Terrifier 3

Five years have passed since Art the Clown’s Halloween massacre wreaked havoc across Miles County, and our returning heroine Sienna (Lauren LaVera) is attempting to rebuild her life from what shattered fragments remain. She has spent her years in an institution and despite showing signs of improvement, she still sees visions of her dead friends and family. As the holiday season approaches, Sienna and her brother Jonathan (Elliott Fullam) attempt to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind them. However, Art has other ideas and is determined to turn this holiday into a new terrifying nightmare.

In true Damien Leone fashion, Terrifier 3 really says, “Hey, remember when you couldn’t believe we did this? Well, watch this…” This third instalment in the franchise is more gruesome than ever, made so by the madcap ideas of how to murder people and the increase in production value. Chilling to the core, this sequel is a bounty of blood and guts that will keep you wincing in disbelief at what you are seeing. You know the next murder is coming but you just cannot anticipate how it will be delivered and Leone’s ultraviolent effects mean you might be sick once, twice or even three times.

Much like with its predecessors, huge props must go to the art and design team behind Terrifier 3, who collectively have created one of the most blood-curdling visual experiences in cinema. The acting of Art by David Howard Thornton is once again extraordinary, taking the sadistic clown to new levels of maniacal chaos. His performance is darker and grittier than the others, but he still finds time to sprinkle some laughs in the narrative here and there. LaVera also delivers a powerful performance as she reprises her role as Sienna, this time struggling with the demons that have been left to haunt her life since the events of Terrifier 2.

The plot itself is fairly non-existent, with emphasis placed on the slasher element of the film rather than moving the story onwards to pastures new, and running at over two hours, Terrifier 3 may struggle to win over new followers who haven’t been attached to the characters and previous storylines – but it is one for the fans, who will undoubtedly adore this latest movie. The continuous growth of the franchise is quite remarkable with a fourth instalment already in the works, however, you feel it may take more than cinematic murder sequences if this upward trajectory is to continue in the future. For now, though, Terrifier 3 is the best of the franchise so far, just don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s a Christmas movie to be enjoyed with all the family.

Guy Lambert

Terrifier 3 is released nationwide on 11^th October 2024.

Watch the trailer for Terrifier 3 here: