Terrifier

The 2016 American low-budget slasher film, directed by Damien Leone, expands upon the character of Art the Clown, previously featured in the short films "The 9th Circle" (2008) and "Terrifier" (2011), as well as the movie "All Hallows' Eve" (2013). The plot centers on Tara Heyes (Jenna Kanell) and her sister Victoria (Samantha Scaffidi), who find themselves trapped in an abandoned apartment building, hunted by the sadistic Art the Clown (David Howard Thornton). Leone initially attempted to fund the feature-length film through an Indiegogo campaign, but after it fell short, he secured financing from producer Phil Falcone. Mike Giannelli, who portrayed Art in previous films, had retired from acting, leading to Thornton's casting. The film's budget ranged from $35,000 to $55,000. It premiered at the Telluride Horror Show film festival in October 2016. The movie received generally positive reviews from critics and initiated a media franchise. Sequels, "Terrifier 2" and "Terrifier 3," were released in 2022 and 2024, respectively.