Terrifier 2 is a 2022 American independent horror film written, edited, and directed by Damien Leone. It is the sequel to Terrifier (2016) and the second installment in the Terrifier film series. It includes the return of David Howard Thornton and Samantha Scaffidi, who portrayed Art the Clown and Victoria Heyes, respectively, in the first film, and features Lauren LaVera, Elliott Fullam, Sarah Voigt, Kailey Hyman, and Casey Hartnett in new roles. The plot follows Art's resurrection and pursuit on Halloween night of teenage Sienna Shaw (LaVera), who discovers that she is destined to defeat him.
The film originated from a feature film concept Leone began developing shortly after filming his directorial debut short film The 9th Circle (2008). The concept of the planned film focused on an angel-dressed heroine and ultimately fell apart. Following its predecessor's release, Leone wanted to bring the heroine back; she would evolve into Sienna, described by Leone as the "heart and soul" of Terrifier 2. Leone spent three months writing a character-driven screenplay following criticism of the first film's perceived lack of narrative.
Funding was exacting as the script was more ambitious than the first film and required a bigger budget. Leone secured finances from private investors and Scotty Gelt Productions prior to filming, and he launched an Indiegogo campaign with a $50,000 goal to produce a practical effects-driven scene. The campaign was a massive success, reaching over 430% of the initial goal with a donation total of $250,000. It is one of the numerous films impacted by the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, with principal photography coming to a halt mid-2020 due to the pandemic lockdowns.
Terrifier 2 had its premiere at the FrightFest on August 29, 2022, and was theatrically released in the United States on October 6, by Cinedigm. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with particular praise for LaVera and Thornton's performances, though the film's runtime received some criticism. Many critics considered the film to be an improvement over its predecessor. A sequel, Terrifier 3, was released in October 2024.
