What is Terrifier 3 About?
Art is back in town. And he’s wreaking more havoc amongst the townsfolk of the fictional Miles County, New York. This time, Terrifier 3 (2024) enters the Realm of Holiday Horror. The sub-genre is known to be set among Holidays such as, Christmas and Thanksgiving (US).
Classics of the sub-genre involve slashers like Black Christmas (1974) and Thanksgiving (2023). Which often sees serial killers stalk their victims during what is supposed to be the most joyous time of the year.
If you’ve already seen Terrifier (2016) and Terrifier 2 (2022), then you know exactly what’s in store for Terrifier 3 (2024). Blood, guts and gore but on a much grander scale. The Terrifier franchise creator, writer and director, Damien Leone, offers Art’s extensive immoral lust and taste for blood in this latest installment.
Terrifier 3: More Blood, Guts & Gore
Also on display is Art The Clown’s adaptability. He can go from being murderous to supposedly dead himself, to resurrected. Again, and again. It’s a process where Art always ends up winning.
Art wreaks even more havoc this time around. As he creates arguably the most gruesome, gory and bloodthirsty deaths of the franchise. This time he’s armed with more weapons, including a chainsaw, hammer, axe and nails.
Just like other Slasher movie villains before him, the Monster never truly dies. Art certainly solidifies his status as one of the Horror Slasher icons among his immortal peers including Michael Myers, Jason Vorhees and Ghostface.
Art Returns… As a Blood-soaked Santa
Terrifier 3 (2024) brings back newly iconic final girl, Sienna Shaw, played by Lauren LaVera. This revival of Art is a continuation from the story told of brother and sister duo survivors, Sienna and Jonathan Shaw from Terrifier 2 (2022). The latest installment also sees more Horror humour from Art. He comedically plays with his victims, taunting them during their last moments.
But as a Mime, he laughs in a sinisterly silent expression. Art dresses as Father Christmas himself, donning the red suit and Santa sack. But of course, he carries body parts instead of normal presents. Terrifier 3 (2024) picks up after the story of Sienna and Jonathan Shaw in Terrifier 2 (2022).
Set during the holiday season, Sienna joins her Aunt’s family over the Christmas season. While Jonathan has just started university or college (US). The latest Terrifier instalment has currently gained $30 million in the global box office. Spinning from a budget of $2 million.
The Terrifier Franchise
For a film franchise that first began crowdfunding on Indigogo for Terrifier (2016) and Terrifier 2 (2022), the franchise has seen immense success. Art’s early origins began back in 2008 starring in the Short Horror, The 9th Circle (2008).
Damien Leone’s iconic Mime Clown then saw a revival in Horror Anthology, All Hallows Eve (2013) and All Hallows Eve 2 (2015). Before eventually getting his own, rightfully deserved film, Terrifier (2016). Currently, the trilogy is said to expand into a fourth feature film.
Art The Clown
David Howard Thornton deserves all the credit as Art The Clown. Howard clearly brings everything to his performance. It’s at the point where I can’t imagine anyone else could possibly play Art. He is the stabbing he’art’ of not just this film, but the whole Terrifier franchise.
As a major Horror fan, both Leone and Howard have created a truly ‘terrifying’ Horror icon that makes genre history. He seemingly plays homage to the classic slew of slashers. Noticeably during the VHS Horror Video Nasties era that plagued early 80s Horror cinema.
Terrifier 3 (2024) explores the origins of Art as a resurrecting demon from the underworld. There’s a few off-screen deaths which are cleverly implemented into the script.
Honk! Honk! Replaces Ho, Ho, Ho.
But at times, Terrifier 3 (2024) is sporadic in its storytelling. Many death scenes could be played and edited anywhere across the film, which becomes slightly lost in the storyline. Nonetheless, it provides such a powerful blast of gore and gifts, giving Terrifier fans exactly what they want. A Horror treat just in time for the holidays.
Although Damien Leone has been so impressive across the Terrifier franchise. It’s clear Leone has encyclopaedic knowledge of Horror icons and franchises. There’s a few nods and hints to other iconic Horror cinema. If you’re a dedicated Horror fan, like me, you’ll recognise these connections straight away.
Iconic Horror Cast
Horror legends also appear including Horror makeup artist and Dawn of the Dead (1978) actor, Tom Savini and The Lost Boys’ (1987) Jason Patric. As well as serial killer Ice Cream Man (1995) Clint Howard and Jon Abrahams from House of Wax (2005). There’s also a special cameo from WWE legend himself (currently in AEW), Chris Jericho.
‘Terror under the Christmas moonlight. You better not shout, you better not cry.’
However, the Terrifier franchise is slightly less scary for avid Horror fans, like me, who have since become desensitised to such on-screen violence. After you see such gory ‘Body Horrors’ as Switchblade Romance/High Tension (2005) or even the Saw (2004) franchise – it’s difficult to find something that truly phases you.
Even so, Terrifier 3 (2024) tends to break through that barrier a few times. It’s really a competition between which Death comes out on top. Damien Leone succeeds in making a string of creative deaths. Just when you think one death is gory, the next becomes even gorier. As Art gifts more blood, guts and gore to Miles County to celebrate his Christmas.
But wait until the end of Terrifier 3 (2024) to judge which Death is the goriest. After all, it’s a gory gut Fest of Slasher Mayhem. If you can see it on the big screen, it can’t be slashed through. Make the date. And turn up for the cut. Or should I say cuts.
Check out my other blog posts like analysing Hollywood’s ‘Makeover Scenes’ in Romantic Comedies here.