Movies

Commentary: How the merry gore of ‘Terrifier 3’ won over horror fans — and the weekend box office

BBG News

As a seasoned cinephile who has braved the darkest corners of cinema, I must admit that my expectations for art in horror movies have been tested time and again. Yet, there is something undeniably visceral about the raw terror that Dario Argento’s “Suspiria” or John Carpenter’s chilling compositions evoke, even when they push the boundaries of taste.

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In contrast to many films released this year such as ‘Longlegs,’ ‘Strange Darling,’ and ‘The Substance,’ ‘Terrifier 3‘ is not created by artists in the traditional sense. Instead, it satirizes the concept of art with its central character, Art the Clown, a hook-nosed killer clown from all three ‘Terrifier’ films. He lacks a voice and resembles a mime who has outgrown his innocent pranks. Actor David Howard Thornton brings life to this role through makeup and prosthetics. Art the Clown follows a personal mission of slaughtering suburban families and terrorizing young women. He’s often seen carrying a bag filled with power tools, and as the series progresses, it takes on the feel of a Christmas movie.

The unique lack of polish in “Terrifier” has catapulted it into a cultural sensation. I watched “Terrifier 3” under optimal circumstances, which was during its opening weekend when it managed to surpass the earnings of “Joker: Folie à Deux”. The atmosphere wasn’t charged with electricity but rather an uneasy anticipation bordering on queasiness. It’s not that fear, suspense, or terror are absent from these films; instead, they come in a different form. Viewers know exactly what to expect: the sound of hatchets hacking through limbs and the grisly spectacle of scalps peeled like orange rinds. Why settle for decapitation when an entire body can be split from bottom to top? The fact that “Terrifier 3” is being released without a rating serves as a testament to its merit.

As a movie critic, I found myself both fascinated and repelled by the masterful makeup effects of Christien Tinsley in “Terrifier 3.” His gruesome prosthetics are on full display throughout the film, a testament to his skill honed from his previous work on Mel Gibson’s graphic “The Passion of the Christ,” where even a crown of thorns makes an appearance.

Are you familiar with Sean S. Cunningham? It’s alright if you aren’t. He didn’t achieve the widespread recognition enjoyed by his contemporaries. However, following the success of Carpenter’s “Halloween”, Cunningham gathered a budget-friendly crew largely composed of unknowns and directed the 1980 film “Friday the 13th”. This movie has become as well-known as any slasher flick in the genre.

42-year-old Staten Island resident Damien Leone, known for directing “Terrifier” films, is expected to follow in the footsteps of Cunningham. He’s a straightforward filmmaker who skillfully constructs scenes. However, some might find “Terrifier 3” predictable, with its typical horror tropes: a haunted final girl (Lauren LaVera), a mentally traumatized assistant (Samantha Scaffidi), and an endangered innocent (Antonella Rose). These characters serve to create moments that can be shared as memes, the floors being covered in gory residue.

Acknowledge this about Leone: In one aspect, he gets it right. The public appears to be weary of subtle finesse. They crave a change, and at times, pure entertainment like playful antics is all they need.

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2024-10-14 23:02

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