The Jester 2 follows up on the 2023 film about a malevolent being that terrorizes the inhabitants of a small-town on Halloween. This time around, the titular Jester is less of a villain and more of an ally, but he still goes through the motions of killing people. The protagonist is Max, played by Kaitlyn Trentham, a 15-year-old girl with her own love of magic. The two of them are forced into an uneasy alliance for the evening, bringing Max into the twisted Halloween ceremony of The Jester.

The film is written and directed by Colin Krawchuk and it comes from the same people who brought us Terrifier, Dread Pictures. While I was watching The Jester 2, I was struck by the tone of the film. I’m a child of the 1990s, which really was a golden age for young adult horror. If you were reading Goosebumps, Fear Street, Point Horror, or watching stuff like Disney Channel movies, The Jester 2 will feel right at home. If you haven’t seen the first film, it also works pretty well as a standalone story.

So without further ado, let’s get into the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of The Jester 2.

The Good Of The Jester 2

The story kicks off fast and sets the tone for what to expect for the rest of the film. The Jester has to race against time before a candle goes out and he has to kill people to appease an ancient evil. Max is about as relatable as they come for a protagonist. She’s an outcast that loves magic, we all can relate to that experience, whether its being an awkward teenager that loves something that might not be seen as cool or just her time as a teen.

The Jester, played by Michael Sheffield, is also a highlight, he doesn’t get to talk, but his performance tells you all you need to know during scenes. In a world where we are struggling to find new horror icons, The Jester has the right stuff to break through. Between the orange suit and the creepy mask, there’s a lot of room for growth to tell stories based around Halloween with the character.

There’s also something to be said about a new modern horror/slasher film that feels like a throwback. The current style of emulating Terrifier is nice, we all love gore and blood in our films, but something that feels like a nostalgic trip back to the early 90s feels just as fun. The Jester 2 really does feel like a Disney Channel Original movie (in the best ways) with blood and gore. It’s the best of both worlds.

The Bad And Ugly Of The Jester 2

This is a low budget-horror movie, it’s not something coming from a major studio, so the effects are not going to look their best. When they use practical effects, they look fantastic, but there are some digital shots that look out of place when there are certain kills on screen. I’m not going to fault the film for that too hard. However, there are some things about The Jester that are a bit confusing. One character’s motivations aren’t super clear, and it all just leaves you a bit confused at the end of the film.

However, these issues do not sink The Jester 2. The kills, when they’re good, are great. Max is an intensely relatable protagonist, and the Halloween setting plus nostalgic feelings of the film, make for a fun Halloween season watch. The Jester is a great villain who shines at his brightest in this film.

It’s refreshing to see an original horror movie like this capture so much right and fun about the holiday of Halloween.

The Jester 2 releases in theaters on September 15th and 16th.

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