‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, blood, guts, and intestines were everywhere. Art the Clown has returned in writer-director Damian Leone’s Terrifier 3, an old school Christmas slasher film that will have horror audiences cheering, wincing, and maybe closing their eyes. Fans of the extreme violence found in the best (and worst) of the splatter films from the 70s and 80s will have a great time, while skittish modern horror audiences may run from the theater. Recognizing the extreme brutality of the first two entries, part 3 is one of the most gleefully sadistic and boundary-pushing horror pictures in decades. 

Although the director had SAG (The Screen Actors Guild) looking over him for this one, Leone keeps the indie filmmaking spirit alive. The director stated he desired to go even darker with this one and promised (warned?) that he would not hold back when it came to the gore. The unrestrained mayhem Leone unleashes is the work of a filmmaker who refuses to kowtow to contemporary norms. The days of the “video nasties” are long gone. Damian Leone is a director who takes his fondness and respect for these types of films (he grew up on them) and brings their unhinged style to the modern era, giving a cinematic cattle prod to a generation of moviegoers who are complacent with the cookie-cutter horror films of today. Even more than the first two films, Terrifier 3 will be a polarizing experience for horror fans; a fact that should be seen as a badge of honor. 

Beginning with a prologue that features a Ho-Ho-Holy Mess of a slaughter where Art the Clown literally tears through a family (kids are NOT safe in this one) on Christmas Eve, the story begins five years after Terrifier 2. After the murder of her family and her battle with Art, Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) is being released from a mental health facility into the care of her aunt, uncle, and little niece; Margaret Anne Florence, Bryce Johnson, and Antonella Rose, respectively. Her brother Jonathan (Elliott Fullam) is away at college, trying to live life and deal with the lasting trauma from watching the slaughter of his and Sienna’s family. Things are not well for Sienna, Jonathan, and anyone they know.

Art the Clown has returned full force. The ultra-bizarre finale of part 2 saw the gruesomely disfigured Victoria (Samantha Scaffidi) birthing the severed head of Art, a scene that immersed itself in the unspoken supernatural aspects of the series. In this one, a policeman finds Art’s headless body. Very soon, the cop’s head is removed and used to help Art reconnect with both Vicky and his own severed dome. The unholy couple set up a macabre home in a condemned house where they will rest for five years. Before their slumber, Victoria is sickened by seeing her mutilated face in a mirror. Disturbed by the monster she has become, she slides into a filthy tub and slits her wrists, hoping to finally die. Art relaxes in an attic rocking chair where he will be awakened five years later by two construction workers who recharge both Art and Victoria. While Art the Clown returns to his patented carnage, Victoria embraces her inner and outer grotesqueries and the two become a demonic killer couple that would make the Manson family cower in fear. 

Leone has gone darker for this one and Victoria is his unholy monstrosity. In design and performance, the character is one of the more frightening horror creations in some time. We giggle at Art the Clown, even as he is committing the most vile acts of depravity. Victoria disturbs us, as she is something to fear. It was pleasing to see the director move closer towards the sinister. While the series’ macabre humor is still intact, there is something more welcomely unnerving to the creation of this one.   

For the Terrifier series, Leone has created a world that is a pure nightmare. There is no reprieve for anyone while Art the Clown is roaming the streets of Miles County, New York. In creating such a hellish landscape where an unkillable demonic clown is on a constant rampage, Leone opens up the more supernatural possibilities and suppresses any need for “How/Why/What does this mean” queries. Setting this one at Christmas, gives the director a fun canvas in which to create. Leone uses the glow of Christmas light-hues and the sounds of beloved carols to great effect. George Seuber’s camera turns the coziness of the season into something dark and sinister. It is here where Terrifier 3 finds a kinship with other Xmas horror such as Bob Clark’s 1974 classic Black Christmas, a film that used the Christmas atmosphere to chilling effect. Putting Art the Clown in a Santa suit brings the obvious Silent Night, Deadly Night homage to full-on fruition. 

As our beloved Art, David Howard Thornton continues to be a brilliant pantomime of ultra-violent insanity. This is a work of demented intensity that is funny, vicious, and wildly diabolical. There are no limits for Art the Clown, as he is not of this world, ergo, Thornton’s performance is allied to be completely unrestrained. The actor’s incredible ability to use his face and body movements can be compared to Doug Jones and his many creature performances throughout the years. It is through such skill that Thornton has solidified Art the Clown’s place in horror film history. His work is truly captivating.

Working with a bigger budget, Leone has peppered his film with some familiar genre movie faces. Clint Howard and Daniel Roebuck are part of a fantastic sequence where Art goes into a bar and “procures” his Santa Claus suit. This exciting moment is filled with the dark humor and vicious violence that colors the series. 

The legend that is Tom Savini shows up on television as a witness to Art’s violence. His appearance is brief but quite funny, and it is always good to see the FX legend on screen.

The most head-scratching cameo is the presence of Jason Patric. A fine actor who has been in some terrific serious works over the years, it is jarring to see a performer of his caliber show up for a few brief moments, but his role is a key to the mysteries of Art the Clown’s existence.

Don’t look too hard at the screenplay. While Leone makes the characters in this one more emotionally relevant, the story is (as are the first two) batshit insane. I’m sure the filmmaker knows where he is taking the series, but some of this film’s threads aren’t tethered tightly enough to the story. However, if we are honest with ourselves, the story isn’t what will put butts in seats. Fans are here for the carnage and they will not feel short changed for one second.

There are many blood-soaked segments of viciousness that raise the stakes from scene to scene. Families are slaughtered, skins are peeled, skulls are crushed, body parts are ripped from their owner, disemboweled bodies are crucified to a wall, and children die hard. Leone is working without a net and strives to turn his audience’s stomachs and test their loyalties in equal measure, all the while keeping them entertained. On that level, the film fully succeeds.

While the story may not make a lot of sense, it doesn’t really matter. This is a series that seems to get better with each film. Damian Leone says there is to be one or two more in the series before Art the Clown loses his freshness. If he can keep up this kind of inventive momentum, the director will continue to hold onto his loyal fanbase. 

Terrifier 3 is a superior sequel and will go down as one of the great Christmas horror films of them all. 

Terrifier 3

Written and Directed by Damien Leone

Starring David Howard Thronton, Lauren LaVera, Antonella Rose, Elliott Fullham, Margaret Anne Florence, Bryce Johnson, Samantha Scaffidi, Daniel Roebuck, Clint Howard, Jason Patric

NR, 125 Minutes, Bloody Disgusting, Dark Age Cinema, Fuzz on the Lens Productions