The Jester 2 Slashes Onto VOD This Halloween

Horror timing doesn't get much cleaner than this: the Jester is back, and he's hitting VOD right in the Halloween window. After a limited U.S. theatrical run earlier this month, 'The Jester 2' lands on digital October 17. Smart move, because this series practically bleeds October.

Quick refresher: who is this creep?

'The Jester' showed up a couple of years back from director Colin Krawchuk, who built the character with Michael Sheffield and actually started the whole thing as a trilogy of short films. The feature followed two estranged sisters reeling from their dad's death, only to get hunted by a not-just-a-guy-in-a-mask entity that terrorizes their small town on Halloween. The catch: the only way to stop him was untangling the ugly stuff in their past. It's a mean little morality tale with a sharp mask.

So what's new in 'The Jester 2'?

This time the target is Max, a teen magician who suddenly finds her sleight-of-hand going up against the real deal. On Halloween night (naturally), the Jester turns her tricks into death traps, and every exit becomes another setup. The hook is simple and nasty: can a stage illusionist outmaneuver a supernatural one?

"On this deadly night, the only escape... is to beat the devil at its own game."

Inside baseball note: Michael Sheffield once again suits up as the Jester, like he has across all of Krawchuk's Jester projects. It's one of those rare horror characters that's stayed anchored to a single performer since the shorts phase, which gives the whole thing a consistent, mean streak.

The essentials

• VOD release: October 17 (just in time for Halloween)
• Theatrical: Rolled out across the U.S. earlier this month via DREAD (Epic Pictures' specialty horror label) and Fathom Entertainment
• Returning presence: Michael Sheffield as the Jester
• Also starring: Kaitlyn Trentham ("Murder Made Me Famous"), Jessica Ambuehl ("Take Time to Dance"), and Dingani Beza ("Casual Encounters")
• Producers: Patrick Ewald, Cole Payne, Jake Heineke
• Series origin: Created by Colin Krawchuk, who co-crafted the Jester with Michael Sheffield and first built the character in a short film trilogy before the features

If you skipped the first movie, you're not lost here: think Halloween-night cat-and-mouse with a vicious punchline. If you did see it, you know the drill — the Jester likes turning your baggage into a weapon. This time, the magic act is part of the carnage.

Circle October 17 if you're lining up a spooky-week watchlist. It's basically engineered for that late-October queue.