Art the Clown returns this holiday season to spread fear in the streets of Miles County– and no one is safe. Damien Leone’s third entry into the Terrifier franchise comes two years after its predecessor. It returns with not just more money in the budget but more everything. More kills, more blood, more gore, and more lore.
Let’s Dive In
Terrifier 3 kicks off where we left off in the previous sequel with Victoria (Samantha Scaffidi) in a psychiatric facility and Art (David Howard Thorton) making his return to the world. No need to try to understand how these things happen, they just do. One of the things I enjoyed most about Terrifier 2 is Leone’s way of intertwining the supernatural with the realism of a slasher. That aspect seems to take a backseat in Terrifier 3 until we get to the final sequences.
In this film, once Art is awakened after the return of Sienna, he spends most of his time on a murderous rampage, taking out adults and kids left and right. We get some moments of Victoria doing unspeakable things with glass. Of course, we also get plenty of comedic relief from Art’s over-the-top antics. Then, once Sienna and Art are reunited, we get one final showdown between the two.
It’s the Trauma for Me
While Art is out slashing the Christmas spirit, Sienna and Jonathan are trying to deal with their trauma. The fallout from their encounter with the clown during the Miles County Massacre years earlier still haunts them. Jonathan, who is now away at college, is doing his part to fit in, and Sienna is trying to put on a strong face for the family she now lives with. However, they both endure the wrath of Art in the form of panic attacks and nightmares. We spend a lot of time sitting with this trauma, so much so that it drags, and even someone like me, who isn’t a mega fan of gore, is counting down the minutes until the next time we see Art at play.
Killing Me Softly…or Not
Art does not discriminate. Young, old, Black, white, anybody can get it. So when you see a bunch of kids lining up to see Santa, you can’t help but wonder what Art is about to do. What he does best, of course. Terrifier 3 kills are extreme. Leone looked at Terrifier 2 and made it his mission to up the ante. To say that he is pushing the boundaries would be an understatement. Leone saw the boundary, walked right over it, then looked back and laughed at it. While the kills are often over-the-top ridiculous, there is intent behind each one, like the shower scene and its inspirations from Psycho (1960).
Terrifier 3’s increased budget is also evident in its use of effects from the first two films and this one. Leone and his team handled much of the practical effects in Terrifier and Terrifier 2. However, they worked with the special effects company, Tinsley Studio (Passion of the Christ) for this third installment, which only elevated the quality of the kills and the gore.
Silent Night
In the final sequence of Terrifier 3, a crown of thorns is placed on Sienna’s head, symbolizing the crucifixion of Christ (for those of you who might remember from Sunday school). Sienna was a victor in the second film; she slayed the monster. But he returns, and here we see her at her weakest and being stripped of everything she loves most. After it is all said and done, all that is left behind is blood and Christmas lights.
If you’re up for chainsaws, gore, and a side of blood with your holiday meal, then Terrifier 3 should already be on your watchlist. This one is not for the squeamish. If you have a thing about seeing kids get more than they asked for under the tree, you may want to pull up The Nightmare Before Christmas instead. Leone does not hold back with this one. The performances from David Howard Thorton and Lauren LaVera also make this a worthy Christmas slasher.
Terrifier 3 is now available on VOD.
