Terrifier 3
review by Bobby Blakey
In 2013 Art the Clown made his terrifying first appearance in the anthology film All Hallows’ Eve that was taken from the previous short films of director Damien Leone. After becoming a fan favorite, he spun off into his own film Terrifier in 2016 with Leone once again at the helm. In 2022 Leone brought Art back once again with the unexpected massive hit Terrifier 2. With it’s insane success it is no surprise that Art is back for Terrifier 3 starring David Howard Thornton, Lauren Lavera, Elliott Fullam, Samantha Scaffidi, Antonella Rose, Margaret Anne Florence, Bryce Johnson, Alexa Blair, Mason Mecartea, Krsy Fox, Clint Howard, Jon Abrahams with Chris Jericho, Daniel Roebuck, and Jason Patric. Could this next chapter bring more of the gore and fun fans love or will it be a gift not worth delivering?
Terrifier 3 follows Sienna and her brother who are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives after surviving Art the Clown's Halloween massacre. As the holiday season approaches, they try to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind. But just when they think they're safe, Art the Clown returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare. The festive season quickly unravels as Art unleashes his twisted brand of terror, proving that no holiday is safe.
If you have seen the first two films then you already know what you are walking into and if you haven’t then you shouldn’t be seeing this film in the first place. It’s rare that a franchise manages to top itself with every single entry, but Terrifer has done just that. Each film has stepped its game up and I am sure a budget increase has also evolved the story beyond the kills and gore we all expect, which is also top notch.
Much like the previous film this one picks up where the last leaves off, but before doing so sets the tone with Art doing his thing while bringing the blood and holiday festivities to the forefront. It moves from this set piece to pick up
where the mid-credit sequence left off in the last film brining back Chris Jericho and giving him more to do and in get in on the bloody fun of it all. Both sequences are perfect to kickstart the film to set its tone and how we get it going all again before jumping into the present day. They don’t make the fans wait for the insanity and gore as both offer up plenty that are not for the faint of heart in both visuals and tone in the best way possible. There are some elements to them that you might question the direction, but the supernatural elements introduced at the end of the original and embellished in the sequel kind of give you the answers along with some new info this time around.
The story is simple but is diving deeper into Art’s lore on some levels and dealing with the survivor PTSD of both Sienna and Jonathan. I think this adds a new layer to their characters as opposed to the survivors all just being fine and ready to fight back again like a lot of these films. I also loved that we got what seemed like a lot more Art this time around and not just in the killing. Typically, this is annoying to me as they try to push the iconic killers down our throats and overstay their welcome, but Thornton is so good and captivating as Art that you want to see him. His mime-like mannerisms and reactions to things are hilarious and terrifying all at once and I firmly believe he not only stands alongside the likes of Freddy, Jason, Michael and Chucky, but surpasses them in many ways.
These films would not work without the over-the-top gruesome kills and this film brings it in every frame. They have made the previous films tame in comparison with the direction they went that might lose even some of the hardcore fans, but then are they really fans? Taking on the biggest no, no in horror killing kids is one that I always think is a missed opportunity to really bring the terror and clearly Leone thinks the same and goes all in. The stories of people walking out of the opening film makes total sense now and was also the reason I was staying in my seat and ready for more.
The effects and kills look horribly beautiful like never before. They clearly put a lot of thought into not just how they are going to look and work, but how to get as creative as possible to really punch the audience in the face. By the end of the film there isn’t a person not dismembered, screaming, or drenched in blood or other bodily fluids and further cements the horrific genius of this franchise. I loved this entry as much if not more than the previous films and cannot wait to see the return of Art in the future as the film sets the tone for what could be the final battle or a long reign of terror by our favorite silent clown faced killer.
Check out Terrifier 3 in theaters now from Cineverse and Bloody Disgusting.
