When the first terrifier movie came out in 2016, critics were not impressed by the film. According to one critic:“Even as a goofy one and done slasher film, it needs a lot of work in the story department, as well as a better villain…” Combing through the reviews, the general consensus among critics was that the movie had too much gore and not enough character development throughout. From the audience’s point of view, the film was seen as just a regular slasher film with no real plot, though it was interesting to watch. The film totaled at a 62% Rotten Tomato score, and only made around $200,000 in profit.
The movie’s lack of success did not deter Damien Leone from continuing to advance his creation. According to Leone,“ [Art the clown] always had a sick sense of humour from the very beginning but this time I tried to take it a little further whereas after every unspeakable act of violence he commits, he follows it with something comical like a facial expression or a quirky gesture. This does two things, it gives the audience a chance to relieve some tension but it also makes Art more demented when we realize just how much fun he’s having at his victim’s expense.” (Clout Communications)
Going into the filmmaking of Terifier two with that mindframe, Leone began pushing the bounds further than he had before. Not only was there a step up in gore but also another level of sarcastic and sadistic gestures. This movie tips the franchise into the horror scene by creating such a truly terrifying and disturbing villain. Terrifier three follows the same script of going past social norms showcasing harm to children, animals, and the inclusion of magic.
In today’s day and age, psychological horror has become one of the most beloved genres among the horror community. Using a simplistic plot and overdramatic clown, The Terrifer Trilogy creates an intricate narrative tapping into physiological horror. Art tends to make references to things we think of as pure or innocent. We see this in Terrifer three when Art dresses as Santa, or in the second movie where Art is following around the protagonist in a Joke shop. This causes fear among watchers because it hones in on things that typically bring joy or pleasure to really scare you. Overall, through Leones eye for detail, Terrifer is a truly horrifying trilogy.
