Terrifier 3
★ ★ ★
Every horror franchise has its signature villain. Nightmare on Elm Street has Freddy Kreuger. Halloween has Michael Meyers. Friday the Thirteenth has Jason Voorhees. Here in the Terrifier, we have Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton).
Art is a different kind of horror franchise psycho killer. His makeup is black and white. He carries a black garbage bag filled with an endless supply of items and devices to inflict his version of terror and torture. He also has a psychotic gleefulness about him that flies in stark contrast to the brutality he dishes out.
To Art, murder is a funny joke, and he doesn’t seem to understand why his victims don’t find it funny.
To be sure, these are amongst the most brutal of horror films. Each film in the series finds ways to top the extremely graphic violence of its predecessor. I suppose it works because of Art, who takes the killer clown to a new nightmarish level.
There isn’t much of a plot to this film, nor was there in the others. The Terrifier keeps things simple. Damien Leone, director of all three films, is confident in the realm of shock horror. He’s created his own horror universe and is comfortable showing us around.
David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown
© 2024 Cineverse
I won’t give you the gory details (pun intended) on how the film opens except to say that Art, with the help of female demon clown Victoria (Samantha Scaffidi), resurrects himself from his demise in the last film.
Sienna (Lauren LaVera) is being released from a mental institution where she has been recovering from the trauma of the previous film. She’s picked up by her Uncle Greg (Bryce Johnson) who is taking her home to live with him and her Aunt Jess (Margaret Anne Florence) and her young cousin Gabbie (Antonella Rose), who’s about 10-years-old. Gabbie idolizes Sienna and looks up to her as a big sister.
Sienna is trying to resume a normal life and also reconnect with her brother, Jonathan (Elliott Fullam) who’s been away at college. Sienna and Jonathan have a strained relationship as they both deal with the previous horror trauma in their own way.
Sienna sees Art posing as a mall Santa Clause. At first, she’s not sure if it’s real or imagined. Of course, it was Art posing as Santa and the danger to Sienna, and those she cares about, is real.
As the film continues, Art and Victoria will stack up a horrific, gory body count and Sienna will try to survive Art’s bloody carnival of carnage.
Lauren LaVera as Sienna
© 2024 Cineverse
In some ways, it feels irresponsible to recommend this film. The violence and on-screen gore have not been rated by the MPAA. Reportedly, it would have likely received an NC-17 had they done so. Instead, the film is “Not Rated.” Make no mistake, the violence and gore are severely extreme.
I recommend it cautiously with a warning that this film, and all the films in this series, are among the most violent the horror genre has ever mustered.
These are B-level horror films, but they’re done well and will inevitably live on amongst other horror film cult classics. Each new film seems to expand the budget, though Leone seems comfortable keeping them raw and independent.
Art the Clown is now certain to be cemented in the horror monster hall of fame. And he’s surely not done as there is a fourth outing on the way.
If you do see this film, please don’t take the kids.
Running Time: 2h 8m
Directed by: Damien Leone
Written by: Damien Leone
Starring: David Howard Thornton, Lauren Lavera, Samantha Scaffidi, Chris Jericho, Elliot Fullam
Horror, Mystery & Thriller
