As a long-time horror aficionado who has seen more than my fair share of Final Girls, I must say that Sienna Shaw from the Terrifier franchise is one of the most captivating and resilient characters to grace the genre in recent memory. Her journey, marked by tragedy and triumph, mirrors a rollercoaster ride that leaves you on the edge of your seat, rooting for her with every heart-stopping moment.
In horror films, the term “Final Girl” refers to a female character who lives until the end of the movie. Finding truly compelling Final Girls is rare, given that the genre often ends tragically for protagonists. Many survive one film only to perish in the next. Exceptional characters like Laurie Strode and Sidney Prescott are few, but Sienna from Terrifier seems to be joining their ranks. Across two films, Sienna has not only withstood numerous attacks from Art the Clown, but she’s also demonstrated remarkable resilience and posed a real threat to the antagonist. This is even more impressive given the origins of the Terrifier franchise.
In the initial “Terrifier” film, there was no main character to support or identify with. While it’s common for victims to perish in horror movies, what set “Terrifier” apart was its lack of a central figure who survived for an extended period. Instead, the psychopathic Art ruthlessly killed off each potential protagonist, leaving very few characters alive. This lack of a relatable character diminished the movie’s suspense, as many viewers found this to be a weakness in the original “Terrifier”. However, it appears that writer/director Damien Leone addressed this criticism head-on with significant changes in the sequel.
In Terrifier 2, the audience was introduced to the character Sienna Shaw, played by actress Lauren LaVera. What makes Sienna captivating is undeniably the skillful performance of her actor. Through her portrayal, Sienna appears likable and relatable to viewers. The story begins with Sienna’s life already marred by grief due to her father’s untimely demise. Although he has passed away, his influence on Sienna remains significant. As an artist, Sienna’s father had created a superhero for her, and Sienna intended to dress up as this character for Halloween. By the film’s conclusion, Sienna uncovers that she possesses powers linked to this superhero design. Although Art ultimately takes her life, Sienna miraculously resurrects before the movie ends, allowing her to (temporarily) bring an end to his reign of terror.
Following Art’s gruesome assaults, Sienna found herself in Terrifier 3, a role often reserved for Final Girls. Despite surviving the horror movie, thriving isn’t always the case. Although Sienna managed to make it through the second Terrifier, many of her dearest friends didn’t fare as well. The opening scenes of Terrifier 3 reveal the lingering effects of Art’s murder spree on Sienna, as she fights to regain a semblance of normality. Regrettably, her tranquility is fleeting when Art reenters her life. In the ensuing conflict between the two adversaries, Sienna manages to reach the end credits. However, her survival comes at a steep price, as more of her loved ones meet a violent end.
In the third installment of the series, Terrifier 4’s foundation is laid out. Although the gruesome violence and dismemberments have been the talking points for the Terrifier saga, Sienna’s narrative has emerged as a compelling reason to revisit this series. Despite Art taking almost everything from Sienna in the first two films, she still finds shreds of hope and motivation to endure. The challenge with many Final Girl stories lies in crafting an engaging plot when the same protagonist survives encounters with the same antagonist repeatedly. However, Terrifier stands apart because Sienna poses as much a threat to Art as he does to her. By the film’s conclusion, Art appears genuinely drained following his confrontation with Sienna, unlike most Final Girls who merely scrape by in similar horror movies.
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Over the past few years, Art the Clown has grown into a well-known figure in popular culture, particularly within the slasher genre, amassing a dedicated fanbase. However, Sienna is rapidly emerging as an effective counterpart. Lauren LaVera and Damien Leone have crafted her in such a way that she’s easy to support, even with a villain who we can’t help but despise. The Terrifier franchise isn’t for everyone, but Leone has created a captivating rhythm, much of which is due to the strong female lead character. While Sienna Shaw may not be at the same level as Laurie Strode or Sidney Prescott just yet, she certainly seems destined to reach that point. After six Scream movies, I’m growing weary of Sidney’s tale, but after several Terrifier films, I’m eager to see where Leone takes Sienna. Here’s hoping her journey continues to be intriguing.
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2024-10-31 21:39