore surrounding Art the Clown(David Howard Thornton). Ignoring these moments in between the sequences of blood and gore means overlooking some of the most vital scenes in the franchise.The clown café dream sequencethat takes place inTerrifier 2is the most important scene of the whole franchise- and no one dies in reality, as it all happens in Sienna’s (Lauren LaVera) head. The scene is eccentric and cartoonish, but it acts as much more than just a nightmare filled with Sienna’s fear - it represents the whole divine arc of the movie.
What Is the Clown Café in ‘Terrifier 2’?
The clown café is the most psychedelic scene in theTerrifierfranchise. It moves away from darkness and shadows, and is instead brightly lit and vibrant. Itreflects Art’s world rather than realitybut is all framed through a dream Sienna is experiencing. The setting feels like jumping through the screen into a cartoonish commercial, with adults dressed in child-like costumes with dungarees and pigtails, and all sitting on a climbing frame. Sienna wakes up in a similar outfit,consumed by this surrealist setting.The walls are painted with murals of Art the Clown and the clown eventually appears handing out candy. It is important to note that at this point in the movie, Sienna has never physically met Art but is aware of him through her brother Jonathan’s (Elliot Fullam) fixation on him. She knows enough to be physically scared throughout the whole sequence.
‘Terrifier 2’ Deals With Themes of Divinity and Religion
However,this scene isn’t just a bad dream, it is the most important moment in Sienna’s character arc.It is the exact moment she is chosen as the one who will defeat Art the Clown. In the background of the scene, there is a nun and a homeless man with a sign reading “help me." These characters are a clear representation of evangelical good, the polar opposite of what Art represents. The nun is calling out, asking “who will feed this man,” but she is metaphorically asking Sienna if she will be the person to step up and overcome evil.
Within the clown café,food is used as a metaphor for morality, highlighted in the lyrics of the song played throughout, “food’s a little funny at the clown café." When Art is handing out food, Sienna is given his beating heart, showing their intrinsic link. The nun proceeds to beg for help, insisting she can see everyone “feeding their faces” when they should be helping the hungry man. She is willing Sienna to not stuff her face, to not be like the others.
Sienna’s Nightmare Is Her Chosen One Origin
During the scene,Art pulls out a machine gun and shoots down everyoneelse in the scene, apart from the singer who he sets on fire.Sienna is the only one leftand takes the initiative to grab a cereal box, looking for something to defend herself with. To find a weapon, she has to dig through shards of glass, and it is at this moment she proves to the good entities that she has the capability of killing Art the Clown. She grabs a sword out of the box, and it stops Art’s flamethrower, baptizing the sword in the process - giving it the power to destroy Art.Religious imagery is central toTerrifier,with Sienna’s wings from her Halloween costume symbolizing her angelic purpose. This is represented by the pilot and stewardess in her dream sequence. Everything about Sienna’s presentation in this scene aims to contrast Art as a force of evil.
As Damien Leone outlinedin theTerrifier 2commentary,the clown café scene is a “divine test that manifests in Sienna’s subconscious." It is testing her strength as a counter to Art the Clown. The nun is the representation of the forces for good overseeing this test, and when the sword is revealed and the fire bleeds into reality, setting Sienna’s wings on fire, that is when Sienna is anointed. Yes,the scene is still gory as Art the Clown massacres everyoneon the set, but it is all hypothetical and metaphorical.It is a pivotal moment in Sienna’s character arc; it is only through putting her hand in the cereal box and fighting back that she proves she is the one who can defeat Art.
Terrifier 2
After being resurrected by a sinister entity, Art the Clown returns to Miles County where he targets a teenage girl and her younger brother on Halloween night.
Terrifier 2is available to watch on Amazon Prime in the US.
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