Warning: Major spoilers for Terrifier 3 below!Terrifier 3reveals that Art the Clown decided to take a five-year break after the second movie - but why?The box-office success ofTerrifier 3has cemented Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) as one of horror’s biggest new boogeymen. In contrast to other slashers like Michael Myers or Jason Voorhees, Art seems to take great delight in mauling and torturing his victims for as long as possible before killing them;Terrifier 2’scontroversial bedroom sceneis a perfect example of this.
While the extreme violence and gore oftheTerrifiermoviesare an acquired taste, it can’t be denied they’re put together with craft and care too. Art himself is a unique horror creation, while final girl Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) is a very sympathetic protagonist.Terrifier 3reveals how Art managed to regenerate following the second film, before jumping ahead five yearsfor his next massacre. Naturally, he seeks revenge against Sienna for his previous defeat, setting about dismantling her life in typically gory fashion.
Is Art The Clown A Demon?
The Terrifier franchise is driven by the creatively murderous Art the Clown, but through three movies Art’s origins and true nature remain mysterious.
Art The Clown May Have Needed That Time To Regenerate Fully
Terrifier 3 sees Art and Victoria taking some time out
In the aftermath of Art and possessed accomplice Victoria (Samantha Scaffidi) reuniting following the events ofTerrifier 2, they head back to an abandoned house. This is where they both enter a state of hibernation, with Victoria - who is now inhibited by The Little Pale Girl demon - sitting in a bathtub filled with her own blood, while Art just sits in a chair. Since Art is mute,no explanation is offered for why he and Victoria decide to take five years off their slaying duties.
While he already appeared to be back in fighting shape following his “rebirth,” it’s possible Art needed more time to regenerate after being defeated by Sienna. The originalTerrifierheavily implied that Art was a regular human being before his resurrection in the second entry. Even though he regenerates after being injured,perhaps Art’s body needed more time to stitch itself together before returning to full fighting shape.
Did Art The Clown Wait To Attack Until Sienna Was Free?
The timing of Terrifier 3’s reunion is… suspicious
Speaking withScreen Rant, series director Damien Leone revealed an altogether more practical reason for the five-year time jump. If he’d had his way, there would have been no more than a year-long gap betweenTerrifier 2and3. However, actorElliott Fullam (who plays Sienna’s brother Jonathan) had visibly aged so much between production on theTerrifiersequels that a five year jump became necessary.
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David Howard Thornton
This had its benefits storywise, since it allowed Leone to explore the psychological impact of the second film on both Sienna and Jonathan. Plus,it’s possible Art and Victoria hibernated until they could get to Sienna again.Terrifier 3reveals she spent years in a mental health center, with her release coinciding with Art the Clown and Victoria snapping out of their self-induced slumbers. Initially, it appears the killers only awaken when two luckless demolition workers discover them in the house, though the timing of this and Sienna’s release is too good to be true.
Even if Sienna was locked away, Art isn’t the most subtle of slashers, so he could have found out where she was staying and hacked his way inside.
This raises further questions though. Even if Sienna was locked away, Art the Clown isn’t the most subtle of slashers, so he could have found out where she was staying and hacked his way inside.Terrifier 3’sending sees Art and Victoria torment Sienna with an extended sequence where they destroy what’s left of her family, so The Little Pale Girl could attempt to possess her at her weakest moment.Maybe Art’s years-long wait was about making Sienna put her guard downand feel safe, to make this moment all the more painful.
Art the Clown made his debut in Damien Leone’s 2008 short filmThe 9th Circle, which is referenced inTerrifier 3’sfinal scene.
Terrifier 4 Can Officially Answer Why Art The Clown Waited To Attack Again
Art and Sienna are on course for a final showdown
Despite all she suffers through inTerrifier 3’sfinale, Sienna’s will is too strong and she repels the possession attempt. She later succeeds in decapitating Victoria too, though her cousin Gabbie (Antonella Rose) is dragged to Hell in the aftermath. Sienna vows to rescue her, while Art is later seen about to attack a new victim on a bus. There’s still much about Art the Clown that remains a mystery, thoughit will be interesting to see ifTerrifier 4reveals if he went back into hibernation.
Terrifier 4 will need to provide some answers on franchise lore, including why Art waited five years to attack again.
Terrifier 4will need to provide some answers on franchise lore, including why Art waited five years to attack again. There’s also the question of why he was resurrected as a demon in the first place. Of course, maybe it’s better to leave some of these questions unanswered; it’s actually a creepy touch that Art just decided to sit in a chair for years before making his move.
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Terrifier 3 follows Sienna and her brother as they attempt to move past the traumatic events of Art the Clown’s Halloween massacre. As they embrace the Christmas season, Art reemerges, intent on turning their holiday into a nightmare, continuing his reign of terror.
