What Is Art The Clown? The Terrifier Villain Explained

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Clowns, particularly those from films like “Killer Klowns from Outer Space” and “Clown in a Cornfield”, have been recurring figures in horror cinema. Iconic clowns such as Pennywise and the spooky clown doll from “Poltergeist” have contributed significantly to coulrophobia (the fear of clowns) among many viewers. In 2016, another chilling clown was introduced in the indie slasher film “Terrifier,” directed by Damien Leone, further expanding this horror genre trope.

The movie series chronicles the thrilling escapades of a rogue clown named Art, who takes pleasure in tracking down his victims and brutally murdering them whenever he gets the chance. Rarely does anyone manage to evade his rampage, and even if they do, they can never truly escape him as he relentlessly haunts them. Remarkably, one of his victims went so far as to become an accomplice to this sinister clown, mirroring the relationship between Amanda from “Saw.

In a seemingly human guise, Art the Clown might give off that impression, but there are hints suggesting he’s something other than ordinary, exhibiting abilities like shape-shifting and teleportation. In “Terrifier,” he comes across as entirely human, but this changes dramatically at the film’s end, where he miraculously revives after taking his own life through a fatal gunshot wound. His unusual powers are further showcased in the second movie, as he is decapitated and then brought back to life yet again. It’s clear that there’s an otherworldly or demonic element to Art, and this is reinforced in “Terrifier 3,” where he grows increasingly linked with the apparent source of his powers, the Little Pale Girl.

Art the Clown first appeared in a short film

Art the Clown didn’t make his initial appearance in “Terrifier.” Instead, he was introduced for the very first time in the 2008 short film titled “The 9th Circle.” In this short movie, three women were chained up in a room and met with different fates. One of them managed to escape, only to be captured by witches later on. This short film served as the opening segment for the 2013 horror anthology “All Hallows’ Eve,” which was created by Damien Leon.

In this anthology, a strange VHS tape turns up in a kid’s Halloween loot. Despite being unsure of its contents, their babysitter chooses to watch it with the children present. Following “The 9th Circle,” she sends the kids off to bed and continues viewing alone. The second part is titled “Something in the Dark” and revolves around aliens stalking a woman settling into a rural home, yet Art, a character from an earlier segment, reappears in a painting. The final storyline is “Terrifier,” where Art the Clown pursues a woman who encounters him at a gas station with murderous intent.

In these art pieces, there’s no indication about his past, maintaining an enigma surrounding his background. The movie “All Hallows’ Eve” doesn’t offer any insights into his origin (as Leon hints will be unveiled in the first 15 minutes of “Terrifier” 4). Instead, it only showcases his inherently ominous character as portrayed in the “Terrifier” series.

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2025-07-13 00:30