I imagine that no one is as surprised to see a third Terrifier movie as the franchise’s creator, Damien Leone. What started as an indie splatter film made for $35,000 has blossomed into a legitimate franchise with growing budgets and an enthusiastic fanbase. Now “Terrifier 3” is in theaters and it sticks close to its successful formula. That means a few shocks, some good laughs, and gobs of gore.

The first feature in the series, 2016’s “Terrifier”, was short on story and character-building but made up for it with its twisted vision and gnarly effects. Its eventual sequel, 2022’s “Terrifier 2”, overcorrected in its attempt to put more emphasis on storytelling. But it still managed to give hungry fans more of what they were craving.

“Terrifier 3” does much the same except this time the story is tighter and more fun. It (sorta) picks up where the last film left off and answers several lingering questions. It’s also set during the Christmas season which gives Leone an entire holiday sandbox to play in. And he doesn’t waste any time. He opens his film with a horrifying sequence that immediately tests his audience’s mettle. It’s a sequence that epitomizes the Terrifier series – stun the crowd, soak them in blood, and then throw in some unexpected humor to take the edge off.

Five years after the events of “Terrifier 2”, Sienna Shaw (a returning Lauren LaVera) is released from a mental hospital and set to stay with her Aunt Jess (Margaret Anne Florence) and Uncle Greg (Bryce Johnson). They have a daughter named Gabbie (Antonella Rose) who idolizes Sienna but knows nothing about the trauma she has endured. As for Sienna’s kid brother Jonathan (Elliot Fullam), he has moved off to college where he tries to put the Miles County Massacre behind him.

But this is a horror movie and that’s always easier said than done. It’s especially true here as the demented Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton) returns, this time accompanied by his disfigured and equally deranged first victim turned partner-in-crime, Victoria (Samantha Scaffidi). The pair set out on another murder spree across Miles County, eventually setting their sights on Sienna. But before we get to their inevitable round two, Leone gives Art numerous opportunities to ply his grisly trade against a number of hapless victims.

In what has become a staple of the Terrifier franchise, much of the movie revolves around the gruesomely creative ways Art offs his many victims. Most are wildly excessive with the intent of stunning the audience and one-upping what the previous films have done. As before, they give Leone the chance to show off his incredible make-up and effects work. The results are not for the faint of heart. At the same time, the movie is very self-aware. It fully embraces its absurdity, especially with Art who injects a level of humor into every sanguinary encounter.

With part three, Leone continues to tease Art as something more sinister than an aimless nihilistic killer clown. He ventures further with the supernatural element that was hinted at in the first film and expanded on in the second. It’s utterly ridiculous and frankly doesn’t make a lot of sense. But it allows Leone to indulge in even more gore-filled mayhem while also setting the table for another film which is pretty much a certainty at this point.

Much like its predecessors, “Terrifier 3” creates most of its tension from the sheer fact that no one on screen is safe. It also retains the grindhouse grit that is either a strength or a weakness depending on your stance. Its storytelling can be shaky in spots and the logistics don’t always line up. But Art the Clown continues to climb towards the upper tier of horror movie baddies and Lauren LaVera has earned her spot as a legitimate scream queen. And all under the guidance of Damien Leone who looks to have a bonafide hit on his hands.

VERDICT – 3.5 STARS