Draft:Tara Heyes (fictional character)
Tara Heyes is a fictional character in the Terrifier franchise. She first appears in Terrifier (2016) as a young woman who becomes the target of the enigmatic serial killer Art the Clown on Halloween night. Created by Damien Leone, Tara acts as the false protagonist of the first film and a subversion of the final girl trope. She is portrayed by Jenna Kanell. Despite the character being underdeveloped due to Leone's intent to showcase Art, critics have highlighted Kanell's portrayal of Tara. The character returns in a cameo appearance in Terrifier 2 (2022) and appears in the novelizations. Additionally, she appears in merchandise based on graphic novels, clothing, and figurines.
Development
[edit]In 2012, Jenna Kanell auditioned for a role in a Damien Leone film that ultimately wasn't made. Leone liked her audition tape, and they kept in touch to discuss future collaborations. Once Leone finished writing the script for Terrifier, he asked Kanell to read for the role of Tara. Although the film's purpose was to showcase the Art the Clown character, which left the protagonists underdeveloped, Kanell has described Tara as being "scrappy."
Appearances
[edit]Films
[edit]The character made her cinematic debut in Terrifier (2016). In this film, Tara is a young partygoer who drunkenly stumbles across Art the Clown alongside her best friend, Dawn Emerson, on Halloween night. Tara becomes uncomfortable after he fixates on her in a nearby pizzeria. After discovering Dawn's tires have been slashed, Tara uses the restroom in a nearby warehouse and becomes locked in the building while Art pursues her. After becoming sedated, Tara is bound to a chair and awakens to Art sawing Dawn in half. Tara escapes, stabs Art, and gains the upper hand when she beats him with a 2×4 lumber board. However, Art pulls out a handgun and Tara is killed off. She is later discovered by her sister Victoria Heyes, propped up in a chair while decorated with string lights and holding a circus sign.
In Terrifier 2 (2022), Tara makes a cameo appearance through pictures shown in various online articles and newspapers covering the Miles County Massacre.
Literature
[edit]Tara makes her literary debut in the novelization Terrifier 2 (2024), written by Tim Waggoner. The character's death is first mentioned on news sites that the character Jonathon is reading, discussing the Miles County Massacre. She later appears in spirit form, alongside other victims of Art, guiding the heroine Sienna Shaw in the Hell she becomes trapped in. She is described as the most normal-looking of the mutilated spirits, dressed in her black skeleton dress and having brown eyes and black hair, but with a bullet wound in her forehead. The character is mentioned again when it is stated that Victoria feels their parents blame her for Tara's death and that her sister was hospitalized during her funeral.
Merchandise
[edit]Tara has been featured in various clothing lines based on the films. In 2022, she was featured as the protagonist in the two-issue graphic novel based on the first film.[1] In December 2022, an officially licensed clay figurine of the character was released—depicting Tara in her skeleton dress.[2]
Reception
[edit]Tara has been well-received as a protagonist, and critics have noted her initial buildup as a final girl. Collider's Raquel Hollman writes that Tara "basically oozes final girl energy" for being "responsible, observant, and cautious."[3] Hollman states that Tara is a subversion of the trope when she is unexpectedly killed off halfway through the film.[3] Similarily, Jon Mendelsohn of CBR writes that Tara is narratively built up as the "final girl" and that she successfully fended Art off and "proved herself as a heroine" until her death.[4] Writing for /Film, Chad Collins states, "Tara makes for a pretty efficient final girl. She's quick to act, strategic, and pretty handy with a 2x4. Damien Leone, however, takes a different tack. As Tara looks to successfully take Art the Clown down, the killer comedically pulls out a gun and shoots her."[5] Jeffrey Anderson of Common Sense Media describes Tara as being a likable character and that she's "a traditional horror heroine." Anderson also notes Tara as baring resemblance to Neve Campbell's Sidney Prescott in the horror film Scream (1996). In a review for Starburst, writer John Higgins highlighted Kanell's portrayal.[6] Jonathan Barkan of Bloody Disgusting praises the performance of Kanell.[7] However, he criticizes Tara's characterization as being "frustrating."[7] Barkan states, "She alternates between intelligent and thoughtful to an outright idiot."[7] While praising Tara for looking after her friend and reacting quickly to her circumstances, he criticizes the character for making poor decisions.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ Squires, John (June 21, 2021). "Official 'Terrifier' Comic Book Now Available While You Wait for 'Terrifier 2'". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ Steve Barton [@UncleCreepy] (December 13, 2022). "You want cool? THIS is cool. Get your officially licensed #terrifier and #terrifier2 collectibles NOW at http://clayguy.com" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Hollman, Raquel (October 30, 2022). "'Terrifier 2's Sienna Is Our New Favorite Final Girl". Collider. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ Mendelsohn, Jon (July 8, 2020). "How Terrifier Destroyed Slasher Movie Rules". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
- ^ Collins, Chad (October 17, 2024). "Terrifier Ending Explained: The Bloody Birth Of A Franchise". /Film. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
- ^ Higgins, John. "Terrifier (2018)". Starburst. Retrieved September 5, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Barkan, Jonathan (October 31, 2016). "[Telluride Horror Show '16] 'Terrifier', 'Spring Break Zombie Massacre', 'The Windmill' Reviews". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 6 September 2023.