Government issues warning over 'sadistic' horror film

The extremely low-budget film has audiences walking out of cinemas, fainting, and vomiting. It's flying at the box office.

The extremely low-budget film has audiences walking out of cinemas, fainting, and vomiting. It's flying at the box office.

An Australian government body has classified this year’s most surprising box office success as R18+ as audiences report vomiting and fainting in cinemas. 

Upon the release of Terrifier 2, the Australian film classification board issued a warning over the gore.

Directed by Damien Leon on a minuscule USD$250,000 budget, the horror film has grossed USD $7.7 million since its release. Box office watchers predict it will soon hit USD $10 million. 

Nope

The crowd-funded sequel’s box office success is uncanny, considering its predecessor, Terrifier, did not have a theatrical release during its 2016 run. It only screened in five theatres and took in around USD $2,500.

The film follows Art The Clown, a maniacal killer in a jester outfit and harlequin head cover, that brutalises the citizens of a small town during Halloween.

Absolutely not

"The film features a series of sadistic and gory murders perpetrated by an evil clown. In some scenes, the clown eats pieces of flesh and internal organs of his victims," the government warning read.  

“The film features a series of murders that include copious amounts of blood and graphic injury detail such as mutilation, decapitation and dismemberment.”

Terrifier 2 also features delightful scenes of torture, including a woman being scalped alive and doused in acid and salt, a castration, and the killer feasting on a victim’s heart. 

The word-of-mouth success of the vomit-o-rama is likely due to the social media posts that claim audience members are fainting and vomiting at screenings of the film. 

"My friend passed out and the theatre called an ambulance. Highly recommended," wrote one Twitter user.

"The guy behind me passed out cold n crashed into my chair, another guy left because he didn't feel good, I overheard him say and walking out theatre door I heard a guy puking hard & loud in the bathroom,” added another.

Some theatres have started providing themed vomit bags. 

"Guaranteed to cause gastrointestinal upset."

Leon addressed reports of fans vomiting over the movie's squick-ish content in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, saying that fans walking over the movie is “a badge of honour.” 

“I don't want people fainting, getting hurt during the movie. But it's surreal,” Leon said. “Here's the thing, it's called Terrifier 2, you should probably see Terrifier 1 before you jump into this one. If you see Terrifier 1, you'd know what you're getting into.”

If bloated and macabre horror films aren't your thing, but you're in the mood for chills and thrills, watch one of these fine Australian scary movies.