Man, these guys aren’t making it easy for me are they? It’s either “Terrifier has absolutely no plot and is just mindless gore” or “Terrifier has too much plot and not enough gore”…..Gosh darn it people I’ll find that sweet spot in T4 if it kills me!
Director Damien Leone has promised to find a “sweet spot” between a strong story and grisly gore in the upcoming sequel, following critiques about the franchise’s balance between the two. Reviews for Terrifier 3 have been well-received by both critics and audiences, with a $89.8 million box office against a $2 million budget, solidifying the franchise’s success. The series is known for its shocking, gory kills and complex storytelling, which humanizes long-standing characters like Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera).
Leone responded to criticism on social media, addressing both those who think the movies have too much focus on story and those who think it’s too heavy on blood-soaked kills. He aims to find a balance between the two in Terrifier 4, pleasing both sides of the audience.
Terrifier 4 is set to follow Sienna’s cousin Gabbie (Antonella Rose) as she falls into a portal to Hell alongside the sword used to defeat Art in the second movie. Meanwhile, Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) hides on a city bus, setting the stage for a story-heavy installment that explores the franchise’s supernatural themes. This could distract from the gory kills, but with the core clown still at large, there will undoubtedly be more memorable kills in the next entry.
Finding a balance between the story and gore won’t be easy, as the kills in Terrifier 3 became even more horrifying than the previous two. To achieve this, the kills will need to be relevant to the story, ensuring that both aspects of the franchise are considered. While it’s unclear how Leone will develop the next movie’s story to balance these demands, it seems that Art will continue to rack up a gore-heavy body count as Sienna searches for her cousin.
The slasher franchise has so far successfully balanced its strengths, offering an intriguing lore surrounding Art’s vicious killings. By working together, the story and gore create a memorable, continuous storyline justifying each other’s existences. With Leone already laying the groundwork for Terrifier 4, it appears that he’s on track to achieve a perfect balance between the two.
