By JESS BLACK
Starring Jessica Ambuehl, Michael Sheffield and Kaitlyn Trentham
Directed by Colin Krawchuk
Written by Colin Krawchuk and Michael Sheffield
Epic Pictures Group
Creepy, kooky and full of devilishly good lore, THE JESTER 2 introduces a fresh world for Colin Krawchuck’s Satanic clown but doesn’t quite deliver on the slashery goodness many of us hoped for. Art, Pennywise, and the Killer Klowns form something of a hellish pantheon of greasepaint-wearing menaces, so any newcomer to the evil clown subgenre has big (floppy) shoes to fill. And Jester… Well, I’d be lying if I said the Jester has become one of these horror greats, but I’d also be doing him a disservice if I didn’t say just how great he is.
From the moment the Jester pulls an endless stream of handkerchiefs from the gullet of a drunken simpleton, it’s clear this clown isn’t your basic simple knives-and-guns kind of killer (Although, of course, he does use them sometimes, too!) No, the Jester uses traditional stage magic to make his kills innovative, memorable and often pretty fun; the simplicity of a body-swap trick becomes a fab twist on a witchy execution, and close-up magic has never been so creepy!
Indeed, it’s in these moments of magic-based horror that the film really shines. Director Colin Krawchuck takes the time to show off a good illusion, giving the kills a sort of authenticity and flair that really stands out amidst other clown slashers. (One memorable scene features a card trick in what appears to be a single, unbroken shot, reminiscent of Now You See Me’s famous first scene.)
And it’s not just the kills that make you love the Jester. His appearance completes the terrifying package. A big shout-out to the special FX team of Ambria Pierson and Kyle Roberts for giving this clown a truly unique look. Without spoiling anything, he gets a major upgrade from the first film, highlighted in a truly horrible, face-ripping introduction. The Jester’s blend of scarred flesh and broken mask is truly unnerving. (Can someone please make an action figure of this as a matter of urgency?)
Another excellent element of this film lies in its world-building, which, while not for everyone, strikes me as an essential part of establishing a grounded slasher franchise. While the first movie relied on more kills (not a bad thing, for sure!), here we get a wealth of history of who Jester is and why he behaves as he does. Much of this lore is delivered through the eyes of Max (Kaitlyn Trentham), our protagonist, and a truly likable one. Reminiscent of the sort of “down-on-your-luck” kids you might get in a Goosebumps book, Trentham’s performance really drives the narrative, and I hope to see more of her in future installments of the franchise.
Now, is THE JESTER 2 perfect? Far from it. The interesting lore and fun kills cannot distract you from the meandering plot (or perhaps, lack thereof), which makes the first half of the movie difficult to really get behind. The very best slashers start strong, introducing you to the killable characters, the threat and perhaps a macguffin with which the monster can be slain. Narratively, Jester 2 does not follow this formula – to its detriment.
Characters are introduced just moments before they are slain, the Jester’s motives are introduced about 40 minutes in and there seems to be no real way of stopping him. And not in a cool “unstoppable Jason Voorhees” kind of way, but more of a “Well, what’s the point” kind of way. This all leaves one with the impression that THE JESTER 2 has good vibes and real potential, but isn’t quite a fully formed story. It is an improvement on the first outing but still falls short of fully engaging the audience. From the cast to the engaging killer to the backstory, all the key ingredients of a classic are there; it just needs a stronger plot and a more confident edit to really deliver on them.
If you’re like me, you’re an absolute sucker for killer clowns, so I was full of spooky speculation when Colin Krawchuck’s second outing for the undead magician was announced. While far from a slasher classic, it shows promise and is a fun romp through a magical playground that leaves me wanting more. Watch it, enjoy it, and for God’s sake, start a petition for some Jester action figures. My display case is begging for it!
