The mysterious and horrifying origin story of Art the Clown may have been revealed in Damien Leone’s blood-soaked threequelTerrifier 3, although it was initially dismissed as a joke. The independent low-budget horror movie has carved a path of destruction through Hollywood and beyond, asTerrifier 3’s astounding box office totalscontinue to confound industry experts. The eye-opening success of bothTerrifier 2andTerrifier 3is a testament to the one key element of the franchise that has made an indelible mark on pop culture: the demonic killer known as Art the Clown.
Part of what makes Art such an iconic villain is how little is known about him. While audiences have become familiar withArt’s more supernatural powers and abilities, many of the key questions about the clown’s backstory have gone unanswered through three movies. Art’s silence, his black-and-white outfit, and who or what he was before the events ofTerrifierhave never been addressed amid all the blood and carnage. However, a throwaway joke at the beginning ofTerrifier 3might have provided a real answer about Art’s origins, even if it was dismissed as a joke at the time.
Terrifier 3’s 9th Circle Book & Art The Clown Connection Explained
The ending of Terrifier 3 has a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference to Art’s history as a book title, and it could point to what’s next for the clown.
The Killer Supposedly Murdered Over A Dozen Children
Early inTerrifier 3, a pair of demolition workers venture into the house where Art and Vicky have waited in the attic for five years, intending to inspect it before demolition. Seeing his anxious partner’s reaction, the demo crew leader spins a tale abouta serial killer from the 1990s in the area who murdered over a dozen childrenand dumped their bodies in the funhouse at the carnival, referring to the eponymous Terrifier attraction where the climax ofTerrifier 2occurred, and where Art was killed (again).
2016
$35,000-$55,000
$416,000
60%
53%
2022
$250,000
$15.7 million
86%
80%
2024
$2 million
$41.5 million (and counting)
75%
87%
While virtually nothing is known about Art beforeTerrifier, the implication is that he was the serial killer that the demo crew leader was referring to. While creator Damien Leone himself has confirmed thatArt was human at one point, ever since his resurrection at the end ofTerrifier, he has been something else entirely. However,Terrifier 3also mentions that if a demon was choosing a vessel to enter the human world, a serial killer would be a fitting choice.Terrifier 3, therefore, suggests that Art is the serial killer bogeymanthat the demo worker refers to.
Terrifier 3 Claims Art’s Funhouse Backstory Is A Joke - But Is It?
The Story Is Quickly Laughed Off, But There Could Be Truth To It
The demo worker’s ghost story is told in jest, and is dismissed right away as a joke intended to wind up his already-uncomfortable partner. However, that doesn’t mean it was completely false. In fact,it makes far more sense for the quick story to be based on a local legend or old news story from years past, as something as brutal and nightmarish as a serial killer who murders children would leave a scar on any community. It seems far more likely that even if the demo crew leader dismissed the story, he didn’t conjure it out of thin air.
Before he retired from acting, Art the Clown was played by Mike Giannelli in Damien Leone’s first two short films and the feature-lengthAll Hallow’s Eve. In theTerrifierfranchise, Art is played by David Howard Thornton.
The more realistic notion is that the demo crew leader mentioned a true story, or at least a widely believed story, but after seeing his partner’s reaction, he lied about it being untrue to calm his nerves.The story seems far too specific and grisly to not have any basis in reality, even if it was only a rumor that the locals whispered about.
Why Terrifier 3’s Serial Killer Backstory For Art The Clown Makes Sense
ATerrifier 2Clue Points To Its Accuracy
Art is already shown to have an unnatural penchant for extreme violence inTerrifier. The dismemberment and callous murders he commits are the work of a truly deranged person, and someone who has cultivated that delight in the agony of others over a long period of time. Art being a serial killer before his demonic transformation makes complete sense, ashis actions align with someone who is comfortable killing children after the transformation; in bothTerrifier 2andTerrifier 3, Art takes perhaps the most joy in his murders of children.
Is Art The Clown A Demon?
The Terrifier franchise is driven by the creatively murderous Art the Clown, but through three movies Art’s origins and true nature remain mysterious.
Terrifier 2may have provided further evidence of Art’s past life as a serial killer. InTerrifier 2, a newspaper article is shown that features a story about a young girl named Emily who went missing in the area where Art’s funhouse is located. Meanwhile, Art’s greatest ally in the movie is a demon who manifests as a young girl, who goes on to invade Victoria Heyes' body inTerrifier 3.It’s possible that the demon took the shape of one of Art’s former victimsin its first appearance. What better way to lure children than with a friendly clown at the funhouse, after all?
Terrifier 3
Cast
Terrifier 3 follows Sienna and her brother as they attempt to move past the traumatic events of Art the Clown’s Halloween massacre. As they embrace the Christmas season, Art reemerges, intent on turning their holiday into a nightmare, continuing his reign of terror.
