Terrifier 3 opens in theaters October 11. This review is based on a screening at Fantastic Fest 2024.
A Christmas-themed slasher in October? Why not? With Terrifier 3, director Damien Leone pays homage to ’80s and ’90s horror icons and the rapidly multiplying, increasingly “ridiculous” sequels that kept their franchises alive. Leone takes every opportunity to weaponize festive staples and bastardize sainted Christmas imagery, adding biblical and batty layers to Terrifier’s signature, practical-effects bloodshed. By dressing like Santa Claus, silent psycho killer Art the Clown adds a new flavor to his immaculate brand of slasher mutilation.
Terrifier 3 mirrors Terrifier 2 in both positive and negative ways. It stages jaw-droppingly brutal death scenes but indulges a story that’s spiraling out of control. The film introduces beloved Final Girl Sienna Shaw, haunted by the unspeakable events of the previous film and obsessed with her quest to kill her grease-painted nemesis, Art the Clown.
Survivor Victoria “Vicky” Heyes also plays a significant role, with the film emphasizing the complex relationships between characters. Director Damien Leone explores religious symbolism, flashbacks to character backgrounds, and the evolution of Art as a murderous force.
The special-effects wizardry in Terrifier 3 cannot be denied. Art’s arsenal expands to produce a yuletide feast of grossness that pushes boundaries and feels fresh. Thornton’s portrayal of Art as Santa Claus adds a layer of morbid hilarity to the film.
But how much goodwill does Terrifier 3 earn as Art separates himself from other horror icons of the day – and how much does it lose because of its story? There’s nothing coherent about the way Leone thrusts his characters into a battle of ultimate-good-versus-ultimate-evil. The continuity is choppy, whether Art takes primary characters hostage or blazes past entire off-screen deaths.