I've been a massive fan of the Terrifier franchise and Art the Clown since the very beginning. To give you an idea of how big a fan I am, I received more messages wishing me well upon the release of Terrifier 3 than I did for my birthday last month! While I understand why some people aren't fans of the series, it's absolutely my kind of horror, and I will die on the hill that Art the Clown is one of the most iconic horror villains to grace the silver screen since Ghostface. Needless to say, I had extraordinarily high expectations going into Terrifier 3. Did it live up to them? Well, not only did it meet them, it exceeded them. This is the best entry in the franchise by far, taking everything that worked in the previous films and doubling down with a more polished product.

The film picks up five years after the events of Terrifier 2, immediately resolving the cliffhanger with Art and the possessed Victoria. The time jump, while practical for explaining the aging of the characters, adds depth to the story. Terrifier 3 is centered around Lauren LaVera's Sienna Shaw, who is dealing with the trauma and grief from her last encounter with Art. This installment not only continues to highlight Sienna’s badassery, but also her fragility as she grapples with accepting her role as the chosen one destined to defeat the demonic clown. LaVera's performance is nothing short of phenomenal, adding new emotional layers to a character who's become a modern horror icon. While Elliott Fullman's Jonathan doesn’t have as much screen time as he probably deserves, the little he does get still carries weight, showcasing the character's evolution and how his own trauma impacts Sienna’s journey.

Art the Clown, as portrayed by the brilliant David Howard Thornton, is as captivating as ever. Thornton’s performance hits a new high here, perfectly balancing Art's childlike glee, dark humor, and chilling menace. The slight weariness and frustration we see in Art, due to Sienna and Jonathan having defeated him in the previous film, only makes his return to form that much more satisfying. This is easily his best performance as Art to date, and he dominates every scene he’s in. Meanwhile, Samantha Scaffidi's return as Victoria Heyes, now fully possessed by the entity that was the Little Pale Girl, brings a sinister new dynamic to the story. Scaffidi's performance is wonderfully unnerving, and she holds her own against Thornton, even making Art feel uncharacteristically on edge at times. The final showdown between her, Art, and Sienna is the kind of high-stakes, bloody, and intense climax horror fans dream of.

The rest of the cast is equally strong, with a notable standout being Antonella Rose’s Gabbie, Sienna's young cousin who injects the film with much-needed innocence and heart. Gabbie’s relationship with Sienna is one of the highlights of the film and allows the audience the occasional break from the relentless carnage.

Damien Leone's writing and directing have improved dramatically since the previous films. He not only expanded on the franchise’s mythology and set up future installments, but managed to craft a film that stands on its own as well. This time, the story takes place during Christmas, which is an inspired move. There's not enough Christmas-themed horror, and the contrast between festive cheer and Art’s blood-soaked rampage is both darkly humorous and deeply unsettling. And the holiday-themed set pieces are unforgettable! Some of my personal favorites are Art meeting "Santa Claus", his interactions with kids at the mall, a now-infamous shower scene, and the jaw-dropping final fight that will stay with you long after the credits roll. On top of that, there's a wonderful original Christmas song that will make a fun addition to anyone's holiday playlist!

While some fans may be upset about the fact that Terrifier 3 leaves us with a cliffhanger ending, and the fact that certain questions remain unanswered (such as the mystery surrounding Sienna’s father), these didn’t bother me much since Terrifier 4 has already been confirmed to be coming. If anything, all it's done is make me more excited for the next chapter in the franchise! Hopefully, we get it sooner rather than later, as the wait is guaranteed to be torture!

Look, I'll be the first to admit that the Terrifier franchise isn't for everyone. The extreme gore, violence, and unapologetically brutal tone obviously turn many people away. But for those like me, who’ve been on board since the beginning, Terrifier 3 is the crowning achievement of the series thus far. The fact that this franchise, once a low-budget passion project, has grown into a modern and beloved horror classic is nothing short of incredible. Indeed, the prospect of Terrifier 3 outgrossing Joker: Folie à Deux this weekend is a testament to its meteoric rise, and should inspire any aspiring creatives out there to follow their dreams and pursue their passion projects.

I can continue rambling on and on about how much I love this movie, but I'll just sum things up by saying that Terrifier 3 was everything I hoped it would be and more. I can’t wait to rewatch it in theaters, own it when it drops digitally, and rewatch it every Halloween and Christmas. Bring on Terrifier 4! And long live Art the Clown and Sienna Shaw—one of the greatest horror villain/Final Girl pairings to ever grace the big screen!