Faceless After Dark

Meta horror film involves the co-star of TERRIFIER 1 and 2, Jenna Kanell, playing an actress who has breakout success with a starring role in a killer clown horror movie. However, she finds herself the victim of a crazed fan intent on recreating the killer clown movie's scenarios. It's not an especially clever film, but Kanell gets to show off more acting chops than she was allowed in the TERRIFIER movies, and FACELESS AFTER DARK also serves as something of a counterpoint to the misogyny of those films, as well as the nature of toxic fandom. However, Damien Leone does get a thank-you in the credits. Overall, FACELESS AFTER DARK is nothing to go out of your way to see, but it's not terrible.

Having starred in a killer clown movie, emotionally fragile actress Bowie (Jenna Kanell) finds herself harrassed by obsessive perverts who inundate her with obscene messages via social media. When her more successful girlfriend Jessica (Danielle Lyn), star of a hit TV show, leaves for a job in London, Bowie is left all alone, and is targeted by an intruder in a clown mask carrying a pair of garden shears; however, Bowie is able to overpower the prowler and deals with him using extreme force, an act of violence that tips the already unstable woman over the edge...

Like Zoe Termelis's character in Ms.45, Bowie flips her wig when attacked by a man. However, unlike Abel Ferrara's movie, Faceless After Dark is less 'satisfying and stylish feminist revenge fantasy' and more weak 'torture porn', the film largely comprising of a series of premeditated acts of violence perpetrated on a series of helpless individuals who, while not exactly upstanding pillars of society, aren't really deserving of such punishment. It's like a rape/revenge movie, but without the rape to justify the revenge.

If an hour or so of a flaky nutjob off her meds luring people to their deaths is what you're after, then have at it, but I was hoping for something a little more substantial.

4.5/10, rounded up to 5 for IMDb.

"Faceless After Dark" isn't just a slasher flick; it's a warped reflection of fandom, fame, and the cost of artistic identity. Director Raymond Wood crafts a film that's equal parts terrifying and thought-provoking, anchored by a truly killer performance from Jenna Kanell. Who takes center stage as Bowie, a jaded actress haunted by her breakout role in a notorious killer clown movie.

The film starts off strong, establishing Bowie's disillusionment with fame and the obsessive nature of some fans. But it's when she's thrust into a terrifying situation - a home invasion by a deranged fan dressed as the killer clown from her film - that Kanell truly shines.

Her portrayal of Bowie's descent into paranoia and desperation is raw and captivating. We see a shift from initial defiance to a fight for survival. Kanell masterfully conveys this emotional rollercoaster, keeping you glued to the screen.

As the film delves deeper, the lines between reality and warped obsession blur. Kanell seamlessly navigates this complexity, hinting at a potential darkness within Bowie herself. This is where "Faceless After Dark" excels. It becomes more than just a slasher; it's a character study exploring the price of fame, the burden of expectation, and the lingering impact of trauma.

Sure, the deaths are brutal (and there are some truly creative kills here), but it's Kanell's performance that elevates the film. She's not just a scream queen; she's a powerhouse anchoring the narrative with her raw talent.

"Faceless After Dark" might not be perfect. The pacing can drag at times early on, but once the film lays its foundation, you become immersed in the raw intensity that keeps you glued to the screen.

Went into this not expecting a whole lot but mostly because I liked Jenna so much as Tara in Terrifier. Thought she was really great in Renfield as well. I decided not to read too much about this one because I do like to be surprised and MAN was I surprised. Jenna Kanell dominates this movie and takes it to places I don't think a lot of actresses can pull off these days. Her performance starts off light and fun but descends into some very dark territory that Jenna works to perfection. I was with her all the way as revels in choosing victims that I absolutely wanted to see her annihilate. It's a fun movie and Jenna is an absolute star!

I haven't seen the Terrifier movies so I don't know much about Jenna Kanell. This movie popped up as something I might like and the cover and synopsis were intriguing and I saw it was a new release and figured what the hell. It's been awhile since I've done a review so why not get back at it with another indie horror movie fresh off the market? Faceless After Dark is a movie that lives in its meta world. I haven't seen Terrifier but I can assume that Jenna's decision to make her claim to fame a killer clown movie was motivated by that movie and so the disdain she feels towards everything seems all the more real for it. Everything feels real. The synopsis is a little misleading because it's only a small part of the movie that sets up the events for the real story to begin and I see why some would be bothered by that but once you look past it you get something even better that shouldn't be spoiled here. It's true that Bowie isn't a character that you like right away but everybody else seems worse and I think that might be the point and by the end of it you can see that this movie was a deeply personal one for its writer and star that proves as a catharsis. It isn't perfect but it has something important to say and I think the message was gotten across well, a message that should be heard. It's worth a watch and definitely not deserving of the hate it seems to be getting here. See for yourself.