So, after what feels like forever Terrifier 3 has finally hit cinemas. Following on from the first two films, Damien Leone had the opportunity to do something great here. And he delivered on all fronts if I’m honest. Being the third film in this franchise, it had no right to be as good as it is. Very in keeping with the previous, Leone has managed to one up himself again and deliver a film that hasn’t taken audiences on a ride like this since the golden age of horror (1980s). So, let’s get into another (spoiler free) Hooked On Horror Review – Terrifier 3.
“After surviving Art the Clown’s Halloween massacre, Sienna and her brother struggle 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. However, just when they think they’re safe, Art returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare.”
So, let’s start with the opening scene here that caused nine people to walk out of the UK premiere in London. Is it really as bad as people say? Absolutely. There’s no easing the audience in here, Damien Leone takes this film from 0-1000 in a matter of minutes; and yes it does well and truly set the tone for the rest of the film. Everything in scene is just so unbelievably wrong, cruel, gory and explicit. Much like Tarantino does, Leone leaves very little to the imagination- and to be fair, what he does is beyond horrific anyways. I tip my hat to the folks behind the sound design on this film; audio alone was more than enough for THAT.
Opening title rolls over- I was sat there wondering where the hell do you go from there? Like seriously where do you go, and what the hell can you possibly show me that’s worse than this? I was wrong (in the best way possible) …so very very wrong.
Straight off the bat here there’s a lot of difference you pick up on pretty quickly. Overall, it’s just a better quality of film than the first two, and I’m not detracting from them at all as they’re fantastic, but this was polished and you can tell the budget was bigger. It’s well shot with some fantastic set-pieces, Paul Wiley’s score and the soundtrack was on point- even the clown café song made a re-appearance.
The story in these full-on leans into the 80s horror love letter and adds so much more. Leone continues his story whilst expertly building on the lore he’s created as well as Art & Vicki’s backstory, and mythology surrounding them. There is a little time jump, but all is explained regardless. The film also deals with trauma and certain mental health conditions through Lauren LaVera and Elliott Fullham’s characters and adds a new level of depth we haven’t seen in a Terrifier film before.
Whilst of course we get a fodder of new characters/victims for Art, the character development on the series returning characters, and one or two new (Art & Vicki included) was impressive in this. Leone has admitted in an interview promoting this film, he had the opportunity to work closer with his cast and concentrate on the film making aspect as opposed to doing numerous behind the scenes jobs himself. And honestly, it shows through some fantastic direction and impressive performances from the cast.
The cast were great. Terrifier newcomers Margaret Anne Florence, Bryce Johnson, Mason Mecartea, Alexa Blair Robertson and Antonella Rose all play fantastic parts in this. Looking forward to seeing young up and comer Antonella Rose in some more horror, she crushed it as Gabbie. Alexa Blair Robinson, in particular, I thought really stood out. I hated her character with a passion; this is one I found myself rooting for Art to kill her. It was great seeing Jason Patric as Michael, Sienna’s father. Thought he did a great job with the role and his character is something I hope Leone opens up about more in the next film. Absolutely no spoilers in this review, but horror fans should be on the look-out for some great cameos and bit parts from horror legends.
Returning cast member Samantha Scaffidi really comes into her own in this film. Even under all the make-up and prosthetics she gives a deliciously cruel and vile performance. I won’t ruin it but she features heavily in some of the films more horrific, notable scenes. This is the most we’ve seen of Vicki, and it’s incredibly disturbing. Anyone who’s seen it will know there’s a particular scene that rivals The Exorcist for ‘most fucked up thing I’ve seen in a film’.
David Howard Thornton reprises his iconic role as Art, and gives what I consider his best performance yet as everyone’s favourite killer clown. It’s fantastic to see how far he’s come and how far his character has come in only three films. The performance, the little quirks and mannerisms are wonderful to watch. I’m not going to lie, he was a bit too intense in a few scenes- if you’ve seen the film, you’ll already know which scenes I’m referring to. I know there’s one scene near the end of the film that even Thornton himself struggled with.
All in all, I love what he’s done with the character with Leone clearly giving him the chance to make Art his own. I’m excited to see where he goes next with Art! We do get to see Vicki & Art together in action in this film; a lot more than the first two. It’s so messed up, and an absolute joy to watch as a horror fan. Just imagine a gorier, more screwed-up Natural Born Killers.
Elliott Fullham returned as Jonathan, and whilst he had a more limited screen-time he did wonderfully with any scenes he was in. He’s the polar opposite of the teen we saw in the second film and I would’ve loved to have seen more of him in this. Particularly scenes between him and Sienna. We only get a few, and it’s obvious the experience has a profound effect on them both as well as they’re relationship with each other. There’s a pinnacle scene towards the end of the film, and it’s an interesting one to say the least.
So, onto Terrifier’s infamous ‘Final Girl’ Sienna Shaw, played by the marvellous Lauren LaVera. Honestly, she’s incredible in this. I have not seen a final girl be put through that amount of hell since Texas Chainsaw Massacre’s Sally Hardesty. Just when you think things can’t possibly get much worse, Leone unleashes even more hell and horror on her.
Her performance is nothing short of brilliant and the depth LaVera brings to her character in this is remarkable. A lot has gone into developing this character between LaVera & Leone (same with the others to be fair), and it shines through in this. Cannot wait to see what’s next for Sienna, honestly feel like we’ve barely scratched the surface at this point!
Of course, I can’t even bring up any sort of discussion about this film (or its predecessors) without talking about the special effects and make-up. Let’s be honest, this is usually a big selling point for us horror fans. CGI is often used instead of practical effects nowadays, mainly due to the cost, time and easy access to it. And, if you’re anything like me, you’ll agree that for most part practical effects will always trump CGI- especially in regard to this genre.
Thankfully, Leone opted for old school again and gave the film’s make-up team one hell of a chance to have fun. Again no spoilers, but Jesus Christ I think even some of the SFX team may have been nauseous making some of this- WWE fans in particular may want to avoid this one. As I said above, very little is left to the imagination and it is displayed in full explicit (and incredibly graphic) detail- it’s great! There are some truly spectacular set-pieces, deaths and kills throughout. I mean enough to satisfy even the hungriest of gore whores; the body count has been upped again. All of you on the SFX team for this take a bloody bow!
Most notable (and probably favourite) scenes for me were the opening, Art & Vicki’s first kill in present day, the bar, the mall-Santa sequence (it is disturbing and hilarious in equal measure), the bar scene and the climax. That epic climax…. that was what I was hoping for when I went into the cinema to watch Halloween Ends. The shower scene was insane- imagine Psycho on speed- and should, hopefully, put those calling Leone a misogynist to bed.
All in all, this is a great film, and a treat for most horror fans. A love letter and homage to 80s horror and splatter films- be on the look-out for some greats nods to films like The Shining & even Terminator 2: Judgement Day (if you know you know). Honestly, I found it a breath of fresh air in this current PC climate. No one has the balls to try something new/risky, or step where people perhaps shouldn’t out of fear of getting cancelled. Damien Leone literally doesn’t give a shit, and I commend him for it; genuinely hope he continues this way. For most of us, seeing this violent, vile, cruel, malicious, gory and downright disgusting film is the closest we will ever come to something like this. And as macabre and sinister as it is, it’s interesting. Christ why do you think true crime shows and podcasts do so well?
I do get jealous of horror fans that had the luxury of growing up with numerous slashers and horrors. Christ some of them had Halloween, ANOES, Friday the 13th and Child’s Play on a nearly annual basis at one point. And it honestly feels like Terrifier could be this generations Freddy, Jason, Chucky or Michael. Regardless of whether or not you love the Terrifier series, you can’t deny its impact on both film and the horror genre. Could the monumental success of this catapult Art & the Terrifier series up there with the likes of A Nightmare on Elm Street, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th or Halloween? I for one certainly hope so.
Terrifier 3 is out now.
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