As Terrifier 3 storms its way to number one at the box office at the time of writing grossing $18 million from its modest $2 million budget we ask just why on earth these movies are so popular despite the films themselves being, well, not great.
Now don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the Terrifer movies, don’t take my last statement as any sort of negative comment towards them in anyway shape or form but anyone who knows anything about film knows that there’s no story, no real connection to the core characters and the film merely serves as a practical FX reel of insanely imaginative and cool kills, but, that’s what is so great about it!
In this very article, we dive into why I feel the Terrifier movies are so popular and we’d love to see if you agree with our reasons too!
A Horror Icon of Modern Times
The Terrifier movies, directed by Damien Leone, have garnered a surprising amount of popularity despite their often divisive reception, particularly among mainstream audiences and critics.
The films (Terrifier in 2016 and its sequel Terrifier 2 in 2022) are part of the slasher-horror genre and the second they were released were instantly panned by critics but loved by fans.
Fans would dress up as Art the Clown at comic cons across the world and this popularity snowballed into two sequels that just kept making money at the box office.
Horror fans lapped up every inch of what Art the Clown had to offer and a modern horror icon was born and not since the days of Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Michael Myers, Chucky and Ghostface has another horror icon stepped out of the shadows as much as Art the Clown, Victor Krowley from the Hatchet series came close but was certainly not as mainstream as Art the Clown has become.
His distinctive, disturbing presence sets him apart from more generic slasher villains and resonates with horror fans who appreciate unique, grotesque characters. Art’s silent but sadistic persona brings an almost supernatural creepiness to the screen, which, when paired with his brutal methods of killing, makes for an unforgettable villain. This alone has elevated Terrifier above more conventional, forgettable low-budget horror movies.
Gore Galore
Practical FX aplenty, the Terrifier films dive into the most goriest kills that we’ve seen since 80s horror movies and this gore factor is so shocking that the film milks the ever-loving shit out of the press that comes with this.
People fainting in cinemas, people being sick and more all help to fuel the popularity of Art the Clown, people love controversy, they live and breathe it and consume it in daily media. Any celebrity controversy, any influencer controversy or anything even remotely taboo is honed in on like a guided missile by the public, they absolutely love it!
The infamous “hacksaw scene” from the first Terrifier became a defining moment in modern horror, leaving a lasting impression on audiences for its sheer audacity and over-the-top brutality.
Terrifier is a throwback to the films of old that showcased practical FX to their extreme levels and whilst the film offers nothing in the way of story or logical sense it offers you moments of sheer audacity and insanity that is as gut-wrenching as it is awesome.
As far as horror fans go, the gorier the better and if those films remind the audience of things like Halloween and A Nightmare on Elm Street then there’s already a soft spot there. These films are clearly influences for Terrifer and this once again, works in its favour and ever-growing popularity.
So Bad It’s Good
Art the Clown’s unique portrayal contributes to its status as a “so bad, it’s good” film in the eyes of some fans and after many a viral story there is a real good cult classic feel to the films and curiosity spreads like wildfire starting with the independent film community (Terrifier started originally as a crowdfunding campaign) and then it hit the horror community and now it’s diving into the public domain.
For many horror aficionados, supporting indie films like Terrifier feels like a way to champion underdog filmmakers who are passionate about the genre. Damien Leone, as both the writer and director, is seen as a filmmaker who genuinely cares about horror, crafting his movies out of love for the genre rather than catering to commercial trends. This indie spirit resonates with a portion of the audience that feels mainstream horror has become too safe, formulaic, or corporate.
So whilst Terrifier, Terrifier 2 and Terrifier 3 are all admittedly terrible movies they give the fans exactly what they want.
You can ignore the acting, the character development, the barebones plot and just sit back and watch the chaos unfold with absolutely no brain power needed to join the sheer insanity and in a way, it’s therapeutic and in an even weirder way, it’s the escapism we need sometimes.
In the end, Terrifier’s success comes from understanding its audience and delivering on the core tenets of the slasher genre: blood, scares, and a villain you can’t take your eyes off of—even when you want to.
