This Sunday, Drew and I went to Cinemark to watch “Terrifier 3”, a demonic, gory film that lived up to the hype. Directed by Damien Leone, it continues the supernatural killing spree of horror icon, Art the Clown, known for gruesome and intense scenes that push the limits of people’s comfort.
The film opens with a young girl, Juliet, woken by footsteps on her roof. When her mom reassures her it’s “just Santa,” Juliet tries to sleep but hears the steps again. Investigating alone, she finds Art dressed as Santa. She hides as Art takes an ax to her family, killing her brother, then her father by decapitation, and finally her mother, who awakes just before being murdered. Art then drinks the milk and cookies left for Santa, notices Juliet’s hiding spot, and approaches her as the scene cuts.
Following the opener, Art resumes his murder spree, targeting past survivors Sienna and her little brother Jonathan. Sienna struggles with PTSD and visions, even while in rehab, while Jonathan also battles trauma. In a key scene, Art poses as a mall Santa, handing out gifts until he’s told he’s scaring kids. As he leaves, a boy eagerly opens his “gift”—a bomb—which explodes, killing him and five others.
With no family left, Sienna moves in with her sister, who’s married and has a young daughter, Gabbie. The story peaks as Sienna, Art the Clown, and one of his possessed followers face off in a deadly showdown. Art and his accomplice overpower Sienna and her sister, tying them up and torturing them. Just as hope seems lost, Sienna remembers a gift from Gabbie—a sword rumored to be the only weapon that can kill the demonic Art. Breaking free, Sienna seizes the sword and kills the possessed follower, then turns to stab Art in the heart, finally defeating him, but just as Art is on the verge of death, Gabbie is pulled into a fiery pit, her fate unknown. Sienna tries to save her, ultimately allowing Art a chance to escape. When she returns to finish him off, he’s vanished. The final scene reveals Art boarding a train, weakened but alive, slipping away to continue his terror elsewhere.
Personal Review – The movie truly lived up to the hype with its gore, short comedy scenes, jumpscares, gruesome torture, and plot twists. Watching all three movies gave us a very good understanding of the plot. We HIGHLY advise you to watch the first two movies so you won’t be confused about the storyline and background. There were many “disrespectful” scenes portraying Christianity as a mockery. In a specific scene, Sienna is forced to put on a crown of thorns, a sacred symbol of the Christian faith. From our perspective, it focuses more on the appearance and extra effects than the actual plot. It’s not necessarily a bad thing that they focused more on looks, after all, that is why the movie is majorly popular. Visually I would say the movie has massive amounts of gore, much more than “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” or “Carrie” could offer. Overall we give this movie a 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it for horror enthusiasts.
