The third installment of the Terrifier series is back, opening with a striking prologue that wastes no time setting the tone for the rest of the film. Set during Christmas in a family home, the chilling scene introduces us to Art the Clown, this time dressed as Santa Claus, and armed with an axe. The victims? The unfortunate family celebrating the holiday.
Here is the trailer…
The film’s message is clear from the start: no one is safe, not even the children. Some meet their end as innocent bystanders, while others seem to have earned their gruesome fate – at least by horror movie logic. (One notable example is the husband who, in true slasher fashion, dismisses his wife’s concerns, sealing his fate.)
Is Terrifier 3 high-brow cinema? Not really. But pulling off a film like this isn’t as easy as it seems. The horror genre is packed with movies that promise to horrify but fail to deliver. For seasoned fans of the genre, the bar for truly disturbing content is high. However, Terrifier 3 stands out as a film that doesn’t shy away from being truly gruesome. While the level of intensity may vary depending on the viewer, it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted.
Art the Clown, unlike the infamous Patrick Bateman from American Psycho, isn’t your typical serial killer. He’s a demon clown, after all. But he shares Bateman’s love for experimenting with an array of lethal tools. Throughout the film, Art wields everything from axes to chainsaws, claw hammers, live rats, and even his bare hands. Writer-director Damien Leone doesn’t hold back, delighting in showcasing every gory second of Art’s violent rampage.
Unlike his earlier appearances, Art isn’t alone this time. He’s joined by Victoria, a character from the first Terrifier film. Having evolved from victim to accomplice, she teams up with Art in his bloody escapades. The film offers a glimpse into their off-time too: Art relaxes in a rocking chair, staring out the window, while Victoria indulges in a bath – filled with her blood.
While Terrifier 3 may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s a treat for fans of gory horror. If you have a taste for over-the-top violence and aren’t easily shocked, this film certainly delivers, with more than enough blood and carnage to satisfy any horror enthusiast.
