Even though Terrifier 3 was just recently released, director and creator Damien Leone has already confirmed that Terrifier 4 is in development. The cast is also eagerly looking forward to the next chapter, with their hopes and ambitions set high.
The franchise initially built a cult following with its first movie, but it truly became a well-known name in horror after the second film’s release. Terrifier 2 exceeded expectations, earning $15 million at the box office, even though its budget was just $250,000, less than one-tenth of the earnings.
WARNING: Major spoilers for Terrifier 3 ahead!
Damien Leone’s gruesome slasher Terrifier 3 took the conflict between Art the Clown and his rival Sienna Shaw to darker levels. However, the story left off on a cliffhanger, leaving it up to the next installment to continue their ongoing saga. Following the expected gruesome chaos caused by Art and his follower Victoria Heyes, the film’s climax sees the deadly clown facing Sienna once more. Their showdown includes a significant character’s death and a chilling literal and figurative cliffhanger, setting up clear directions for both Art and Sienna’s future.
Terrifier 3 featured plenty of gut-wrenching kills, but it seemed inevitable that Art and Sienna would survive the movie. The ending clearly wasn’t intended to bring closure to their ongoing battle, instead feeling like the first half of a two-part story. With the next chapter practically assured after Terrifier 3’s impressive audience score on Rotten Tomatoes and strong performance at the domestic box office, Terrifier 4 will need to address the cliffhanger that has already sparked countless fan theories.
How Terrifier 3’s Cliffhanger Ending Sets Up Terrifier 4
Damien Leone, who served as the writer, director, and editor of Terrifier 3, explained how the movie’s ending sets the stage for the next installment. The latest entry in the slasher series concludes with Sienna managing to kill Vicky using her sword, but she only manages to injure Art the Clown. At the same time, Vicky’s deteriorating blood causes a portal to Hell to open. Unlike the previous film, which used a post-credits scene to extend its ending, Terrifier 3 wraps up with a cliffhanger. Sienna fails to rescue Gabbie from falling into Hell, and Art gets away, apparently without his powers.
Leone mentioned that the conclusion of Terrifier 3 “really raises her stakes” for the next movie, introducing “the door to the supernatural, heaven, hell, and all these mystical themes.” He hinted that the next phase would involve “actually putting Sienna into hell.” Leone also decided against including a post-credits scene, feeling it was important to allow Sienna and Jonathan a brief moment to celebrate their victory. Meanwhile, the film’s ending already hints at Art the Clown’s imminent return. Here’s what Leone had to say:
I think now she has to figure out a way to rescue Gabbie. And what bigger stakes than to actually put Sienna into hell? [There’s no post-credits scene because] I just wanted to give Sienna and Jonathan that moment to breathe and revel in victory for a moment, instead of just going right into, “All right, they just killed Art the Clown, and now he’s immediately rebirthed back.”
Sienna’s Mission To Save Gabbie Could Take Terrifier 4 To Hell
Terrifier 4 will pick up where Sienna’s quest to finally defeat Art the Clown left off. By choosing not to add a post-credits scene, the director ensured that all the hints for the next film were embedded within the brutal events of Terrifier 3. The third movie’s ending is key in paving the way for the upcoming sequel, as Sienna is now left with the devastating loss of everyone she holds dear.
In Terrifier 3, Art the Clown hints that he and Vicky have killed Sienna’s brother, Jonathan, but his status remains unclear. Leone’s comments suggest that Jonathan is actually still alive, indicating that Art and Vicky were unable to catch him. Instead, they took the life of someone else and deceived Sienna to manipulate her. Leone has confirmed that the upcoming fourth film will follow Sienna and her brother as they journey through Hell to save Gabby.
Will Terrifier 4 Be The Final Entry In The Franchise?
Considering the impressive profit margins and strong reputation the franchise has built, it seems very unlikely that Terrifier 4 will be the final installment in the series. The supernatural elements have taken center stage in the last two films, with Art’s conflict against Sienna gradually evolving into a representation of the larger cosmic struggle between good and evil. There is still a wealth of material to explore, especially since Art’s origins have yet to be fully revealed.
Additionally, the Terrifier franchise has primarily remained within the fictional Miles County. While Terrifier 3 shifted the setting to Christmas instead of Halloween, the series has largely followed familiar themes. It could be entertaining to see Art engaging in his usual wicked antics in different locations, possibly even outside of his conflict with Sienna. Given the rapid rise in popularity of the Terrifier franchise, it seems poised to become a long-lasting slasher series, with numerous sequels likely to follow Terrifier 4.
