It speaks volumes about the fleeting nature of modern horror that brand new genre icons are very few and far between, with the titans of the 1970s and 1980s still reigning supreme as the genre’s most recognizable mass murderers. That being said, Damien Leone’s All Hallow’s Eve quietly introduced a new one, even if it took a while for the terrifying antagonist to seize the zeitgeist.
The 83-minute anthology was released to a generally lukewarm reception back in October of 2013, with the story revolving around a babysitter finding an old VHS tape in the trick or treat bag of the children she’s watching. Popping in the video out of curiosity, three nightmarish tales unfold that are all linked together by a singular presence; Art the Clown.
Evolving into the star of the show, the haunting character was then awarded with the Terrifier franchise as a result, with the second installment capturing imaginations everywhere after turning out to be one of the most profitable movies of last year. On a budget of just $250,000 it earned a staggering $15 million at the box office, was malevolently submitted for Academy Awards consideration, and has another sequel on the way.
Returning to where it all began, All Hallow’s Eve has started making an ascent up the streaming ranks this week, with FlixPatrol outing it as one of the most-watched features on Prime Video’s global charts. It’s an unassuming origin, but the origins of Art the Clown are worth checking out for his legion of fans.
