As a seasoned gamer and horror enthusiast with a knack for the macabre, I can confidently say that the Terrifier movies are not for the faint-hearted or the queasy-stomached. The very thought of a studio attempting to tone down the gore in such a gruesome franchise is almost laughable – it’s like asking Michael Myers to wield a plastic knife!
The Terrifier movies certainly deliver on their chilling title. In fact, when news broke about viewers vomiting in cinemas during the sequel, it put the spotlight on a whole new breed of terrifying horror clowns – namely Art the Clown. It’s hard to believe, but a major studio even attempted to persuade director Damien Leone to scale back the graphic violence within the Terrifier series. I find that idea absolutely amusing!
One unique aspect setting the “Terrifier” films apart from many others is their daring approach to character deaths, eschewing conventional safety. The sinister Art Clown employs a grotesque creativity in his methods of killing, which often involve mutilation, torture, and bludgeoning. In an interview with Total Film (via GamesRadar), the director of the “Terrifier” series, Damien Leone, mentioned an unusual proposition: a major mainstream studio nearly acquired the independent slasher franchise, but they had an odd demand – a rather bizarre request.
1) They were eager to find out how I managed things with so little cash at hand. They aimed to rework it for a broader public. However, that wasn’t the direction I was keen on pursuing. They would often suggest, “It needs an R rating; it can’t be as gruesome as you portrayed it.
A production company suggested toning down the graphic violence in one of the most gruesome horror movie franchises? But why not let Ghostface use a rubber knife instead, in the Scream series? After all, horror films are meant to provoke fear and dread, or they fail to deliver on their genre’s core principles. Unfortunately, 2020 saw a string of poorly-received horror flicks criticized for lacking scares, including the mixed-reviewed Exorcist: Believer. Although having a major studio support an independent horror series would have helped financially, it wouldn’t have been wise if it meant compromising Damien Leone’s creative vision for his franchise.
In the anticipated film “Terrifier 3,” it’s easy to predict there will be several gruesome sequences. However, director Damien Leone hints at a provocative opening scene featuring Art the Clown disguised as Santa Claus on a bloody Christmas night, startling children in their homes. Given that such a scene might not sit well with mainstream production companies, Leone devised an appropriate strategy for his “Terrifier” series: self-financing.
I knew they’d never let me shoot the first 10 minutes of what I wanted to do [in Terrifier 3]. So I thought, ‘Let’s just stay true to what this franchise is.’
Damien Leone chose wisely by staying true to his independent style throughout his film series. This allows him the freedom to solely make decisions about Terrifier 3, ensuring it aligns with his vision. Moreover, the creator of this American horror franchise found no hurdles in introducing Art the Clown on the big screen initially.
Back in 2006, I got my first glimpse of the chilling Art the Clown through Leone’s short film, “The 9th Circle.” A few years later, in 2011, he made another appearance in the “Terrifier” short film, and then again in the horror anthology feature film “All Hallows Eve” in 2013. Ever since I saw him, I’ve been captivated by this killer clown, and when I learned that he was set to star in his own movie, I was thrilled!
It’s absolutely a hilarious concept that Damien Leone was asked to tone down Art the Clown’s trademark gore. It just wouldn’t be a Terrifier movie if that’s the case. As the slasher series already has a reputation for making audiences toss their cookies, I think people will go into the third movie ready to be entertained with clear gory expectations. The 2024 movie release of the holiday gore fest hits theaters on October 11th.
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2024-09-11 21:39