Fear of Clowns 2

Lore & Background

The film begins two years after the events of the first film, with Detective Peters learning he has Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease, a fatal condition. Two months later, Doug Richardson, also known as Shivers the Clown, escapes from a mental asylum with help from an orderly named Ralph and two other inmates. They return to Shivers' old house, where a junkie is killed. Lynn Blodgett, the protagonist from the first film, learns of Shivers' escape and contacts Detective Peters. Shivers kills Tucker, Lynn's former partner, outside an amusement park. Peters arranges for Lynn to stay at secluded cabins in the woods, but Shivers and his accomplices attack, killing police officers and Giggles the Clown. Peters and Lynn escape through a cellar, while Ogre the Clown seeks revenge on Shivers for killing his friend. At the cabins, Peters is axed, and Lynn flees into the woods. Peters shoots Shivers twice, but Shivers rises again. Stoltz shoots Shivers three times, and the police find no body—only a trail of blood leading into the woods. The ending leaves ambiguous whether Shivers is alive or dead.

Reader's Guide

Fear of Clowns 2 is notable as a sequel that, according to some critics, improved upon its predecessor. Steve Pattee of HorrorTalk.com awarded it 3.5/5 stars, praising its action, tension, acting, and score. Fangoria noted steadier performances and creepy imagery but criticized the ending as 'dissatisfying' and some scenes as drawn out. The film continues the story of Lynn Blodgett and Shivers the Clown, expanding the cast of killer clowns and introducing a subplot involving Detective Peters' fatal illness. Its legacy lies in being a direct-to-video horror sequel that received mixed but generally more favorable reception than the original, and it remains a niche entry in the killer-clown subgenre.

Did You Know?

• The film was written and directed by Kevin Kangas.
• Mark Lassise played Shivers the Clown, and Jacky Reres played Lynn Blodgett.
• The film's ending is ambiguous: Shivers may have died or survived after heading into the woods.
• Fangoria criticized the ending as 'dissatisfying' and felt some scenes were drawn out.