Let's Talk Terrifier: The Wins and Failures of a Franchise

Cinematic Suffering

The Terrifier movie series follows the sadistic "Art the Clown" as he brutally murders his victims, drawing viewers into a world of extreme horror. The first film, Terrifier (2016), is notable for its relentless violence and practical effects, showcasing a raw and visceral approach to horror. While it received praise for its intensity and David Howard Thornton's maniacally chilling performance as Art, there was a lack of depth in character development and plot, which detracted from the overall experience. In Terrifier 2 (2022), the story "attempts" to expand on Art’s mythology and introduces new characters, but some viewers (us, we mean us) felt the lengthy runtime and non-sensical plot left it a plodding mess. The film's ambition to blend horror with dark humor has been met with mixed reactions, and while we appreciated its creativity, it feels very uneven. Terrifier 3 (2024) expands even more on Art's origins and RE-introduces us to Vicky, who, in our opinion upstages Art in every scene. Filled with great kill scenes, gore, and a little more of a cohesive plot it still runs a bit too long and could shed about 20 minutes of its runtime. It is a much more superior sequel in our opinion. Overall, the series has carved a niche for itself in the slasher genre, appealing to fans of extreme horror, but its reliance on graphic violence along with narrative incoherence may alienate more mainstream audiences. - Cinematic Suffering (Jason & Clay)