Italian
Terrifier 3: director Damien Leone on crafting his unique horror legacy
Spoiler Alert: This article contains minor spoilers for “Terrifier 3,” debuting in theaters this Friday.
The upbeat mastermind behind the horror
Writer-director Damien Leone, the driving force behind the ‘Terrifier’ series, possesses a surprisingly optimistic demeanor. It’s easy to envision him as a motivational speaker, coach, or mentor in another life. Conversations with him are filled with inspirational nuggets gleaned from his experiences while creating his latest horror flick, “Terrifier 3”.
“You never know where inspiration is going to hit you,” he shares. “You have to go and make the quickest, best decisions you can.” His outlook is truly infectious, even when discussing his most gruesome work.
Art the Clown returns
In “Terrifier 3,” the ever-terrifying Art the Clown returns with a vengeance, setting the stage for a macabre Christmas. He once again targets Sienna Shaw, played by Lauren LaVera, leaving a trail of grisly murders in his wake. This time, more shocking than ever before, Art dons Santa suits while desecrating bodies, raising the bar for graphic horror.
Inspirations from Hitchcock
Leone’s genius lies not just in his ability to evoke terror but also in his methodical approach to creating something new and extreme for gore enthusiasts. One of the film’s standout setpieces is a reimagining of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic shower scene from “Psycho” but with a bloody twist.
“One of the scenes I imagine people are going to talk about when they leave this film is the shower massacre,” Leone explains. “I thought, ‘If Hitchcock were making this today, would he be more graphic?’ So I decided to give Art a chainsaw instead of a knife, making the scene even more savage.”
Upgrading the budget
The leap in budget from “Terrifier 2” to “Terrifier 3” was significant. After the tremendous success of Terrifier 2, which grossed nearly $16 million from a modest $250,000 investment, the production budget for “Terrifier 3” increased to $2 million. Though still considered low by Hollywood standards, this financial boost made a substantial difference.
“One of the reasons why ‘Terrifier 2’ took years to make was the extensive special effects,” Leone explains. “With more funds, we were able to bring in professional special effects artist Christien Tinsley, known for his work on ‘Passion of the Christ’ and ‘No Country for Old Men.’ This allowed us to elevate the quality significantly.”
Enhancing Art the Clown’s character
David Howard Thornton, who portrays the silent yet menacing Art the Clown, benefited from the increased budget as well. His mask was re-sculpted to better fit his face, allowing for a greater range of expressive, terrifying movements.
“They resculpted my mask using foam latex, which is much thinner and allows for more expression,” Thornton reveals. “Damien encouraged me to really emphasize the eyes and facial expressions, making Art even more unsettling.”
Navigating new challenges
Despite the advantages brought by a higher budget, Leone acknowledges that it also brought new challenges, such as dealing with more union regulations and a larger crew, which required him to make quick, yet effective, decisions.
“You’re spread even more thin because now you have three times the amount of people and questions every day,” he says. “It’s challenging, but it pushes you to make everything work seamlessly.”
Treading the fine line of decency
While “Terrifier 3” is filled with gut-wrenching scenes, Leone remains mindful of pushing the boundaries of decency, especially when depicting violence involving children.
“I always aim to push the limits without crossing into extreme distaste,” he insists. “There’s a scene where Art murders a child offscreen. While I could have shown it, I chose to keep it offscreen to avoid alienating the audience.”
A promising future for the ‘Terrifier’ saga
For die-hard horror fans who endure the relentless gore, “Terrifier 3” ends with a cliffhanger, paving the way for a fourth installment. While Leone remains tight-lipped about specific details, he promises an epic conclusion to the saga, hinting at even more experimental and crazy elements in future projects.
“It will be an epic showdown, closing the chapter on Art the Clown,” he teases. “Expect really crazy things to unfold in the next one.”
Stay tuned for more updates on the Terrifier 3 series, and immerse yourself in a world where horror knows no bounds. Share your thoughts and spread the word on social media, as we delve deeper into the chilling universe of Art the Clown.
