Why is Catherine Corcoran suing Terrifier producers? Lawsuit controversy explained

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While Terrifier 4 is currently being made, the horror series recently gained attention for a legal issue: actress Catherine Corcoran has filed a lawsuit against those making the film.

The original Terrifier film came out in 2016 and famously introduced David Howard Thornton as the terrifying Art the Clown. It quickly gained a dedicated fanbase, so when the creator, Damien Leone, asked fans to help fund a sequel, they eagerly contributed.

Terrifier 2 exceeded the success of the first film, raising over $200,000 and featuring a larger number of shocking and violent scenes. This popularity enabled the creators to significantly expand Terrifier 3, further establishing Art the Clown as a well-known figure in pop culture.

Terrifier has become a major horror franchise, moving beyond a small, independent film. Creator Jenna Corcoran feels she wasn’t treated fairly during the making of the original movie. Please be aware that the following content may be disturbing to some viewers.

Why is Catherine Corcoran suing Terrifier?

Samantha Corcoran, who portrayed Dawn Emerson in the first Terrifier film, filed a lawsuit on Sunday, October 26th, in California. She alleges that the filmmakers committed fraud and subjected her to sexual harassment.

So, basically, the lawsuit says I haven’t been getting what I deserve from the game’s earnings. And on top of that, they’re claiming the director and a producer didn’t get proper permission before filming those nude scenes, which is a huge problem.

The lawsuit details a sadly familiar situation: a young actress was exploited by low-budget filmmakers who used deception, sexual harassment, and ultimately, broke her trust.

The Terrifier films have earned over $100 million globally at the box office, despite being made for under $2.5 million total. Remarkably, for the first film, which had the smallest budget, the lead actor, David Howard Thornton, worked for the standard union minimum of $100 per day.

The lawsuit claims that Corcoran agreed to accept a lower daily pay rate in exchange for 1% of the profits from all Terrifier movies and related products. This deal was allegedly made with Leone, Falcone, and the three production companies involved.

Following the release of Terrifier 2, Corcoran says she began receiving occasional royalty checks, totaling around $8,300 so far under her 2015 agreement. That deal is expected to continue for another two years.

Her lawyers are claiming that Corcoran hasn’t been paid enough, considering the huge success and multi-million-dollar earnings of the Terrifier movies, as outlined in their contract.

When she questioned Leone and Falcone, they reportedly dismissed her concerns and claimed the production team doesn’t maintain records.

According to Devin McRae, Corcoran’s lawyer, the show wouldn’t have been possible without Corcoran taking a financial risk and agreeing to be paid later. The production had a very limited budget, and without her willingness to invest, it simply couldn’t have been made.

“However, when it came time to pay what was owed, the producers chose to cheat her.”

Lawsuit details gruesome Corcoran scene 

So, in Terrifier, I play Dawn. Basically, me and my friend Tara are just out having fun on Halloween night when we run into Art the Clown. I’m kinda the carefree one – a bit of a wildcard, really. While Tara’s super cautious, I’m the one who playfully messes with Art when we first see him at a pizza place. I guess you could say I’m the one who doesn’t take things as seriously!

After Tara is captured, the movie focuses on Dawn in a now-notorious scene. She’s stripped, tied up, and suspended upside down while the clown taunts and torments her.

He then brutally cuts the victim in half at the waist with a saw. This shocking scene is one of the most infamous from the movie Terrifier, and it quickly established the villain, Art the Clown, as relentlessly sadistic and focused on shocking the audience.

The complaint describes the harsh working conditions Corcoran faced, noting he worked long hours in very cold, unsafe buildings – some without heat or even basic bathroom facilities.

Leone is accused of attaching fake body parts smeared with rat feces to Corcoran’s skin and covering her mouth with real duct tape. Corcoran also reportedly endured a lengthy and agonizing struggle to free herself from a sheet of plywood used to create a body cast.

Corcoran says that Leone and Falcone didn’t get proper permission to film the nude scene. While they did let her wear underwear, she claims she was told she had to perform the scene topless, even though she didn’t agree.

According to reports, Corcoran was the sole woman present during the filming. She allegedly experienced a swollen head and a ruptured eardrum after being suspended upside down for ten hours during the shoot.

Honestly, one of the most disturbing parts of the lawsuit is learning about merchandise being sold with photos of Corcoran’s nude body – and apparently, she never properly gave her permission for those photos to be used. It’s just awful to think about.

Has Damien Leone responded?

Larry Zerner, the lawyer representing Leone, stated to The Hollywood Reporter that both Leone and producer Phil Falcone strongly disagree with the allegations made in the lawsuit and plan to fight it in court.

Ms. Corcoran has requested a complete breakdown of the profits from the film Terrifier to support her allegations, but so far, she’s only submitted a formal complaint. The next steps will depend on how the filmmakers respond.

So, while we wait for more horror goodness, I’ve been reading up on something kinda wild – apparently, Terrifier 3 could actually be the best Christian movie out there! I also checked out a review of David Howard Thornton’s Screamboat, which looked pretty fun. And if you’re like me and always planning ahead, I took a peek at the 2025 movie release calendar to see what’s coming up.

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2025-10-28 15:50