The joke is on us in “Terrifier 3.”
The twisted franchise gave us Art the Clown, the best serial killer since Freddy sharpened his nails.
Its torture-porn aesthetic felt almost quaint given Art’s shtick. He’s still yukking it up in the third and demonstrably weakest installment.
What’s missing? Tension. Surprise. Coherency. Everything series creator Damien Leone lovingly slathered onto the first two chapters.
The film opens in the present, with Art gussied up like ol’ St. Nick to skewer an unsuspecting family. The sequence plays out longer than necessary and there’s nary a chill to be had.
Leone is inadvertently telegraphing the franchise’s waning strength.
We then flash back to the final events of part two, and we see Art shake off the wounds inflicted on him by fiery Final Girl Sienna (Lauren LaVera).
The story then flashes back to the present. Poor Sienna now lives with her Aunt and Uncle, but she hasn’t emotionally recovered from the Art-inflicted trauma.
Can you blame her?
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Art and a new accomplice come back to life in a curiously flat sequence, setting the stage for more signature kills tied to Christmas.
It’s torture laced with maniacal laughter. Again. It feels more mechanical than before, as if Leone is giving fans what they want without the cinematic flair he brought to parts One and Two.
The “Terrifier” films are made exclusively for horror junkies, but even they may sense the diminishing returns in play.
There’s barely a story to follow this time around. Sienna bonds with her extended family, scenes that scream “filler” and plod on for-e-ever.
Meanwhile, Art goes through his motions, pinging from one set piece to another with no rhyme or reason. The kills are monstrous, as expected, pushing the boundaries of practical effects. Have a barf bag within arm’s reach.
“Terrifier 3” boasts a bigger budget – $2 million this time around – but the film looks as cheap as before. Maybe cheaper.
The only sequence with a pulse finds Art crashing a bar where a Rent-a-Claus is hoisting a few with friends. We all know where it’ll go but Leone gleefully stages the gang’s sense that Art may be more threat than nuisance.
We’re treated to some horror genre cameos, adding to the sense that the franchise is running on goodwill, not creative spark. Remember how Freddy Krueger eventually became more cutup than killer in the “Nightmare on Elm Street” saga?
Something similar settles in with “Terrifier 3.” That’s not a good sign for a franchise teasing a fourth installment.
The second film in the series ran long, but the story rarely felt pokey or unnecessary. Leone expanded the mythos piece by piece, each new element bringing something creepy to the saga.
Even that “Clown Café” ditty proved an impressive ear worm. Part three feels smaller, less significant by comparison.
Poor LaVera gets little to do until the third act. Instead of growing into her role as Art’s nemesis she’s struggling with her mental health. Kid brother Jonathan (Elliot Fullam) gets even less to explore.
Slay bells are ringing. Here’s an EXCLUSIVE look at #Terrifier3, in theaters October 11.
pic.twitter.com/NjpineY84W
— IMDb (@IMDb) October 8, 2024
A potential wrinkle that gets introduced and shoved aside? A true crime junkie fangirls over both Sienna and Jonathan.
Series standout David Howard Thornton does everything possible to rouse Art back to life. His clownish tics never fail, but they’re at the service of a story that gives him little to do but grind through his greatest hits.
At its worst, “Terrifier 3” is another cheapo slasher film with thin characters, indifferent acting and gore aplenty.
Art deserves so much better. So does the franchise.
HiT or Miss: “Terrifier 3” brings the gore, and more, but the chaotic thrill is gone.
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