Terrifier 3 (2024)

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Blood, guts, and Christmas-themed horror rarely end with a worthwhile combination, and unfortunately, in the case of Terrifier 3, the tinsel-draped streak continues. It’s a jolly, corpse-filled romp with little to say and, if we’re being honest, not much care in saying it. But despite this, the gory kills and self-referential dark comedy are enough to see most franchise fans through. And on your third installment, can you really ask for much more?

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The Terrifier franchise, helmed by writer/Director Damien Leone, rides into town again, sleigh bells ringing. I will admit, when I first heard this grindhouse indie slasher was venturing into the realm of holiday horror, I was intrigued, if at least morbidly so. Such was the beginning of my disappointment at its cliche utilization of its holiday setting and its slapdash care in dissecting the few themes it presents. The first few minutes are a prime example when Art the Clown, i.e. the Terrifer (David Howard Thornton), gleefully murders his way through a family on Christmas Eve, donning a predictable Santa costume.

Scenes like this and others around Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) living with her extended family during the holidays seem only to be passingly interested in exploring anything other than shock value and trite by-the-numbers drama.

Samantha Scaffidi is a surprising highlight as her full-body performance really allows the decrepit and revolting possessed Victoria Hayes to stand out against the scene-eating Terrifier. Their kills together are some of the best parts of the film, adding a psychosexual layer to the already perverse and graphic killings that are par for the course in these movies. A particular favorite moment of mine, which had the whole audience screaming in delighted horror, involved a piece of glass and a “face-lift” that I cannot go into further detail lest I end up on a list somewhere.

It’s unfortunate that the main cast only serves as underdeveloped victims awaiting their turn to have a gruesome death scene, as there are kernels of interesting ideas begging to be explored. A particular example that comes to mind is Mia (Alexa Blair Robertson ), host of the Murder Podcast and in-universe Terrifier fan who is woefully underused and ends up devolving into another hot blonde college girl cliche ripped straight from a bad 80s slasher. That, among the other themes of PTSD, deserved a more critical look and deft hand that would have raised this lowbrow slasher to greater heights.

While everything that made the Terrifer franchise what it is today is still present in Terrifier 3, for some viewers, I’d imagine the red blood splatter and fake bodies are starting to smell a little funky. There isn’t much new here, but I guarantee that if you liked what helped turn the first two films into mega hits, then you’ve probably already bought your ticket for a third outing with the killer clown.