[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Terrifier 3 (2024)

Sicker and more violent than any of the video nasties, Terrifier 3 is kind of ironic. Usually by the third film the quality is beginning to drop along with the budgets, but Damien Leone's Terrifier series began with practically no budget ($35,000) with the irony being that the more films they do the more successful they are and the bigger the production values of the next film - in this case $2m. We even get treated to Dolby TrueHD sound on the Blu-ray.

This probably doesn't have the greatest story but all we are really here for are the gruesome set pieces of which there are several, including a seriously gross out visit by Santa and a shower scene that features more blood than water. The special effects are once again outstanding and David Howard Thornton a revelation as Art the Clown matched by Samantha Scaffidi as the equally twisted Victoria Heyes. A fun Tom Savini cameo too.

I imagine the BBFC examiners had long since given up on attempting to classify this by the time Victoria masturbated with a long shard of broken mirror as Art playfully skinned a guy alive. Whilst they didn't even bother submitting it for classification in the States.

Terrifier 3 is the most refreshing and honest horror film since the the last Terrifier and stands out like a beacon of light among the anaemic horror dumped in cinemas by the major studios.