In the immortal words of sage philosopher Randy Meeks (circa 1997, Scream 2), there are “certain rules” to abide by when you’re making a sequel: “Number one; the body count is always bigger. Number two; the death scenes are much more elaborate. Carnage candy. And number three; never, ever, under any circumstances, assume the killer is dead.”
I’d have to say Randy was right on the money, and these rules still apply today. In fact, I thought of this quote this month as I headed to the theater to watch not one but two very anticipated sequels: Terrifier 3 and Smile 2.
A lot has changed for the Terrifier franchise in just two years!
Rewind to 2022: I go to the theater to see Terrifier 2, which was only playing for two days at our least popular, older theater. The auditorium was full. It was a great moviegoing experience. Lots of laughter, exclamations, and even an older lady walking out in disgust. Perfect!
Jump to 2024: I go to the theater to see Terrifier 3, which is playing on multiple screens at various times at our local AMC alongside all the ‘regular’ films. The theater is full. Lots of exclamations and laughter. The girl next to me covered her eyes the entire time. I loved it!
So, what happened between 2022 and 2024 to not only keep longtime fans of the franchise engaged but also bring in so many more fans that Terrifier 3 — made on a budget of $2 million (a vast improvement from the first film’s paltry $35,000) — has not only banked $55 MILLION at the box office, but has broken records to become the highest-grossing unrated film in cinema history?
What a win for horror fans and for Art’s creator, Damien Leone, who began the Terrifier films with not much but a dream, a few cents, and a talent for realistic practical SFX.
Turns out, horror fans needed a fresh face.
Sure, Freddy will always be the man of my dreams. I’ll always lovingly look at lakes in the hopes of seeing Jason. Michael will live behind every bush in my heart, and I’d gladly go to hell with Pinhead or down to the gutters with Pennywise.
But what’s great about horror is there’s always room for more. More imagination, more stories, more gore, more slasher icons! And the horror community has embraced Art with open, bloody arms!
Now how did I feel about the film? Well, there was a lot of talk and hype going into Terrifier 3. Fans new to the franchise were utterly repulsed (some in a good way; some, not so much). Returning fans who knew what they were in for (myself included) couldn’t wait to see what grotesque, vomit-inducing slasher scenes Leone had whipped up for this Christmas-set sequel.
So, did Terrifier 3 live up to its sky-high expectations, even for a hardened horror fan? The answer is, YES! What’s great about the Terrifier films (aside from the ingenious, creative, and completely warped kill sequences!) is the characters, the storyline, and the actors. Lots of horror movies come and go, not making much of an impression in terms of building a world that actually intrigues you as a viewer. However, these movies have drawn me in with interesting lore, a bad-ass final girl, and hilarious and fun characters that you can’t look away from.
LOVE the Jim Carrey of Horror and the rest of the amazing Terrifier 3 cast!
First, David Howard Thornton, who has to convey a multitude of emotions without ever uttering a word, is at the top of his game. He has a face that can transform into a plethora of expressions in seconds, giving Art a fully fleshed-out personality, which is just – genius! He’s hysterical and so much fun to watch.
Lauren LaVera, who plays our beloved final girl Sienna, isn’t just an ass-kicking beauty. She’s dealing with some serious trauma after her last confrontation with Art. I loved seeing her character struggling like this, because it’s very realistic and gives her character a lot of authenticity. She doesn’t just pick up like nothing happened.
Then, there’s the backstory – Sienna isn’t just a regular final girl, she has a much more interesting character path, adding dimension to the story and elevating it. A magic sword? Biblical references? Reviving the dead, immortality, possession? We learn more about Art and Sienna as the movie goes on, and I absolutely love all of it.
The Christmas scenery, the over-the-top kills (and amazing practical effects), cameos by actors we love (Daniel Roebuck, Clint Howard, Tom Savini) and Art the clown at his most deranged makes Terrifier 3 the most fun I’ve had at the theater this year.
Now, what could Damien Leone possibly come up with next to top the final kill of this film? I can’t wait to see! (Disclaimer: if you’re not a gorehound, you may not enjoy Terrifier 3, but the kills are absolutely brilliant. *Chef’s kiss* Buckets of blood, body parts flying, and, well, something involving rats!).
But What About Smile 2…?
I’m not easily freaked out. However, I love being scared! Especially at the movie theater. So when I went to watch the first Smile in 2022, I was pleased. The movie provided some solid jump scares that made it fun, with an interesting and unique storyline. The end lost me a little – but overall, I really enjoyed the movie and went into Smile 2 with high expectations.
Fortunately, not only did Smile 2 meet my expectations but actually surpassed them.
The movie picks up exactly where part one left off, plunging you right back into the world of the four-day curse. This time, our latest victim is famous pop star Skye Riley (played by Naomi Scott), attempting to polish up her image after a drunk-driving accident left her boyfriend dead and her career in the gutter.
The world of a pop star is a fun world to inhabit and makes a lively, entertaining, and different setting for this Smile 2.
Pop star Skye is a character you end up rooting for!
Sure, she’s made mistakes and she’s flawed, but inherently, you want her to succeed.
However, the universe has other plans in mind when Skye gets infected and must figure out how to thwart the curse before her four days run out. The scares are genuine in this film, and there are some truly creepy moments. I admit, I did jump a few times!
The ending ramps up to a fast-paced conclusion that I thought was absolutely bonkers. I mean, that finale. WOW! Unbelievable. I’m wondering if there are plans for a Smile 3, because the story could definitely pick up where this film leaves off.
Terrifier 3 and Smile 2 made me optimistic in this sequel-crazy era of moviemaking.
All in all, I’m not a person who usually looks forward to sequels. As a rule, it’s usually pretty hard to top a great horror film, and I usually look at sequels as money grabs – especially when a film is successful at the box office. However, the ascent of Art the Clown from an indie guy that only horror fans knew about to a worldwide phenomenon that’s now on shirts, tumblers, Funko Pops, and even Christmas ornaments is extremely exciting for horror. It gives us hope that following your dreams can pay off, big-time, and I’m so happy to see that Damien Leone’s passion turned his little indie films into a big-time box office smash!
Horror is alive and well at the box office, and that’s what’s best about seeing these stellar sequels come out on top (and meet a finicky fan’s high expectations!).
Don’t miss these movies! And don’t forget to leave cookies and milk out for Art!
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Where to Watch Terrifier 3
Where to Watch Smile 2
Except for three images screencapped from the official Terrifier 3 redband trailer, images for this review were purchased via MovieStillsDB and CineMaterial.
