Christmas is the time for family, gift giving and cheer…and now thanks to Damien Leone and Terrifier 3, it’s the time for Art the Clown to brutally kill all of those things. Terrifier 3 is a brutal, gruesome and fun Christmas slasher.
After surviving Art the Clown’s Halloween massacre, Sienna and her brother are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. 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.
Art the Clown’s return is nothing short of a good time—and terrifyingly brutal. Like the first two films and unlike other traditional slashers, where the film builds suspense before striking their victims, Terrifier 3 dives headfirst into the mayhem without hesitation or remorse. This is not only a testament to Art the Clown as a character but also to Damien Leone’s unyielding commitment towards crafting visceral experiences unlike any other. Leone’s ability to build a franchise not only filled with gore, but also an actual well-written narrative to boot.
Terrifier 3 isn’t merely a film dedicated towards delivering high-octane thrills. While fans flocked to the theaters (they did to the tune of nearly $20 million on opening weekend) primarily due anticipation surrounding grisly executions (of which there are plenty), they will appreciate the nuanced storytelling interwoven throughout the film. This provides much-needed context regarding protagonists’ struggles coping aftermath traumatic events previously endured.
The film feels like a Terrifier film, but with the addition of taking place during the Christmas season sets it apart from others in the series. It’s a theme not many tackle in horror films today and the audacious decision by Leone to set the third film against the backdrop of a quintessentially cheerful season just added to the horrors within. By juxtaposing yuletide warmth against cold-blooded murder by Art the Clown we get a strange yet satisfying feeling. The kills feel more gruesome, maybe because they are, and the fear becomes more frightening when a killer is dressed like Santa Claus.
Ultimately, Leone has crafted another successful gruesome slasher with Terrifier 3. While we find it falls just short of the fantastic Terrifier 2, the third installment has nothing to be ashamed about. The creepy acting from David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown and spectacularly bloody kills build a fantastic holiday slasher fit for both the Halloween and Christmas seasons. Terrifier 3 might be the most disturbing holiday film of all time.
Terrifier 3 written and directed by Leone. It stars Thornton as Art the Clown, Lauren LaVera as Sienna Shaw, Elliott Fullam as Jonathan Shaw, and Samantha Scaffidi as Victoria “Vicky” Heyes, who reprise their roles from prior films. Additionally, Chris Jericho stars as Burke, and Daniel Roebuck as Santa Claus. Also appearing are Tom Savini, Jason Patric, Antonella Rose, Krsy Fox Howard, Annie Lederman, and Jon Abrahams.
