After two years, the Terrifier film series is back with a third instalment, which follows the notorious villain Art the Clown as he commits more murders. Art is not only a serial killer, but is also known for his particularly gruesome murders, including torture and mutilation. These films are enough to disgust even some of the most ardent horror fans, but their refusal to give in to horrific violence and extraordinary practical effects has earned them a dedicated cult following.
Terrifier 3 is definitely the best of the franchise so far; the script, camerawork and performances are all vastly improved, plus the party theme is a great touch. There’s something about holiday horror that makes the autumn and winter months even more fun, and now we officially have a new film to watch every December. We had Eli Roth’s Thanksgiving in 2023, and now Terrifier 3 is the Christmas horror film to enjoy. Especially that opening scene.
Explanation of the opening scene of Terrifier 3
The third instalment starts on a high note, with the best sequence of the entire film. We follow a suburban family trying to get some sleep over the holidays, even though their young daughter is too distracted by a noise she hears from outside. She goes to her parents’ room and tells them that someone is walking on the roof, but of course they don’t believe her. Her mother takes her back to her room and tells her to go back to sleep. The daughter tries to find comfort in her brother, who seems to be slightly older than her, but he tells her to leave him alone while she tries to sleep.
The daughter continues to hear what sounds like footsteps on the roof as her mother goes to the front door and notices that it is slightly open. Frustrated, she closes it and tells her husband in bed that she has left the door open again. This sounds like a common occurrence, but it is not exactly a reason to panic, although you can tell she is at least a little scared. When her daughter hears a noise downstairs, she comes out of her room and watches from the top step of the stairs as Art, dressed in a Father Christmas costume, walks around the Christmas tree. At first, seeing him only from behind, he thinks it is Father Christmas. But once he catches a glimpse of his face, he realises that something bad is going on.
Art ends up going upstairs and his first kill is his son, although all this is off-screen. Then we see him enter the parents’ room and repeatedly hit the father with an axe while he sleeps. The noise wakes the mother, who is horrified by what she is seeing. She runs down the stairs but Art follows her and kills her, cutting off her arm and hitting her head with the axe right in the middle of her face. This is one of the most brutal killings in the film, although the worst is yet to come. We also see some of the child’s limbs that Art has cut off.
Yes, Art kills children in Terrifier 3
When Art goes to the kitchen he hears a noise and opens a cabinet to find his daughter hiding inside. Although the scene ends there, we can assume that he kills her as well. Although Terrifier 3 kills several children, we do not actually see the violence, which is a good thing. To imply that a child is dead is one thing, but to actually see the graphic killing would probably be a bit much.
Speaking to Total Film, director Damien Leone and Art actor David Howard Thornton discussed the decision to kill the children in Terrifier 3, explaining that they wanted to stay true to the character and what they realistically believed he would do. Thornton added: ‘I actually have a background in teaching and so I love children. But at the same time, these are horror films’.
The opening scene makes up a small percentage of Terrifier 3’s running time, but it certainly makes an impression. It is the most suspenseful sequence in the film and feels more cinematic than previous opening scenes in the franchise. We have a modern Christmas horror classic with Terrifier 3 and this opening scene takes the series to the next level.
As you queue up Black Christmas and Silent Night, Deadly Night this winter, be sure to add Terrifier 3 to your watch list as well. I undoubtedly will.
