By james art Art the Clown returns in Terrifier 3, the third installment in the supernatural slasher franchise of the same name. Set in the days before Christmas, the story follows the converging lives of Sienna Shaw (Lauren La Vera) and the barbaric villain himself (David Howard Thornton) as he continues on his path of destruction.
Released on October 11, “Terrifier 3” takes what audiences loved about the previous films – unrelenting gore and extreme violence – and multiplies it a thousandfold. The amount of gore and carnage is sickening, with each kill scene seemingly trying to top the last. By the time the final act rolls around, the extravagant deaths are almost comical.
Even though “Terrifier 3” is a horror movie, it’s hard not to laugh at certain scenes. It’s as if director Damien Leone asked, “What’s the most outrageous way to kill someone?” then took those ideas and dialed them up to incredible levels. From a purely narrative perspective, they don’t contribute much to the development of the plot. Apart from a kill or two, everything else is just for the audience’s enjoyment – or disgust.
So, did “Terrifier 3” achieve its goal? Well, yes.
For the most part, the reason people buy movie tickets isn’t because they care about Sienna Shaw’s image. This is because they want to see people die in the most disgusting ways possible. In one of my least favorite – but most memorable – scenes, Art the Clown scalps a wrecker while his accomplice has fun with a knife. Why did you do it? Because the filmmakers knew it would make people tell their friends, “I just saw the craziest movie.”
In a way, this takes the slasher film back to its B-movie roots. “Terrifier 3” isn’t trying to win an Oscar; trying to distract you from the upcoming midterms for a few hours.
On a less humorous note, the rest of the movie just isn’t that good. “Terrifier 3” can’t seem to juggle the tonal switch from the terrifying highs of Art the Clown’s murder to Sienna Shaw’s rather stale story. Instead of finding the right mix that enhances each character’s stories, it pushes each arc to the complete opposite end of the spectrum. The art moves at a dizzyingly fast pace, while Sienna’s characterization is begrudgingly slow. The last 20 minutes are the closest to a good combination of characters because then they are finally together.
One of the few highlights of the film is the filming itself. For a film with as basic a premise as it is, the cinematography is excellent. There are quite a few moments where certain shots surprise you with their technique, after which the scene reverts back to pointless gore.
Another highlight is the acting. Even amidst the plot of a simple killer clown going on a rampage, the cast’s performances breathe life into what could have been a very dated film. Gabby Shaw (Antonella Rose), the young niece of the protagonist Sienna Shaw, does a fantastic job for an 11-year-old actress. The relationship between Gabi and Sienna feels genuine and adds a level of emotional depth that most of the film lacks.
“Terrifier 3” delivers on the promise it makes to its core fan base: merciless death, creative kills and a unique sadistic villain. Beyond that, however, the film falters. If you’re not sure if you’re willing to shell out money for this movie, try watching a few scenes from Terrifier 2. If you like it enough to watch two hours of it, go ahead and watch this movie. If not, save yourself some time.
Quinn Lakers Sutherlund is an arts and entertainment intern for the fall quarter of 2024. He can be reached at [email protected].
Edited by Alaina Retodo and Jaheem Conley.