Eat your heart out, Freddy, Michael, and Jason!

Two million dollars. That is all it took for a new horror icon to be born. Most films nowadays cost anywhere from 50 million to 300 million. However, last Halloween, a small, two-million-dollar horror film grossed almost $ 90 million at the box office. This film, the third in its franchise, originated as a short film. This is Damien Leone’s ‘Terrifier 3’. These films follow Art the Clown, played by David Howard Thornton, as he goes on multiple killing sprees. There is a story, and it gets better as the films progress, but fans are not there for the story. In this article, let’s talk about why these gross horror films are popular and what others can learn from this franchise’s success.

Let’s start with our star. Played by David Howard Thornton, Art the Clown is a remix of other horror movie villains. First, as his name suggests, he is a clown. There are plenty of horror movie clowns, like Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård and Tim Curry), or more recently, the ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ movie, Art, stands out from the crowd in two ways. First, while other clowns have colorful suits, Art wears a black and white costume and makeup. As stated in the CZsworld video, “Leone wanted Art to be the “anti-Pennywise.” Pennywise has hair, and Art is bald. Pennywise has a colorful costume, and Art has a black-and-white one. Pennywise makes jokes, while Art does not talk.” This gives Art a unique look that somewhat resembles a mime. Plus, this look makes Art stand out whenever he gets blood on him, and it can look freaky.

Speaking of Art not being able to talk, this is a very common trope in horror, but again, it gets remixed. Other killers like Jason Voorhees and Michael Myers do not speak, but unlike them, Art exaggerates with his facial and body movements. Although he does not talk, we can infer what he is saying. This gives him a unique look and feel. He is a silent but terrifying killer.

While director Damien Leone and actor David Howard Thornton receive a lot of credit for the ‘Terrifier’ movies, they could not have made these films by themselves. Like every major film, ‘Terrifier’ had a crew that grew bigger and better with each installment. Created by Dark Age Cinema and Fuzz on the Lens, ”’Terrifier”’ had a large crew of people working on it, from camera to sound, and, perhaps most importantly for this project, Makeup and special effects. With films like ‘Terrifier’, the artists in front and behind the camera know they only have one shot to create a good first impression. Viewers understand that these films are more on the B-movie side but are not impressed; they can easily switch off the film. Therefore, these artists must take a risk. The more bloody, creepy, and impressive the kills are, the more likely a viewer is to continue watching. While these films are a risk since they lack primary Hollywood backing, filmmakers can take creative liberties to keep viewers engaged, and it is through their behind-the-scenes team that they can achieve this. It turns out that taking a risk was worth it, as ‘Terrifier’ has become a household name. 

Let’s face it, most people who watch movies like ‘Terrifier’ are not there for Oscar-winning art; they are there for the kills. Something to notice about these films is that, since they are self-produced without a major studio, all rules can be broken. This includes but is not limited to multiple people being cut in half (including with a chainsaw), people being brutally butchered with various weapons, a bomb going off in a crowded shopping mall, and a kill using rats that were so gross that the actor for Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) almost threw up. But for fans of these movies, that is why they are there. Director Damien Leone is a special effects makeup artist who has done the makeup for not just the ‘Terrifier’ movies but also films like ‘Stream’ and other low-budget projects. Fans watch these films for the gross kills and then immediately ask, “How the hell did they do that?” ‘Terrifier’ fans do not just see these movies as a shock and gorefest; they see these movies to see an artist at work.

The ‘Terrifier’ movies are not for everyone. They are bloody, gory, and unapologetic. However, there is a great deal that filmmakers can learn from these movies. First, filmmakers can create a unique movie or character, even if it is based on films and characters from the past. Art would be nothing if it were not for the horror icons who came before them, so filmmakers can look to the films that inspired them and create something new. Second, just like the team behind ‘Terrifier’, filmmakers should assemble a team of like-minded individuals to develop the projects they envision. Finally, like the kills in these movies, filmmakers should not be afraid of creating what they want to make, even if it freaks people out. This advice goes beyond the film world and even beyond the creative world. If a small studio and an unknown director can make a massive multiple franchise, then you can achieve whatever you put your mind to, no matter how weird or different it might be.

Want to know where horror’s obsession with killers, twists, and psychological terror began? Check out our article How “Psycho” Has Shaped Contemporary Horror for the Better. From shocking murders to iconic villains, Hitchcock’s masterpiece walked so today’s slashers could run (and stab).

Sources:

ComingSoon.net. ‘Terrifier 3 Interview: Damien Leone on Pushing Boundaries, Slasher Runtimes, & More.” YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz255ENr5H0. Accessed 23 June 2025.

Hood, Cooper. “What ‘Terrifier’ 3 Scene Made Art the Clown’s Actor Sick on Set.” ScreenRant, 26 Oct. 2024, screenrant.com/”’Terrifier”’-3-david-howard-thornton-sick-scene/.

“Terrifier 3.” Box Office Mojo, www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl2221441025/. Accessed 23 June 2025.

CZsWorld. Terrifier: The History of Art the Clown | Horror History.” YouTube, YouTube, www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGjAti8I-Q8. Accessed 23 June 2025.