The Grinch Horror Movie Makes Terrifier 2's Success More Impressive
© Provided by ScreenRantWhile The Mean One , aka The Grinch Horror Movie, wasn't a huge critical or commercial success like Terrifier 2 , it shows just how much the slasher sequel exceeded expectations. The Mean One and Terrible 2 are both low-budget horror films starring David Howard Thornton as the killer, but the former doesn't replicate the latter's runaway success. The Mean One had average reviews and despite an amazing theatrical release, it failed to match the box office of Horror 2 .
It's not hard to see why The Mean One couldn't replicate the success of Terrifier 2 . With David Howard Thornton in both films, Scarecrow 2 was not only a box office success but also a huge hit. In fact, Terrifier 2 received very strong reviews for the sequel's ability to shock audiences and push the boundaries of gore, as well as being a fun horror film, especially as a theatrical experience. In contrast, The Grinch doesn't quite fit the idea of serving as a full-on comic parody of a horror movie, but it 's nowhere near as scary or terrifying as Terrifier 2 .
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David Howard Thornton is the best part of the bad guys, but better than art
As the murderous version of the Grinch, David Howard Thornton manages to turn The Mean One into hard laughs and even some effective scares. While The Mean One taps into the horror trend of subverting nostalgic childhood characters like the upcoming Winnie the Pooh horror adaptation , it doesn't get its own star. As the art of the clown, David Howard Thornton is both downright creepy and sometimes downright hilarious. Titled The Average One, he just appeared in a film that mysteriously insists on keeping its villain in the shadows for a long time.
If The Mean One is a serious horror film, hiding the villain from public view is enough. However, The Mean One is a parody of a children's book that offers a subversive take on an iconic character, so David Howard Thornton's Grinch has to take center stage for the joke to really work. Stephen King was right that Horror 2 's Mud Blood was the key to the film's success, as the splash effects ensured that the brutal slasher sequel was simultaneously over-the-top hilarious and terrifying. In contrast, the cheap digital blood of The Mean One doesn't quite match David Howard Thornton's performance.
Why Terrifier 2 performs better than average
Ultimately, Terrifier 2 fared better than The Mean One because it spawned more slasher sequels. While Terrifier 2 is at a serious disadvantage as a sequel to a movie that didn't make it to theaters, the indie blockbuster gave forgotten villains more screen time, increased the body count and relied on shock value to draw in crowds. In contrast to the movie, the Grinch's horror turn in The Mean One is an emotional premise to find a good movie, and the promotional materials make that clear. Average One is neither stupid nor scary, and Terrifier 2 is both.
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