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Art the Clown talks ‘Terrifier 2’ with iHorror

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iHorror: Fans, including myself, have been following the progress of Terrifier 2 since the highly successful release of the first installment.

Director and writer Damien Leone’s guarantee to top the hacksaw scene has the horror crowd in a frenzy of anticipation!  Do you agree with this scene topping what Art did to poor Dawn (portrayed by Catherine Corcoran) in Terrifier?

David: Well, we do have a few scenes that I think are pretty brutal and might just match, if not top, the infamous hacksaw scene of the first. One of them is especially pretty mean, to say the least. We also have a scene in the film that will definitely be controversial with the subject matter and will most likely create a discussion, which I think might be good. That is what (no pun intended) art is supposed to do.

iHorror: You are a master of pantomime. You convey SO much without saying a single word. How did you develop these skills?

David: I developed those skills over a life time of being a human sponge when it came to physical comedy. I grew up watching the great physical comedians and clowns and did my best to emulate their routines growing up doing theater. It was not until I toured as Stefan Karl’s (Robbie Rotten of Lazy Town fame) understudy as the Grinch for 5 years that I had a true master of the art help me fine tune my abilities. I consider Stefan to be my Socrates of physical comedy, so to speak. I think it is important for all actors to learn from the best and adapt and make what they have learned their own.

iHorror: Going into Terrifier 2, was there anything you personally wanted to see specifically for your character?

I wanted to see him branch out more into the world around him and really get his hands dirty. You’ll definitely see a lot more of this in Terrifier 2 for sure. Art is even more physical in this one and is truly a force to be reckoned with. I also wanted him to have a truly worthy opponent. The Joker needs his Batman, after all. We will be building that up in this one for sure. In future films, I would like to delve into more of who he is as well and what makes him tick. You’ll have to wait and see.

iHorror: Did you improvise anything in Terrifier 2?

David: Ohhh yes! Yes indeed. There is one scene, in particular, that I really got to play around a lot like I did in the pizzeria scene in the first.

iHorror: You have memorabilia already manufactured after your character. How does it make you feel to see Art as a mass produced Halloween costume, on t-shirts, and as a toy (*cough*) collectible?

David: It’s still sinking in, honestly. I still can’t believe it. That has always been a dream of mine, to have an action figure of myself. It’s pretty surreal, but I love it! I’m truly honored!

Art the Clown figure from Trick or Treat Studios

iHorror: You have been hitting the horror circuit, so horror fans now know what you look like. Are you recognized on the street as well?

David: On VERY rare occasions. Ha ha! People aren’t used to seeing me out of make up. Plus, Art is still building a following. We’ll see what happens after part 2 comes out.

iHorror: Meeting the late and great Sid Haig of the horror world (RIP to an extraordinary man and actor) did you learn anything from him in regards to acting, or just about the horror genre in general?

David: Unfortunately, I did not get to spend nearly enough time getting to know Sid before he passed away. Though I will say that my interactions with him at conventions was a learning experience. One thing that I truly noticed and respected about him was how he was with his fans. He was always the first person at his table and the last one to leave, despite his health. He also did not charge his fans a whole lot of money for an autograph and spent time talking to each of them. That said a lot about him.  He truly appreciated his fans, and they appreciated him as well.

Sid Haig and Captain Spaulding and David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown at Mad Monster

iHorror: How do you feel about Art the Clown being up among the ranks with Freddy, Michael, and Jason?

David: I don’t know if he is quite there yet, but if he ever is, that would be quite the honor indeed!

Michael Myers and Art the Clown figure from Trick or Treat Studios

iHorror: Besides the announcement of returning characters including Victoria (Samantha Scaffidi) and some new blood, including slasher icon Felissa Rose from 1983’s Sleepaway Camp, can you tell iHorror something you may have not yet revealed?

David: Well, we did book a pretty big name recently to film a cameo roll in the film. The scene that involves this person is going to be a lot of fun too since I get to play around a lot as Art in it. I wish I could say more!

Actress Felissa Rose

iHorror: Will Terrifier 2 be the last we see of Art the Clown?

David: Well, Damien has always wanted at least a trilogy for the character and we have developed a fun ending for him if we get that chance. So as long as the fans want a third one, we’ll make it! We aren’t done with him yet!

Damien Leone, writer and director of Terrifier 1 and 2, and David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown

Read more about Terrifier 2 here!

Keep up to date with David Howard Thornton on his Instagram here.

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The Original ‘Beetlejuice’ Sequel Had an Interesting Location

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beetlejuice in Hawaii Movie

Back in the late ’80s and early ’90s sequels to hit movies weren’t as linear as they are today. It was more like “let’s re-do the situation but in a different location.” Remember Speed 2, or National Lampoon’s European Vacation? Even Aliens, as good as it is, follows a lot of the plot points of the original; people stuck on a ship, an android, a little girl in peril instead of a cat. So it makes sense that one of the most popular supernatural comedies of all time, Beetlejuice would follow the same pattern.

In 1991 Tim Burton was interested in doing a sequel to his 1988 original, it was called Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian:

“The Deetz family moves to Hawaii to develop a resort. Construction begins, and it’s quickly discovered that the hotel will be sitting on top of an ancient burial ground. Beetlejuice comes in to save the day.”

Burton liked the script but wanted some re-writes so he asked then-hot screenwriter Daniel Waters who had just got done contributing to Heathers. He passed on the opportunity so producer David Geffen offered it to Troop Beverly Hills scribe Pamela Norris to no avail.

Eventually, Warner Bros. asked Kevin Smith to punch up Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian, he scoffed at the idea, saying, “Didn’t we say all we needed to say in the first Beetlejuice? Must we go tropical?”

Nine years later the sequel was killed. The studio said Winona Ryder was now too old for the part and an entire re-cast needed to happen. But Burton never gave up, there were a lot of directions he wanted to take his characters, including a Disney crossover.

“We talked about lots of different things,” the director said in Entertainment Weekly. “That was early on when we were going, Beetlejuice and the Haunted MansionBeetlejuice Goes West, whatever. Lots of things came up.”

Fast-forward to 2011 when another script was pitched for a sequel. This time the writer of Burton’s Dark Shadows,  Seth Grahame-Smith was hired and he wanted to make sure the story wasn’t a cash-grabbing remake or reboot. Four years later, in 2015, a script was approved with both Ryder and Keaton saying they would return to their respective roles. In 2017 that script was revamped and then eventually shelved in 2019.

During the time the sequel script was being tossed around in Hollywood, in 2016 an artist named Alex Murillo posted what looked like one-sheets for a Beetlejuice sequel. Although they were fabricated and had no affiliation with Warner Bros. people thought they were real.

Perhaps the virality of the artwork sparked interest in a Beetlejuice sequel once again, and finally, it was confirmed in 2022 Beetlejuice 2 had a green light from a script written by Wednesday writers  Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. The star of that series Jenna Ortega signed on to the new movie with filming starting in 2023. It was also confirmed that Danny Elfman would return to do the score.

Burton and Keaton agreed that the new film titled Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice wouldn’t rely on CGI or other other forms of technology. They wanted the film to feel “handmade.” The film wrapped in November 2023.

It’s been over three decades to come up with a sequel to Beetlejuice. Hopefully, since they said aloha to Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian there has been enough time and creativity to ensure Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will not only honor the characters, but fans of the original.

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice will open theatrically on September 6.

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Russell Crowe To Star in Another Exorcism Movie & It’s Not a Sequel

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Maybe it’s because The Exorcist just celebrated its 50th-anniversary last year, or maybe it’s because aging Academy Award-winning actors aren’t too proud to take on obscure roles, but Russell Crowe is visiting the Devil once again in yet another possession film. And it’s not related to his last one, The Pope’s Exorcist.

According to Collider, the film titled The Exorcism was originally going to be released under the name The Georgetown Project. Rights for its North American release were once in the hands of Miramax but then went to Vertical Entertainment. It will release on June 7 in theaters then head over to Shudder for subscribers.

Crowe will also star in this year’s upcoming Kraven the Hunter which is set to drop in theaters on August 30.

As for The Exorcism, Collider provides us with what it’s about:

“The film centers around actor Anthony Miller (Crowe), whose troubles come to the forefront as he shoots a supernatural horror movie. His estranged daughter (Ryan Simpkins) has to figure out whether he’s lapsing into his past addictions, or if something even more horrific is occurring. “

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New F-Bomb Laden ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Trailer: Bloody Buddy Movie

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Deadpool & Wolverine might be the buddy movie of the decade. The two heterodox superheroes are back in the latest trailer for the summer blockbuster, this time with more f-bombs than a gangster film.

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ Movie Trailer

This time the focus is on Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman. The adamantium-infused X-Man is having a bit of a pity party when Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) arrives on the scene who then tries to convince him to team up for selfish reasons. The result is a profanity-filled trailer with a Strange surprise at the end.

Deadpool & Wolverine is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. It comes out on July 26. Here is the latest trailer, and we suggest if you are at work and your space isn’t private, you might want to put in headphones.

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