With three blood-soaked movies (and a couple of non-canonical shorts) already on heavy horror rotation, Terrifier is already one of the most reliable horror franchises to come on the scene in years–especially for those who like their kills served with plenty of sadism.
Much of their success is down to writer-director Damien Leone’s boldness, creativity, and grasp of tone: the movies walk a razor-sharp line between silly and sadistic, but just about find the sweet spot—at least more often than not. I think this is thanks to Art the Clown, a character who takes all kinds of pleasure in torturing men, women and children, but does it with the eager flair of a showman—jazz hands and all. At the end of the day, he just wants you to be entertained!
With that in mind, we should also say that these movies are not for the faint of heart, so some degree of caution is probably advisable—and I say that as someone who doesn’t get squeamish very often. As we await details on the fourth instalment, use our guide below to find out where to watch all Terrifier movies so far, along with the worst (best?) kills to look out for in each entry.
All Hallows’ Eve (2013)
Though not a canonical chapter in the Terrifier series, Damien Leone’s anthology movie All Hallows’ Eve is definitely worth a watch for all the sickos out there who can’t get enough of this franchise.
All Hallows’ Eve takes footage from two of Leone’s earlier shorts—The 9th Circle (2008) and Terrifier (2011)—and combines them into a story of kids trick-or-treating on Halloween who discover an old VHS tape in their candy bag. It’s especially important viewing for Terrifier fans as it contains Art’s first appearance on screen, albeit played by Mike Giannelli, as David Howard Thornton only later took ownership of the role.
Worst kill: The ending is deeply unsettling, but, in the interests of pure sadism, we’re gonna give it to the good Samaritan in the car.
Terrifier (2016)
With Art’s first outing as the lead character, Terrifier sets the tone for the series as a must-watch for any horror fan who likes their kills especially gruesome. The events again take place on Halloween night, following two friends, Tara and Dawn, who encounter Art on the way home from a party.
The movie quickly became a hit on the horror festival circuit in 2016, where it shocked audiences, gained a cult following, and eventually returned ten times its $40K budget at the box office. This first instalment was too low-budget to think of sequels (none of Art’s victims return in Part 2), so don’t go in expecting much in terms of plot. Instead, Leone uses the movie to showcase Art’s demented glee as well as his own proficiency with grizzly practical effects.
Worst kill: Dawn. No competition. Just horrific. It will ruin your week.
Terrifier 2 (2022)
Terrifier 2 is the point when the franchise slightly crosses over into the horror mainstream, so it’s maybe a better starting point for fans who like a little more plot and character. You can always go back to the earlier stuff if you really like it!
As I mentioned, the first film was a huge success, but Leone knew he had to find a way to make the movies slightly less snuff-coded and more approachable. I think he achieves this by making Terrifier 2 look a little glossier (the aesthetic is not unlike the mood of the Nightmare on Elm Street movies, so if you’re into those classics, it might also be up your alley) while removing none of the creative violence that made the previous movie such a hit.
Terrifier 2 also introduces Sienna Shaw, another teenage girl on Halloween night who crosses Art’s path, as the series’ final girl.
Worst kill: Allie. There’s a reason why it’s infamous.
Terrifier 3 (2024)
Terrifier 3 is, for me, the best of the series so far. If you liked the previous two instalments of Leone’s slightly lopsided franchise, you’ll enjoy seeing how the director weaves it all together here.
Reintroducing Victoria, the sole survivor of Part One, as well as Sienna, our final girl from Part 2, Terrifier 3 ties things up like the bow on a Christmas present—which is fitting, as Leone sadistically sets Part Three during the most wonderful time of the year. This, of course, allows for a scene in which Art poses as Santa, delivering one of the series’ most provocative kills.
The movie grossed an astonishing $90M on a $2M budget, making the franchise a full-blown sensation—and just in case you’re wondering, a bigger budget does not mean a softer touch.
Worst kill: This one has to go to poor Aunt Jessica.
Terrifier 4 (TBA)
Worst kill: we can only imagine…
