Terrifier 3 director: ‘If Hitchcock made the shower scene today, would it be more graphic?’

Terrifier 3 director: ‘If Hitchcock made the shower scene today, would it be more graphic?’

As a die-hard horror fan who’s seen my fair share of gory films, I must admit that the Terrifier series has truly pushed the boundaries of what I thought was possible in this genre. The director, Damien Leone, seems to have an uncanny ability to conjure up scenes that are both terrifying and captivating, leaving audiences on the edge of their seats (or running out of the theater, as some reports suggest).


Damien Leone is not a director who shies away from gore.

Ever since the initial release of his Terrifier franchise’s low-budget debut film in 2016, buzz about the extreme violence depicted and tales of cinema-goers fainting or vomiting have spread rapidly, turning this series into an unanticipated box office success.

Currently, he’s debuting the third installment of the storyline, which takes place during the holidays. This particular production is, by a significant margin, the priciest of the series so far, costing approximately $2 million dollars. In contrast, the previous film was produced for around $250,000, and the original movie was made on a budget of just $35,000.

Indeed, the expanded budget opened up several avenues for exploring the character of the silent, psychotic murderer known as Art the Clown in more depth – however, it also presented a few complications along the way.

In the latest installment, I was finally able to delegate the makeup effects to a skilled team, a task I’d handled personally in prior productions. This allowed me an unprecedented amount of time to focus on refining other aspects of the film, ensuring a more polished and engaging cinematic experience for audiences.

Occasionally, he admits to staying awake for over 24 hours straight. Consequently, he had to continue filming the next day since there was so much to do. The tasks of applying makeup, removing it, pausing shooting to connect blood pumps to actors… are extremely challenging.

Additionally, when other aspects of production are concerned, a ripple effect occurs, meaning they gradually weaken. This led me to concentrate more on working with my actors in this particular project, an aspect I found particularly enjoyable.

But what of those problems he mentioned?

He mentions that an increasing number of queries are being directed towards him. This is because there’s a growing need for attention from multiple sides, and with the focus on unions and related matters, we find ourselves under increased scrutiny.

In other words, we had certain limitations; it wasn’t like the Wild West, so we couldn’t execute all the actions typically seen in the original Terrifier or Terrifier 2.

This time around, we understood that we were under close observation, requiring us to strictly adhere to the regulations. Consequently, it proved challenging, and on top of that, we needed to wrap up filming at a fast pace.

Terrifier 3 director: ‘If Hitchcock made the shower scene today, would it be more graphic?’

Maybe Leone struggled to devise a method for surpassing the intense violence from the previous films when working on the new movie.

In the case of “Terrifier 2”, certain scenes reached unprecedented levels of grisly intensity in contemporary cinema, with the infamous ‘bedroom scene’ causing a particularly strong, emotional reaction among spectators. The filmmaker himself acknowledges that it is challenging to consistently conceive fresh methods to elicit shock.

He clarifies, “The anticipation is immense.” People often inquire, “How will you surpass the hacking scene, then the bedroom scene?” So, to address this challenge, I primarily focus on crafting a compelling story and well-developed characters when scriptwriting, rather than dwelling excessively on the gruesome aspects.

After finalizing the storyline, I like to remind myself, “Alright, we shouldn’t lose sight of our purpose.” The question that arises is, “What exactly brings everyone together here?” The answer is simple: it’s Art the Clown and the graphic violence.

In this latest film, the scene that truly left an impact on me – and I must warn you, it’s intense – unfolds in a chilling scenario: a shower. Here, Art brutally slaughters an unsuspecting pair, who had unknowingly been shedding light on his past transgressions through a true crime podcast. It’s a gruesome tableau, one that I believe will spark heated discussions among moviegoers. I won’t delve into the gory details here, but trust me, it’s a sight to behold… or rather, not behold.

Read more:

  • Terrifier 3 director says “1 or 2 movies tops” before he’s done with saga
  • Salem’s Lot star Lewis Pullman would have been “terrified” to have Stephen King on set

Absolutely, one pivotal instance in cinema lore is the iconic shower scene from Alfred Hitchcock’s movie Psycho. Leone acknowledges that his own scene was inspired by contemplating how Hitchcock might reimagine that scene within contemporary horror genres if he were to remake it today.

He clarifies that his work is an homage to Psycho. Being such a devoted fan of the film, he’s watched it roughly once or twice a year since he was young. One day, he found himself wondering, “If Hitchcock were making this film today, would he opt for more graphic violence in the kill scene, or would he maintain its classic and stylish aesthetic?

If I were to create something today, I’d unveil all the skills at my disposal. But that seems too straightforward, doesn’t it? You need to think outside the box or amplify it. So instead of a knife, let’s imagine he’d use… how about a chainsaw, and make it more dramatic like that.

It’s hard to predict where fresh ideas for a thrilling death sequence might come from, but we consistently aim to innovate.

As a movie buff, I must say, he truly pushes boundaries – and it seems the latest film screening in London proved just that, with numerous walkouts reported. Some might speculate this was a clever PR tactic to stir up buzz and draw in more horror enthusiasts, but Leone insists the genuine shock reactions have never been overstated.

During the premiere of the first weekend part 2, an incident occurred that set the tone for what followed – word spread about someone fainting in the theater due to how gripping it was, necessitating a call for paramedics,” he reminisces.

However, it turns out a photograph did exist. Somebody captured an image of that individual, shared it on Twitter, and the photo… It’s hard to believe it’s real, as if we had staged it ourselves, which is what many assume about this entire scenario. Yet, it was entirely authentic.

I was utterly captivated by the authenticity of the scene unfolding before me. There, outside the theater, a figure remained, their identity concealed behind emojis, as paramedics rushed to attend to them. Above them hung the ominous poster for “Terrifier 2”. The sight of it all sent a shiver down my spine and seemed to open up a torrent of anticipation within me.

The following day, there was widespread discussion about the film, which eventually found its way onto popular talk shows such as mainstream ones, and even received mention from Stephen King on Twitter.

Afterward, it transformed into something extraordinary, resembling a challenge or adventure. Essentially, we were questioning if it was as wild as everyone claimed. Could we endure this film? Undeniably, that moment was incredibly bizarre, to put it mildly.

Terrifier 3 director: ‘If Hitchcock made the shower scene today, would it be more graphic?’

It’s worth noting that although Leone seems harsh or extreme at times, he does draw some boundaries in his work. For instance, while the latest film portrays Art aiming at children for the first time, leading to walkouts, the director chooses to focus his camera elsewhere during scenes involving such violent acts.

He mentions, “I have certain boundaries that I don’t transgress… Now, this doesn’t mean I believe you shouldn’t; every artist should be able to step over whatever line they choose, provided they aren’t causing harm or damage while creating their film.

While addressing a sensitive topic like children’s issues, it’s crucial to find approaches that remain engaging and respectful. By employing strategies that maintain interest without alienating the audience, we can ensure they stay tuned rather than leaving in disgust. As an artist, I strive to balance sensitivity with accessibility as much as possible.

“I aim to challenge boundaries with these movies, approaching them as closely as I can without crossing the line, yet still ensuring they remain accessible for a broad audience.

Given the box office projections for Terrifier 3, we reckon Leone has just about been successful…

Starting this coming Friday, 11th October, you can catch Terrifier 3 in theaters across the UK. For those who haven’t seen it yet, the initial two movies are accessible on Amazon Prime Video and Paramount Plus.

Read More

2024-10-11 14:34