Director: Damian Leone
Starring: David Howard Thornton, Lauren LaVera, Elliott Fullam, Samantha Scaffidi
Certificate: 18
Run Time: 125 mins

Terrifier 3 is the latest in the slasher series, with the sadistic and depraved killer clown Art the Clown continuing to wreak gory havoc. Series mastermind Damian Leone once again writes and directs, with the film picking up immediately after Terrifier 2 before jumping forward five years. After being introduced in the previous film, Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) and her brother Jonathan (Elliott Fullam) struggle to adjust to day-to-day life after their gory exploits but plan to reunite at Christmas at Sienna’s Aunt’s house. I’ve enjoyed the series so far. Terrifier was grisly and stripped back but didn’t have much of a story. Leone smartly decided to go for broke in Terrifier 2, an epic sequel running in excess of two hours that introduced Sienna’s memorable protagonist and I particularly appreciated its fantastical elements. Not everyone was on board with the extended running time though and this sequel runs just over the two hour mark, showing a little more restraint.

Terrifier 3 is more of the same but that’s no bad thing. This is a slightly tamer sequel that doesn’t quite revel in its excess and I wish there was more left to interpretation story-wise. But there’s plenty to enjoy here and those wanting a gonzo gore-fest will be more than satisfied. There’s a particularly depraved opening scene, a memorably mean-spirited shopping mall attack and the last half an hour is gleefully intense. But I didn’t think there was anything as shocking to match that scene in Terrifier 2, or even the hacksaw bisection in the original. 

Still, David Howard Thornton is brilliant again as the killer clown who has a particularly grisly interpretation of Christmas, contrasted by Lauren LaVera’s grounded performance as the battle-scarred protagonist. The practical and sound effects for the kills are once again visceral, and it’s a good-looking film visually. 

Terrifier 3 won’t attract new series converts but if you’re after inventive kills with a high production value, Leone’ third effort is a very fun watch – just don’t expect quite as much depth as its superior predecessor.