In honour of spooky season starting, let’s talk about the Terrifier series. If you’re into horror movies that don’t hold back on the gore or psychological aspect, this is one series that should definitely be on your list of horror movies to watch. Terrifier is one of those films that makes you stay up at night, giving you exactly the kind of scare you’d expect for Halloween.

The series mainly centres around Art the Clown, and he’s not your average serial killer. Think of him as a mix of mime and modern day killer clown. He’s got this creepy makeup, this look in his eyes like he’s having the time of his life, and he doesn’t say a single word. Just that terrifying smile. But here’s the thing, he’s not like other horror movie killers who just go in for the kill. Art plays with his victims afterwards, like it’s all some twisted game. That’s why he sticks with you, you know? He’s got this way of getting under your skin that other horror movie villains just don’t.

The original Terrifier short film, actually titled The 9th Circle, introduced us to Art, but this was the 2013 short Terrifier and then the 2016 full-length film by Damien Leone that really brought Art into the spotlight. The first Terrifier movie was raw and low-budget, but it didn’t shy away from pushing the boundaries. Leone knew how to work with a small budget, using practical effects and Using basic settings to create a raw, real horror feel. That’s what really makes Terrifier special—the practical effects are intense and graphic, so the gore feels disturbingly accurate. It’s one thing to see CGI blood splatter, but it’s another thing to see practical effects so convincing that you feel you should look away, but that’s the thing, you can’t.

Art the Clown himself is an interesting character in horror. Unlike many slashers, he has no tragic backstory or deeper motive that we know of. There are few people trying to figure out the lore and backstory behind Art the Clown. There’s no revenge story, no moral code, no understandable reason behind his disturbing motives.  He’s like pure evil in clown form. The fact that he never speaks adds another to his creepiness. All he does is smile, mock, and terrify his victims into a sense of false security before pulling off some of the most gruesome kills in horror movie history.

One of the most iconic scenes, and probably the most infamous, is the hacksaw scene in the first Terrifier movie. If you’ve seen it, you know exactly what I’m talking about. That one scene alone turned Terrifier into an instant classic, setting a new bar for what horror movies could achieve without any sort of big budgets or major studio backing. It’s so intense and in-your-face that it became a challenge for horror fans. If you can sit through this scene, you can sit through anything.

Then came Terrifier 2, and fans were extremely excited. This time, the budget was much bigger, and so were the kills. Leone doubled down on everything that made the first movie so gruesome. He heavily focused on the practical effects, over-the-top gore and the scary charm of Art the Clown. So, Terrifier 2 introduced some new characters and a bit of a deeper storyline. It also had this insane, exciting fight scene between Art and a new character named Sienna, played by Lauren LaVera. She’s not just your typical final girl. She really adds something new into the mix. You actually see her standing up to Art instead of just being a helpless victim, which in my opinion is pretty cool.

And you know what’s wild? Terrifier 2 became a huge hit with audiences, and not just horror fans. This movie, which is about as far from mainstream as you can get, ended up in theatres and did pretty well for a horror indie. And it wasn’t just horror fans who noticed, a lot of people who wouldn’t typically watch a slasher were curious to see what all the hype was about. People fainted in the theatre, some even walked out because they couldn’t handle the intensity of Terrifier 2. The hype surrounding Terrifier 2 helped it reach more than just horror fans. Art the Clown became a big deal and not just your ordinary horror movie antagonist.

What I find interesting about Art the Clown is how he has evolved in pop culture. Slasher characters usually have something humanising, whether it be trauma or a reason for their vicious actions. But Art is a bit different. He’s chaotic and unpredictable, kind of like a Joker without any monologues or some sort of tragic backstory. And while characters like Michael Myers or Freddy Krueger have become iconic, they also became pretty predictable as the franchises grew. Art, on the other hand, is kind of unpredictable. Each movie raised more questions about who or what he is. He has a supernatural vibe, but it’s never fully explained why, which makes him even scarier in my opinion.

The director of the Terrifier films, Damien Leone, has mentioned that he has plans to explore Art’s origins more in future films, but honestly, I hope he keeps some mystery. Horror loses some of its power when everything is explained, don’t you think? Part of what makes Terrifier so terrifying is that we don’t know exactly what Art actually is or why he does what he does. We just know he’s out there, unstoppable and will show no mercy to his victims.

Another cool thing about the Terrifier films is how Terrifier leans into the basic horror movie tropes but also adds a few new twists to it. It’s a slasher series, sure, but it also taps into the same fears that the silent-era clowns used to produce. Think of characters like Lon Chaney’s Laugh Clown Laugh or the Joker in his earliest days.

You know, Art’s silent and over-the-top style is pretty unique. It feels both old-school and modern at the same time. That’s what sets him apart from the average masked killers in horror movies. He really stands out. The difference between his clown look and his brutal violence is honestly pretty crazy. It really throws you off and makes his actions even more unsettling. You just don’t really expect it.

And it’s funny, because in an era when most horror films lean heavily on jump scares or psychological horror, Terrifier really goes all in for shock and gore without holding back. It’s like the filmmakers literally just said, “Let’s make it as bloody and scary as possible.” It’s honestly kind of nice to see a horror movie that doesn’t try to be subtle at all, don’t you think.

Now let’s talk about the present. Terrifier is officially in theatres and apparently it’s just as violent as the previous terrifier films. This go around, the movie takes on the Christmas theme where Art the Clown goes on a massive rampage while dressed in a Santa Claus costume. Now, I actually haven’t gone to a theatre and seen the movie but I do plan on seeing it some time soon. I’m really excited to see where they take Art next! But at the same time, I can’t help but think about how far Leone can push Art before he starts to fizzle out, you know? I mean, there’s only so much terror you can put into one character.

If you haven’t seen any of the Terrifier movies yet and think you can handle the blood, gore, and pure horror, you should definitely check it out this Halloween season. Just a heads up though, Art’s not for the faint of heart. He really sticks with you, stuck in your head long after you finish watching the movies. It’s his creepy bloody smile, the silence, and those shockingly creative kills that make Terrifier one of the scariest horror films in recent years.

So, if you’re brave enough, go and check it out! This horror series really goes all in on all the creepy stuff and it truly brings something new to the table every time. Honestly, whether you love Art the Clown or find him terrifying, he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.