David Howard Thornton is quickly becoming a go-to horror star.
For the past several years, the Huntsville native has scared and grossed-out audiences as Art the Clown, the villain in the gory, hit “Terrifier” series.
Now, Thornton takes on the lead role in “The Mean One,” a slasher comedy parody of 1966 animated film “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!,” which was based on a Dr. Seuss children’s story of the same name.
“The Mean One” hits theaters Dec. 9. A trailer was recently released, see below.
Directed by Steven LaMorte, “The Mean One” is a bit more intense than “The Grinch.” The titular character is no longer merely a greedy, green-furred and Santa-suited thief. He’s also a meat-cleaver-wielding monster. “The Mean One” movie poster tagline? “Slashing Through The Snow.”
Cindy, the adorable toddler from the original story, is now all grown up and packs a pistol and spiked club. And she wants revenge.
In addition to Thornton as the titular Mean One, the film stars Krystle Martin as the adult Cindy, who’s returning home during Christmastime 20 years after The Mean One brutally murdered her parents.
Like the “Terrifier” films,” “The Mean One,” judging by the trailer,” showcases Thornton’s knack for counterbalancing menace and kills with Freddy Krueger-style winks.
“The Mean One” is the latest in a trend of flipping classic children’s intellectual property into horror, see this year’s previous “Winne the Pooh: Blood and Honey.” Also reportedly in the works, “Bambi: The Reckoning.”
Unlike the 2000 Jim Carey-starring, Ron Howard-directed live action comedy adaptation “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” “The Mean One” is an unauthorized spoof and doesn’t use any language from Seuss’ 1957 tome. For example, the villain is never called The Grinch but instead just The Mean One, a play off the ’66 film’s theme song’s lyrics. And whereas the young protagonist was originally named Cindy Lou Who, in “The Mean One” she’s Cindy You Know Who.
“The Mean One” is Thornton’s first role after “Terrifier 2,” the 2022 microbudget sequel to the 2016 genre sensation. Made for around $250,000, “Terrifier 2″ has generated more than $11 million at the box office. Not blockbuster numbers, but a sweet profit for an indie.
Now based in New York, Thornton got his start in acting as a youth at Huntsville’s Fantasy Playhouse children’s theater.
In a recent AL.com interview, Thornton, a Grissom High School graduate, recalled childhood memories of playing “Legend of Zelda,” going to movies at the Hollywood 16 and dressing up as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle for Halloween. Thornton, now in his 40s, told AL.com, “I was always an entertainment junkie.”
