Terrifier 3
Directed by Damien Leone
Written by Damien Leone
Starring Lauren Lavera, David Howard Thornton, Samantha Scaffidi
Release Date October 11th, 2024
Published October 15th, 2024
The tricky balancing act between cult phenomenon and mainstream, money-making, success has caught up with the Terrifier franchise in Terrifier 3. Not that Terrifier 3 has gone mainstream, per se, but rather that the culture has caught up to Terrifier and creator Damien Leone is apparently eager to get some of that mainstream money by finding ways to extend the Art the Clown I.P. In the case of Terrifier 3 this means creating a lore that can sustain the franchise beyond the appeal of the extreme, graphic, and gory violence that made the budding franchise a cult favorite. This introduction of lore may be appealing for some but I found it tedious and not particularly compelling compared to the dark humor and over the top viscera that made Terrifier 2 a decent surprise.
Terrifier 3 picks up the story of Art the Clown (the wildly expressive face of David Howard Thornton) and his partner in crime, Valerie (Samantha Scaffidi), hooking back up and heading home for a bit of rest, but not before they murder members of a hospital staff, including beloved professional wrestling star, Chris Jericho, reprising his cameo from Terrifier 2. Why Art and Valerie decide to sleep for five years is never explained but it doesn’t really matter either, the lengthy slumber is, perhaps, intended to give Sienna (Lauren Lavera), and her brother, Jonathan (Elliott Fulham), the chance to recover and cover for them having aged up a little from Terrifier 2.
Find my full length review at Horror.Media, linked here.
