FROM SKEPTIC TO SUPERFAN: MY JOURNEY INTO THE WORLD OF TERRIFIER

If I’m being brutally honest, I never intended to watch any of the Terrifier films. When the first one was released in 2016, I had heard some early reviews from friends I trusted and it didn’t seem like a film that appealed to me. Sure, there were other friends of mine that loved it but my initial impressions were that it wasn’t a movie I would like so I just didn’t see it.

When Terrifier 2 was released, my interest was slightly more piqued. It was doing gangbusters at the box office and being talked about everywhere about how gross it was, etc. And yet, some reviews from other friends of mine felt it was too long, too much plot, etc. While I didn’t see that one either, I became more intrigued by the films and figured it would be a matter of time until I watched them. 

In late 2023, we were offered the opportunity to be a part of a special section of Walmart dedicated to horror toys and collectibles, curated by Bloody Disgusting. We pitched several different products and they ultimately decided on our mini-masks. They wanted our Michael Myers mask, and also asked for an Art the Clown mask. The problem was, we didn’t have the rights to the Terrifier franchise. However, because Bloody Disgusting had helped get the second film made and distributed, they were able to facilitate us getting a license for the mask so we could work on it for the stores.

As soon as the deal was signed, we rushed into development. We only had five months to develop, produce, and deliver all of the masks they ordered. Plus, Chinese New Year was coming up which always sets back production at least 3-4 weeks. By the end of May, we delivered the masks on the last possible date Walmart could accept them. Phew.

To be honest, I was so caught up in getting that order done that I hadn’t even thought about watching the films yet. I was so busy with that as well as all of the other things we had going on, not to mention traveling quite a bit this year, that it became less of a priority.

However, as the masks hit shelves and I saw posts about them being found at stores, it was clear that they were a hit. I could also sense the fervor building among people for the new film and I knew there was more opportunity than just masks. So we contacted the rights holders and was able to negotiate a deal for more items across the Terrifier franchise. There are already some great Terrifier items out there, but I knew we could bring our own unique flair to the market.

But first…I needed to watch the movies.

Here’s the thing, we handle over 70 titles at any given time. I am not personally a fan of every single title, but other people on our team might be, or I know a fan base is large enough that it makes it worth pursuing a license for. There are some titles we simply will not touch, and some that I may not be the biggest fan of, but I respect them and want to create products for. I had no idea which camp I’d be in when I sat down to watch terrified and Terrifier 2. I’m not a prude, and I love me some gore, but from everything I’ve heard, these seemed like they could be too much for me.

I was wrong.

I sat down to watch Terrifier in my movie room; lights out and popcorn in hand. Wow, it did NOT disappoint. Yes, it was gory, and yes it pushed horror to an edge that is rarely seen these days (at least in terms of pure gore). But there was something about it… Where the “torture porn” films of the 00’s felt like they were meant and nasty (something that suits those fits well), this felt almost…dare I say…fun. I fully understand—and embrace—Art as a modern horror icon. David HowardThornton’s portrayal is nothing short of amazing and if it were anyone else, in any other way, it would fall flat.

The next night I put on the second film. Wow. Yes, it is a little long, but it went even further than the first and further solidified my feelings for Art the Clown. Damien Leone finds a way to push the boundaries of what is acceptable all the while making you feel like you’re in on the joke. He explained it best in a recent Fangoria interview when he said “It’s a comic book world” That is the perfect explanation. It is hard for me to take anything in these films seriously; and I do not mean that as a dig against them—it’s a strength.

I was so ready for part 3 that I took my 15 year old son to the 11pm showing on that Thursday night when it was released. He had the next day off and apparently had seen the first two movies on his Chromebook in school…long story. We had a blast! We laughed and shouted “whoa” so many times throughout; truly a bonding experience. For me, the third film is my favorite. It balances story with gore, and is much higher than the second one. I do like the way they handled Sienna dealing with her trauma, as well as some more backstory on Art. While I am generally not one for backstory’s for slashers, I think it helps give these films some meat. Otherwise, sequels could get dull if it’s just mindless killing.

I completely understand those who do not like these films. However, after putting it off for so long, I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed them and am definitely a fan of this franchise and especially Art. I’m also grateful to Damien Leone and the entire team for allowing us to create some merchandise for them. While we only had a coupe weeks to create our first collection, we are already working in more to release in the coming months. Stay tuned!

- Ben