If you know me, I avoid horror movies as much as possible. “Terrifier 3” traumatized me to the point where you’ll never see me sit down for another horror movie ever again. The horrible plotline mixed with the insane amount of gore made me queasy during the screening. I didn’t think I would ever be genuinely disturbed by a horror movie since seeing “Midsommar,” but this exceeded my expectations, and not in a good way.
I didn’t see the first or second Terrifier movies, so I was slightly lost in the plot. I read a synopsis of the film to understand the journey of Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) and her brother Jonathan (Elliott Fullam). Even after that, the movie was all over the place. There were just so many killings that the viewers didn’t need to see. For example, the opening scene with the family a couple of nights before Christmas. The characters in this scene have no real significance in the story. There was no need to traumatize me with the slaughter of the entire family with an axe—it brought nothing to the plot, and it would have been better if they just kept that part out.
Art the Clown (David Howard Thorton) wasn’t as scary as Victoria Heyes’ disfigurement (Samantha Scaffidi). After Victoria’s run-in with Art the Clown, where he eats her face in the first movie and disfigures her in “Terrifier 2,” we see her return in the third. Throughout the film, she seems possessed, following and assisting Art the Clown in his endeavors. Something about her rubbed me the wrong way. Whenever she showed up on the silver screen in front of me, I had to practically turn off all of my senses to keep me from screaming. She freaked me out so much because of the costume and makeup. Despite my deep hatred for the film, Christien Tinsley did an excellent job with the makeup on set. Makeup and computer graphics have come a long way in the movie industry, so seeing what people are capable of is impressive.
Considering how gory the movie is, I find it interesting that they decided to allude to important scenes and deaths. I wonder if this was strategic, if they were building up to something bigger, or just brushed it past and didn’t pay it too much attention. Most people won’t notice the director concealing a significant killing, but I found it interesting. This sets the character’s return in the potential fourth movie if that’s the direction they decide to go in.
Even with the confusing plotline, I am curious to see what will happen to Sienna now that she’s lost practically everything. I’m curious about what happened to Gabbie and where she went. The writers left us with many different open-ended questions, so we will want to watch more to figure out what will happen to the Shaw family and what adventures Art the Clown will take them on next. The director sets up the scene for a fourth movie in anticipation that this one does well in theaters.
To anyone considering taking on “Terrifier 3” in theaters, I would steer you firmly against it. Unless you love excessive amounts of blood and intestines being shoved at your face every two seconds, this movie isn’t for you. If “Terrifier 4” ever comes to theaters, you will see me sprinting in the opposite direction.
“Terrifer 3:” ★☆☆☆☆
