The ‘Terrifier’ film series, featuring the murderous clown Art the Clown, has garnered a cult following for its graphic violence and intense horror. Despite its modest budgets, the films have achieved significant commercial success.
Additionally, the 2022 sequel, ‘Terrifier 2’, grossed over $15 million worldwide. The films are known for their extreme violence and gorey-ness. So, unsurprisingly, the film’s explicit content attracted controversy.
‘Terrifier 2’ Director Damien Leone Reveals Studio Interference
Previously, cast members of the film admitted to feeling physically ill during the filming. Moreover, the movies, ever since their release, have been criticized for their excessive gore. Now, director Damien Leone has revealed that a major studio approached him with an offer to reboot the ‘Terrifier’ franchise for a wider audience.
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However, there was one major condition: the studio wanted Leone to tone down the violence. “They wanted to reboot it for a wider audience. That’s not what I was interested in. They would say, ‘It’s gotta be rated R, it can’t be as gory as you made it,” Leone stated while talking to Totalfilm.
Leone was not interested in compromising the series’ signature style. Additionally, he knew that the studio’s demands would have significantly altered the vision he had for ‘Terrifier 3’. Instead of accepting their offer, Leone decided to stay true to the franchise’s roots and continue making films that pushed the boundaries of horror.
‘Terrifier 3’ Controversy Surrounds Reports Of Audiences Fainting And Vomiting
The success of ‘Terrifier’ films was accompanied by reports of audience members fainting and vomiting during screenings. While some have suggested that these reports are a marketing ploy, director Damien Leone has denied these claims. Leone took to X to assure fans that the reports were genuine and not fabricated for publicity purposes.
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He stressed that the filmmakers did not need to resort to such tactics to promote the film, as its success speaks for itself. “To everyone saying that reports of people fainting and puking during screenings of Terrifier 2 is a marketing ploy, I swear on the success of the film it is NOT. These reports are 100 percent legit,” he explained.
These incidents highlight the film’s intense and graphic nature. The series has gained a reputation for its explicit violence, and it is not surprising that some viewers may find the content disturbing. Additionally, despite the controversy and its violent nature, ‘Terrifier 2’ was a commercial success. Moreover, the upcoming ’Terrifier 3’ is set to continue this trend, with its release date scheduled for October 11th.
