art the clown

art the clown

The Evolution of Art the Clown: From Cult Icon to Horror Legend

1. Introduction: The Rise of Art the Clown in Horror Culture

The deranged clown from Terrifier has become yet another part of contemporary horror cinema that has managed to establish a real focus of attention within the film community of the feared, joining other iconic killers such as Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, Pinhead, and a few others. However, it is undeniable that ultra-modern cinema has fewer enthralling interpretations in terms of serial killers, mostly focusing on ghosts damned by ancient curses, who seek to mercilessly weigh the fear of their long-suffering victims. Art is able to impose his legacy in a different way from the others, brandishing an inhuman nature beneath a harmless guise which becomes truly fascinating to those who look at him; he is not a ghost, nor a harmless presence, but an implacable reality anchored to our present, which seeks only one thing: to entertain itself with suffering.

Though certainly worthy of the title, Art the Clown moves beyond the limitations of a mere ‘figure of speech’ when it comes to the horror genre. He has successfully implanted his brand as a preferable choice among fans, mostly due to the shocking and violent stunts he performs. Since horror cinema has long since given the public dozens of faces and teams of murderers capable of leaving their mark on the collective imagination, it is rather difficult today to recognize a literal killer able to bring elements of novelty in terms of imagination, intelligent sadism, use of mental games, and a handful of other grating nuances necessary to make true annals. Art, once again, represents a pastiche of the past which mixes well with the present reality.

2. Exploring the Origins and Development of Art the Clown

In order to demonstrate the evolution of Art the Clown from cult icon to horror legend, careful investigation of his history is required. In this chapter, we begin by offering insight into the franchise which first introduced the character to the public. Once we have established some context, we shall examine the four movies which contain the work of Mike Giannelli – who portrayed Art the Clown in his earlier incarnations. At this point, we will have explored Art’s formative phase. Essentially, there then exists a divide in the timeline of this iconic character – between Giannelli’s and David Howard Thornton’s portrayals. Both actors have brought different elements and traits to their interpretation, resulting in newly defined, and subsequently, iconic incarnations of Art – an assessment which will be the central argument of this book.

3. Analyzing the Impact of Art the Clown on the Horror Genre

By merely looking at the character’s various designs and makeup portrayals over his numerous film and continuity appearances, the downward shift in the evolution of Art the Clown is especially worth critiquing. This most recent round of behind-the-scenes images is much more akin to the Art the Clown from All Hallows’ Eve but is less menacing. While that former iteration, portrayed by Mike Giannelli, was an homage to The Misfits, it was distinctly its own thing with much more of a Baby Doll makeup style, casting Art’s grotesque face in shadow, and giving his physical movements a more dancing quality. That persona’s portrayal spoke to fans, as Art the Clown gained the notoriety and community of fans of both the VHS collector and underground-horror genres. During the breakout success of Terrifier, the face had changed drastically. At one point in time, scheduling conflicts had prevented David Howard Thornton from reprising his role, creating a new casting opportunity for the clown. After welcoming the new Art, the filmmakers decided to alter the character and have him undergo an artistically different, yet significant, facelift. This is when the Off-Broadway actor truly started dominating the festival circuit.

The horror genre has a long history of iconic figures, from Pamela Voorhees and Michael Myers to Freddy Krueger and Chucky. While this genre seems to hold a monopoly on such popularity, the fact is these characters and their respective franchises have penetrated into the pop culture zeitgeist. One character who never quite hit the big time like the aforementioned figures but certainly basks in cult popularity is no doubt Art the Clown. One might have thought, given the interest Trick ‘r Treat has enjoyed from fans, that Art’s second film outing would have been more of a direct-to-home media or VOD release, yet that is not what happened. Terrifier 2 made the jump to theater viewing and is currently on the fall festival circuit as well. A prequel short film, The 9th Circle, signaled the confirmation that Terrifier would be a franchise and not just a one-off movie. The world of Art the Clown has taken somewhat of a stranglehold over the horror genre, especially for new horror fans, with Terrifier 2’s news catching a significant amount of traction.

4. Art the Clown: A Cultural Phenomenon and Fan Community

The shift from grassroots audience movements in the horror genre to mass production by the majors means many see the genre as no longer being for the fans, but for big business with bigger and bigger commercial concerns. The power of the Internet and VHS tape trading in the 1980s helped the likes of Sam Raimi, Peter Jackson, and Troma attract cult status, whilst Todd Sheets, Donald Farmer, and Andreas Schnaas’ work never quite breaking into the mainstream has helped bolster their position closer to the core of horror fandom. Critical fans have the ability to influence filmmaking from initial investment to shaping narrative, a phenomenon which becomes more empowering as the political power of the consumer dollar becomes more public. At the time of writing, the grasping for Art the Clown branded merchandise, the Facebook page for the character having well over three thousand followers, and many more YouTube views for the Art the Clown short films than the full-length anthology from which they are sourced, shows a very vocal, very eager, and very retroactive fanbase for a character which has not yet even starred in a feature film of his own.

At the time of writing this essay, horror icons are few and far between, with the biggest name in macabre cinema having last made an appearance in a sub-par film in 2003. It is noteworthy, therefore, that with only two performances, his impact has been felt more than that of characters who have appeared in countless films. So, how, in the face of such small exposure, has Art become such a popular and instantly recognizable horror character, and garnered such a large following? The joy of genre entertainment and cult films is often enriched through active viewer participation. However, in discussing films outside of the mainstream, these enthusiastic communities of viewers are often treated with something of a dismissive sneer. Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the phenomenon of Art the Clown is the dedicated and active audience of fans that have fostered his subsequent rise to cult icon status.