Damien Leone’s Terrifier 3 emerges as one of the most anticipated horror films of 2024. Following what appeared to be Art the Clown’s (David Howard Thornton) demise at the end of Terrifier 2, the opening scenes of this latest chapter reveal that he has lingering matters to address. Set against a holiday backdrop, Art takes on the guise of Santa Claus, lugging a hefty sack of presents—though the items inside are far from festive, designed instead for eliminating the supporting cast. The vintage Christmas ambiance is palpable, underscored by the constant serenade of choral carols, firmly anchoring the film in the festive season. As Art resumes his notorious slasher escapades, the question looms: just how grisly will the carnage be this time?

The conclusion of Terrifier 2 depicted Art’s decapitation at the hands of Sienna (Lauren LaVera), yet it was evident that his demise was merely temporary. Rather than questioning his resurrection, which is revealed in a mid-credit scene where Victoria gives birth to Art’s head, the intrigue lies in how he will return. The film opens with the discovery of Art’s severed body, which promptly attacks the unfortunate individual who stumbles upon it. Art manages to board a subway train, where he audaciously reattaches the head of his attacker to his own, adding a fresh dimension to his supernatural abilities. He eventually infiltrates Victoria’s psychiatric ward, reuniting his head with his body and dispatching the nurses (Leah Vaysey and Chris Jericho) who survived the previous film.

As the narrative progresses, five years elapse, bringing us to the present day, where Sienna visits her Aunt Jessica (Margaret Anne Florence), Uncle Greg (Bryce Owen Johnson), and their daughter Gabbie (Antonella Rose), who idolizes her cousin. It’s clear that the trauma of past events still haunts Sienna, as visions of her disfigured friends plague her. Her brother Jonathan (Elliot Fullam) now occupies a college life, relegating him to a smaller role in Terrifier 3. Meanwhile, Art and Victoria have remained dormant in a derelict building for five years, only to be awakened by demolition crews surveying the site. It is during a shopping excursion with Gabbie that Sienna encounters Art, recognizing that history is poised to repeat itself.

Art retains his larger-than-life persona, and an early scene in which he meets Santa with child-like glee showcases some of Thornton’s most humorous moments throughout the series. The film does not shy away from brutal killings, employing an axe, liquid nitrogen, and a chainsaw to inflict carnage. However, Terrifier 3 also delves deeper into the lore established in its predecessor. While unpacking at her aunt’s home, Sienna discovers a journal containing letters from Elliot detailing how to vanquish Art. These letters reveal that Art is a demon reliant on a vessel—a recently deceased host—allowing him to cross over and resurrect himself. Jonathan believed the pale girl to be that vessel, asserting that destroying her would eliminate Art. In this installment, however, Art has chosen Victoria as his vessel, which explains her role in birthing his head.

The letters further indicate that every demon requires a counterpart, with Sienna fulfilling this role for Art. Although the second film hinted at this dynamic, Terrifier 3 elaborates significantly. Dream flashbacks reveal Sienna as a child, conversing with her father, who presents her with an illustration of his first female heroine—the inspiration behind Sienna’s iconic Halloween costume. As her father relinquishes the artwork, an unseen force appears to hinder him, suggesting a profound spiritual connection being conveyed to Sienna. He also expounds on the significance of Sienna’s sword within the context of his angel warrior illustration, asserting that her weapon possesses unique powers that will never harm her. It becomes evident to Sienna that she must return to the site of the Terrifier, where her sword was left at the conclusion of the previous film, to confront Art once and for all.

Following a chaotic killing spree that includes Jonathan’s roommate, Art and Victoria launch an assault on Sienna at her aunt and uncle’s residence, rendering her unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness, she finds herself bound to a chair, her mouth taped shut, with Aunt Jessica in a similar predicament. Uncle Greg has already met a grisly fate, his headless body crucified on a wall, while his head is bizarrely perched atop the Christmas tree, adorned with his intestines like tinsel. Victoria unveils a severed skull teeming with rats, claiming it to be Gabbie’s head, only to later assert that it is actually Jonathan’s after placing his glasses on the gruesome relic. Jonathan’s demise occurs off-screen, leaving room for potential resurrection. Jessica suffers one of the series’ most excruciating deaths, as she is forced to ingest live rats.

The malevolent spirit within Victoria attempts to seize Sienna, but she resists, driven by her desire to protect the still-living Gabbie. Art seizes Gabbie and prepares to kill her, yet she insists that Sienna open her present first. Earlier, Gabbie had been scolded for opening and rewrapping gifts, hinting that she knows the contents of the mysterious box—a sword. Upon unveiling the weapon, Sienna plunges it into Victoria, who promptly disintegrates, creating a massive demonic void. A fierce confrontation ensues between Art and Sienna, with Art pitting his chainsaw against Sienna’s sword. Following a grueling struggle, Art’s chainsaw becomes lodged in a table, allowing Sienna to stab him against the wall. However, Gabbie is pulled into the abyss, prompting Sienna to attempt a rescue. As she uses the sword to haul Gabbie upward, her hands are sliced by the blades. Unfortunately, Gabbie lacks the strength to hold on and slips into the chasm alongside the sword. Sienna pledges to retrieve her, as the wounds on her hands begin to heal almost instantaneously.