”Terrifier 3” cost two million dollars to produce. So far, it has grossed nearly 50 million dollars in the countries where it has been released.
And there are more films on the way.
There will be a fourth film. Or possibly two more. The fans will decide, says director Damien Leone to TT from his home in New Jersey.
The three “Terrifier” films are about the clown Art who slaughters people in the most bestial ways. Despite being mortally wounded, he manages to survive to appear in new films.
When we made the first film and killed off Art, I felt that I wanted to tell more about him. So we filmed a new scene where he wakes up in the morgue, says Damien Leone.
Murder list
In film number two, he introduced Sienna, the woman who becomes Art's opponent, and decided that the rest of the series would be about their struggle.
Art kills his victims with everything from chainsaws and rats to axes. Damien Leone keeps a book of what will happen in the films and has a special list of possible ways to commit murder.
I get ideas, can be in my kitchen and see a spoon and think "what could Art do with that?". I always have that in the back of my mind.
The fact that the films have become such public successes and also received fairly positive reviews is partly due to the fact that there is an audience for extremely bloody horror films, but Leone also believes in a deeper explanation.
We live in a dark, polarized world. For many, it can be liberating to see a violent film where the violence is clearly fictional. And Art is the one who breaks the fourth wall, he comes with humor, he reminds us that this is just a film.
The fans will decide
Leone has started receiving offers from Hollywood to make high-budget films. He is tempted, but means that the "Terrifier" films must be independently produced, a major company would come with demands to tone down the violence.
I like being active with the fans. Do they want a very long fourth film that concludes everything or do they want two shorter films? I have a lot I want to get in, they will decide.
And for those who wonder – yes, he is named after the devil's son in the horror classic "The Omen".
My mom loves horror and not least that film. She thought "if I ever get a son, he will be named Damien". And so it was.
Age: 42 years.
Lives: In New York.
Occupation: Screenwriter, director.
Previous films: "Terrifier", "Terrifier 2".
Current: With "Terrifier 3" which has its Swedish cinema premiere on 25/10.
