Despite being beheaded by Sienna (Lauren LaVera) in Terrifier 2, Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) is back. Victoria Heyes (Samantha Scaffidi) is in an asylum and is the only survivor of the Mile Country Massacre, events that took place during Terrifier (2016). Sadly, Victoria has just been possessed by the mysterious ghost girl and soon gives birth to Art’s head! Working together, Art and Victoria find a way to escape the asylum and decide to go into hiding in an abandoned home.
Once again, we follow Sienna, who has been living in a mental health centre since the last film’s events. Thankfully, she receives approval for release, and since it is Christmas, Sienna is invited to stay with her Aunty Jess (Margaret Anne Florence), her husband Greg (Bryce Johnson), and their only daughter Gabbie (Antonella Rose). As Sienna moves in and tries to settle, we discover that she continues to struggle with her past, even experiencing gruesome visions of those who were close to her dying at the hands of Art the Clown. She keeps a journal documenting her experiences with past and present evils.
Sienna also reaches out to her younger brother, Jonathan (Elliott Fullam), who is, like Sienna, a rare survivor of Terrifier 2. However, it’s evident that their relationship has changed; it feels different and somewhat awkward. Jonathan reveals that while Sienna has been receiving care and support, he has been researching extensively to understand demons and the truth surrounding Art the Clown. Unfortunately, Sienna’s peace at home with her family is short-lived. Art the Clown and Victoria begin to resurface and embark on a violent rampage. It’s only a matter of time before Sienna and Art the Clown cross paths again for a bloody Christmas showdown.
In this third instalment, which is once again directed and written by Damien Leone, the film elevates itself above the previous entries in every aspect. The violence, gore, and bloodshed reach unprecedented levels and offer deeper insights and minor revelations about Art the Clown. A unique touch is incorporating Christmas themes, adding an interesting twist to the horror film, and Art quickly obtains a new fun costume. After all, Art the Clown is now a horror icon, so why not explore a holiday season aspect? It can’t be around Halloween or Thanksgiving- other icons have already taken those. Once again, Art the Clown shows no mercy to anyone who gets in his way, including young children. Terrifier 3 pushes the limits further and is more sickening and gruesome than the previous films. During several kill scenes, I felt a deep sense of unease in the pit of my stomach.
Performance-wise, actor David Howard Thornton remains tremendous in this role. He’s creepy, funny, and playful, and although it’s gross, I commend the actor for pulling off so many brutal and violent kills while remaining in full character mode on screen. The returning character Sienna, played by Lauren LaVera, remains likeable and strong and is vital to the film’s journey and story. We see Sienna at her all-time worst while, once again, taking on a villain who has become more potent and dangerous in every way possible. The stakes for Sienna personally are also at an all-time high, and thanks to various visions and flashbacks, we obtain a greater understanding of her childhood and the relationship she had with her father.
Regarding the film, I believe the runtime of over two hours is excessively long. Although the final act and climax are the most exciting parts, there are plenty of predictable moments and outcomes. The side characters are less important than the leads, which is usually acceptable, but I can’t help but feel that their performances were somewhat lacking. The weak delivery of dialogue makes the film feel more like a B-grade production or cheap. On a personal level, I also find the franchise’s choice to depict Art the Clown murdering young children highly unnecessary; the film has gone too far with its level of extreme violence.
Overall, as a third instalment, this is the most enjoyable of the three. For those who love gore, mayhem, and shocking amounts of violence, the film goes even further than ever before, with some kills that genuinely made me feel unwell to my core. As for the story, I enjoyed this aspect as it provided more significant insights into both Art the Clown and Sienna, leaving audiences wanting more as the credits were revealed. The film’s finale is gratifying, but I must admit it also has a few predictable outcomes. The pacing is generally excellent, but I can’t deny that the over two-hour runtime is noticeable. It’s fantastic to see Art the Clown create chaos during one of the greatest holiday seasons of the year; this was a nice new element for the film. Once again, the performances of Lauren LaVera and David Howard Thornton are stellar. Given how violent and bloody this instalment was, I can’t help but wonder what we will encounter in Terrifier 4. I think I might need a vomit bag if the filmmakers plan to ramp everything up once again.
Terrifier 3 (2024) is Now Available on 4K UHD Blu-ray, thanks to Umbrella Entertainment!
FILM SCORE: 7.8/10
Published: 28th December 2024
Written by: Peter Walkden
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