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Overall Rating : 7.5/10
Directed By : Kevin Kangas
Jacky Reres (Fear Of Clowns)
Mark Lassise (Fear Of Clowns)
Frank Lama (Fear Of Clowns)
Tom Proctor (The Sugar Creek Killer)
Supplied By : Kangas Kahn Films
Film Reviewed By : Rick L. Blalock
Date Reviewed : August. 28, 2007
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| PLOT In "Fear of Clowns 2" the homicidal "Shivers the Clown"(Mark Lassise) escapes from an institution and resumes his obsessed hunt for Lynn Blodgett(Jacky Reres), this time with two homicidal friends. But Detective Peters(Frank Lama), the man who stopped him in the first film, is also back, and this time he's more interested in putting Shivers in the ground than behind bars. | ||||
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| THE REVIEW Just when artist Lynn Blodgett thought she would forever be safe from the brute killer clown that stalked her years prior, the Man who dubbed himself "Shivers" is back. And this time he has brought along two friends who are just as insane as he is! When we rejoin the story, it is now some time after Doug Richardson--aka "Shivers"--was put on trial. Believed to be too insane to have known what he was ding, he was sent to a mental facility. Even though the sentencing brought a sense of closure to Detective Dan Peters' life the mental anguish of the case took a toll on him. He has been diagnosed with a rare brain disorder that has no cure and is fatal. Peters, at his wits end two months later, tries to resign from the force, but one thing makes him have a change of heart..... the escape of his nemesis, Richardson. Detective Peters is back on the case once again to track down Shivers and to keep Lynn safe. She has since been living in isolation, having split with Tucker Reid(from the first film). But this time taking down Peters' target will be far more difficult than the last time, as Shivers' accomplices may be just as dangerous as he is. Well, first things first, I liked the original film, and don't really understand where the negative flack has been coming from. One complaint I have heard was that the story was thin and not "solid enough" and after thinking about it, I finally agree that, yes the story could have been more solid. This time around, with FEAR OF CLOWNS 2, I think the story is indeed more solid, with a more carefully written script, with far more explanation. In the last film, Shivers just appears out of the blue, fully decked out in all of his clown garb glory, with little to no info on the man "behind the paint" - other than a psychiatrist letting us know he has a mental illness. Here we get a sense of just how twisted Doug Richardson the man is, and just how much more insane he gets when he slips into his face-painted alter ego, Shivers. As far as Shivers goes, where the last film left some of the info about the human side of Doug Richardson undiscovered, the sequel clues us in much more, giving the main villain a feeling of more establishment to the viewer. Shivers believes the only way for him to be cured from his mental illness is to kill clown illustrator Lynn Blodgett(this continues from the last film), so he sets off to do that in this film. With that being said it's not going to be easy as a lot of obstacles stand in the three murdering clowns' way - thus leading up to more gore. This was another complaint among some viewers last time, that most of the kills were off screen, and the fact that they couldn't actually see it. When it comes to this complaint, it seems as if director Kevin Kangas took note of it as in FEAR OF CLOWNS 2, there is more than enough gore! With the addition of two new clowns, one of which is a cannibal(Giggles), the other a literal "head hunter"(Ogre), the film presented ample opportunity for the gore fans called for. There are multiple beheadings, and impalements among other things that are all executed beautifully ON SCREEN. I thought the gore to be very plausible, happening at times in which it made sense. In other words, FEAR OF CLOWNS 2 is not a film filled with mindless gore, it is done just whenever the film needed it. Which in the end is good, because it doesn't overshadow the plot. With the last film, I was a little "iffy on the acting, calling it a little uneven and what have you. With the sequel it is much better, if not more well-rounded. There are a few people in the more minor roles that are a bit questionable, but the rest of the cast makes you soon forget. The returning characters are far more at ease in their characters this time around as well. I remember in the previous review I had said that although Jacky Reres(Lynn Blodgett) did well, in the more traumatic scenes, she could've fared better. This time around she seemed a little more at home with her character giving a great performance. Speaking of coming into their own with their old characters, Mark Lassise is a really good example of this. Although I saw little to nothing wrong with his portrayal of Shivers in the last film, in this film he really turned it up a notch in the ruthlessness department. Now I have talked to Mark(via Myspace), and he is a really great guy. But when he steps into Shivers' boots shall we say, he is like a monster, admitting he just might enjoy the character a little too much! The two new clowns were also great fun, Giggles(Phillip Levine) and Ogre(Clarence McNatt - who is a former Pro Wrestler for WCW) really add more depth to the FEAR OF CLOWNS saga, mostly aiding in providing the film with more kills and adversity, but above all else, they provide an avenue for Shivers to show everyone that he is the "baddest most sickest clown" of them all. I think people were expecting to receive the same type of story with this sequel, but truly, FEAR OF CLOWNS 2 is far different. It's a more complete film, and perhaps the most complete film Kangas has made yet, when it comes to beginning-middle-and end(minus a slight confusion I still have), and most of all Kangas tried to please the fans, by giving them what they wanted in the last film. Overall I loved this film just as much, if not more than FEAR of CLOWNS. And since I liked the original so much, I wondered just how Kangas would win me over again, but he has done just that by delivering a far better(more developed) story and by implementing a caliber of gore you wouldn't expect to see in an indie film like this - in any case Shivers is back with a vengeance! | ||||
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| GORE METER 6.5/10 I didn't give it this rating for the abundance of gore, but rather the believability and plausibility of it. It just doesn't happen to happen, it happens at realistic times. We have beheadings, impalements and even a severed torso(that was really surprising to see!) | ||||
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| MUSICAL SCORE 7/10 following the same formula as the last film, the score is great, it does feel a bit more "violent" this time. | ||||
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| OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE FILM I really did enjoy this film, and would've probably rated it a bit higher had it not been for a few things that really confused me and others that were vaguely disappointing. I cannot give this away because they are key parts in the film and I don't went to spoil it for those who have yet to see. To me Kevin Kangas has made another film that is really enjoyable. And while some people online continue to slam Kangas' efforts, I stand by my liking of the films in which I have seen, and when I say that he is talented. The people who enjoyed the first one, will be sure to enjoy FEAR OF CLOWNS 2 - I highly recommend! | ||||
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