Controversial horror debuts with near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes score despite causing vomiting | The Independent
A new horror movie, Terrifier 3, has taken the world by storm, shocking viewers with its extreme violence and gore. Released on Friday, October 11, 2024, the movie has sparked reactions ranging from walkouts to vomiting, yet still boasts a near-perfect audience score of 94 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film, directed by Damien Leone, follows the terrifying antics of Art the Clown, played by David Howard Thornton. Art is a brutal, sadistic killer, and his return in this third installment has only ramped up the gore and violence. Critics, despite some discomfort, have also given the film a favorable score of 76 percent. The series has always pushed boundaries, but Terrifier 3 seems to have crossed new lines, leaving audiences shaken—and yet, strangely captivated.
The premiere has already made headlines for its intense content. During preview screenings, reports surfaced that 11 people walked out of the movie, with nine leaving during the gruesome opening scene. One viewer reportedly vomited from the graphic imagery. The UK distributor, Signature Entertainment, confirmed these incidents, adding to the movie’s growing infamy.
The Terrifier franchise has built a reputation for extreme violence, which has polarized viewers. The second film in the series gained notoriety when reports emerged of audience members passing out in theaters. At the time, Leone dismissed accusations that these incidents were a marketing tactic, insisting the films simply had that effect on people. Whether real or exaggerated, the hysteria around the films has only fueled their popularity.
France has gone a step further in addressing the movie’s content. Its Classification Committee imposed a rare ban, preventing anyone under the age of 18 from viewing the film. This is the first time the country has enforced such a ban on a movie since Saw III in 2007. The film’s French distributors, ESC Éditions, Shadowz Films, and Factoris Films, expressed disappointment with the decision, claiming that it would significantly impact the film’s release, which was scheduled for October 9 in France.
In a joint statement, the distributors said: “We can only deplore this unexpected final decision, which will seriously hamper the release of the film, awaited by tens of thousands of French viewers.” They also defended the film’s artistic merits, describing it as a “film d’auteur” that fits within the slasher genre tradition. They further argued that the violence in Terrifier 3 is exaggerated and unrealistic, and that the film does not take itself too seriously. According to them, mature audiences would understand and appreciate this artistic approach.
Despite the controversy, Terrifier 3 is performing well at the box office, continuing the success of its predecessor, Terrifier 2, which made over $15 million worldwide from a modest budget of just $250,000. The franchise’s rapid rise to fame is a testament to its ability to attract horror fans who enjoy extreme gore and unsettling narratives. The series has been one of the most successful independent horror projects of recent years, standing out in an increasingly crowded genre.
Interestingly, the director, Damien Leone, revealed that a major Hollywood studio had approached him with an offer to reboot the series for a more mainstream audience. However, the studio wanted to tone down the violence and ensure the movie had an R rating. Leone declined, feeling that such changes would betray the essence of the Terrifier franchise. In an interview, he shared, “They would say, ‘It’s gotta be rated R, it can’t be as gory as you made it.’ I knew they’d never let me shoot the first 10 minutes of what I wanted to do [in Terrifier 3]. So I thought, ‘Let’s just stay true to what this franchise is.’”
The refusal to compromise on its brutal vision may be one reason the franchise continues to draw such a loyal fanbase. For audiences who seek visceral, graphic horror, Terrifier 3 delivers in spades. The blend of dark humor and relentless violence seems to be the formula for success in this series, even if it pushes some people beyond their limits of tolerance.
Despite the walkouts, the vomiting, and the controversies, Terrifier 3 opened in the US and UK on October 11 and has already garnered widespread attention. The film’s near-perfect audience score on Rotten Tomatoes suggests that horror fans are more than willing to endure its grotesque scenes in exchange for the thrills and chills it offers. As the franchise grows, so does its infamy, ensuring that Terrifier 3 will remain one of the most talked-about films of 2024.
While many critics and viewers may debate the merits of such an extreme film, the numbers don’t lie—people are watching, and Terrifier 3 has cemented its place in the world of horror cinema. Whether the audience reactions are out of sheer enjoyment or morbid curiosity, one thing is clear: Art the Clown isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
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