Terrifier 3 director wanted Art the Clown to be “opposite” of Pennywise

As a seasoned gamer and horror enthusiast with decades of spine-tingling encounters under my belt, I can confidently say that Art the Clown is the true embodiment of nightmares. While Pennywise may have his momentary charm, Art is the unsung hero of the horror genre who leaves an indelible mark on your psyche.


In a deliberate move by director Damien Leone, while Pennywise and Art may share the common theme of being creepy clowns, their characteristics diverge significantly, as intended.

Listen, there’s space for both in the horror realm. But many of you may agree that Art makes Pennywise seem like Barney the Dinosaur. He’s funnier, weirder, and infinitely more sadistic than the balloon-wielding IT villain… and he’s way more creative when it comes to kills. 

As the release date for Terrifier 3 draws near, our team at TopMob had a chat with director Damien Leone. He shared that his goal was to create a character who stood in stark contrast to Pennywise, and one reason for this choice is why Art the Clown never utters a word.

Terrifier 3 director wanted Art the Clown to be “opposite” of Pennywise

The filmmaker clarified that the character won’t talk at all, not even make a single sound. It seems this aspect is crucial to his portrayal, and it sets him apart from Pennywise.

I’d prefer him to move exactly the opposite way from Pennywise. That’s why Art isn’t vibrant and doesn’t talk.

Leone added, “To me, silent characters like Freddy Krueger from the original film are scarier. The original version is incredibly frightening. However, as he evolves into a more jovial character, some of the eeriness fades slightly.

Instead of maintaining an entirely quiet demeanor like Michael Myers, I prefer to imbue Art with a similar eerie and motionless quality that creates a chilling atmosphere.

In Terrifier 3, Art seems to have a playful side, but director Damien Leone emphasized that this iteration of Art could be his most unsettling yet. This, it appears, is what makes him so effective in the film – the mix of amusement, intense fear, and cruelty.

In a recent disclosure, the director of Terrifier has shared that there’s one thing Art, the character in the series, will never engage in: romantic or sexual activities. Although we won’t spoil any details about Terrifier 3, it does contain a scene hinting at this theme; however, Art is not someone who expresses such inclinations.

As for my gaming character, let me make it clear: there’s no way I’d ever turn him into a serial killer with a sexual motive. That’s just not the path I want to take with his development.

If Leone’s assertion is correct, it seems he wouldn’t struggle to find a date because of his strong appeal among women. He admitted, “I won’t deny it, he has quite the female fan base.” Women are drawn to this character, and I believe he would succeed in finding someone.

Fortunately, there’s no need for us to encounter such things – Art derives pleasure solely from murder. So, be prepared for a lot of that gruesome scene in Terrifier 3, set to hit theaters on October 11th.

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2024-10-08 13:48