How a Robert Zemeckis Christmas Horror Inspired Damien Leone’s ‘Terrifier 3’

As a die-hard horror enthusiast with a soft spot for Christmas-themed terrors, I must confess that ‘Terrifier 3’ has left me utterly spellbound! Damien Leone’s creative vision, inspired by the macabre magic of Robert Zemeckis and classic horror tales like ‘Black Christmas,’ has resulted in an exhilarating amalgamation of festive fear.


In simple terms, ‘Terrifier 3’ is the newest addition to the well-liked series featuring Art the Clown. Following the achievement of ‘Terrifier 2’, Damien Leone began scripting ‘Terrifier 3’ with a broader narrative. He decided to delve deeper into the character Victoria, as he felt she didn’t receive enough development in the initial film.

In a change of pace for the third installment, Leone opted to distance Art the Clown from Halloween. He revealed that his affection for Christmas-themed horror motivated the brutal sequences in the upcoming film. Rather than following the path of a traditional Christmas horror movie like ‘Silent Night, Deadly Night,’ Leone drew inspiration from a TV episode helmed by Robert Zemeckis. This influenced him to craft his own portrayal of a menacing Santa Claus.

During the production of ‘Terrifier 2’, a thought sparked in my mind: what if Art, our beloved character, could invade even the sacred holiday of Christmas? It was none other than our producer Phil Falcone who spotted some festive decorations on his drive to set, and that’s when he proposed weaving Art into the yuletide spirit.

Leone expressed his fondness for the concept. He also shared his deep affection for the 1974 film ‘Black Christmas’ and even hinted at incorporating a nod to it in ‘Terrifier 3’. Yet, he felt that ‘Black Christmas’ lacked the Santa-like slayer or the chilling holiday-themed horror ambiance that served as his inspiration for the upcoming movie.

He confessed that his preferred Christmas horror tale hails from ‘Tales from the Crypt’ (Season 1), specifically the episode titled ‘And All Through the House’. This episode is inspired by both a 1972 British film and a short story, in which a woman murders her husband, but her gruesome actions are interrupted by a Santa Claus-costumed killer.

Leone finds the 1989 remake superior to the original, as he believes it’s more fashionable, amusing, and unsettling. To him, it offers an excellent blend of humor and horror for a festive scare.

My favorite horror Christmas episode ever is called ‘And All Through the House’

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In ‘Terrifier 3’, Art the Clown swaps the almost silent Santa from the initial ‘And All Through the House’ with a violent version of Christmas mayhem that’s distinctly his own. Just like the original character, Art doesn’t utter a word, but he leaves an indelible mark through destructive acts such as smashing doors and viciously attacking victims with an axe. In line with the original storyline, Art comes across a little girl who perceives him as Santa Claus. However, his conclusion in this film is significantly more gruesome.

A creepy moment shows Art eating cookies left for Santa and washing the plate after killing a family. One memorable scene shows Art heading to a college dorm, wearing festive sunglasses and carrying deadly weapons, all while a spooky Christmas carol plays.

Following your viewing of ‘Terrifier 3’, horror enthusiasts might enjoy the ‘Tales from the Crypt’ episode as an exciting blend of fear and festive spirit instead.

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2024-11-24 12:13