This spooky season, DREAD and Fathom Entertainment are treating us to some wicked tricks with The Jester 2, Colin Krawchuk’s highly anticipated sequel to his 2023 fan-favorite.
The Jester centered on Jocelyn and Emma; two sisters grieving their father’s untimely death who find themselves in a challenging game of survival against The Jester on Halloween night. Before long, The Jester begins to wreak havoc on their entire town.
DREAD, in collaboration with distributor Fathom Entertainment, is releasing the film for a limited two-night theatrical run on September 15 and 16. The special event will include a behind-the-scenes look at the film’s production, complete with cast interviews and a look into the film’s kills, courtesy of special effects artist Jason Baker.
The official synopsis reads: "On Halloween night, teen magician Max finds herself locked in a brutal showdown with the Jester, a nightmarish and supernatural trickster with real dark magic and a killer act. As illusions turn lethal and every escape is a trap, Max must pull off the ultimate trick: staying alive. On this deadly night, the only escape… is to beat the devil at its own game."
The trailer offers some glimpses into what look to be some promising (and gory) kills—carried out with canes, fire, and some old fashioned magic, warning us that we can’t cheat death twice.
The titular malevolent magician was conceptualized by Krawchuk and Michael Sheffield, who portrayed the character in a series of horror shorts the two collaborated on. The character was born from their desire to give audiences a more focused and composed villain that differed from the ruthless, maniacal ones from their previous shorts.
Sheffield is reprising his role in The Jester 2, joined by newcomers Kaitlyn Trentham (Murder Made Me Famous, Within the Woods), Jessica Ambuehl (Becoming, The Dream Motel), and Dingani Beza (23 Minutes to Sunrise, Marshall’s Miracle).
The Jester 2 will be released for two nights only on September 15 and 16.