Horror Film 'Terrifier 3' Causes Walkouts In UK And French Ratings ...

David Howard Thornton in "Terrifier 3."

Terrifier 3—the latest chapter in a shock horror movie series that made Art the Clown a slasher icon—is already stirring up trouble overseas.

Directed by Damien Leone—who helmed the first two Terrifier films—Terrifier 3 is set to be released domestically on October 11. David Howard Thornton, who originated the role of Art the Clown in 2016’s Terrifier, was back for Terrifier 2 in 2022 and reprises the role for Terrifier 3.

Terrifier 3 premiered in the UK on Wednesday. On Thursday, the film’s UK distributor Signature Entertainment posted on X how the audience at the premiere reacted to the film’s excessive violence and excessive gore.

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“Thank you to everyone joining us last night for the Terrifier 3 gala,” Signature Entertainment wrote in the post. “Venue staff have reported 11 people walking out and 1 person vomiting.”

Per the horror-themed film and TV site Bloody Disgusting, nine premiere attendees walked out before the 10-minute mark in the film.

On Friday, the Film Classification Committee in France took the initiative of imposing a ratings ban on the film so it cannot be attended by anyone under 18 years of age—a rating akin to an NC-17 classification from the Motion Picture Association in the U.S.

Terrifier 3’s French Film Distributor issued a statement about the decision by French film officials (via horror magazine site Fangoria), which reads in part, “We can only deplore this unexpected final decision, which will seriously hamper the release of the film, awaited by tens of thousands of French viewers and scheduled for October 9 (and of course maintained).

“Terrifier 3 is a film d’auteur in the purest tradition of the slasher genre, with perfectly ‘grand-guignolesque’ and unrealistic violence. The film never takes itself too seriously, and we know that viewers will have the necessary distance and maturity to understand and appreciate this artistic approach.”

According to Fangoria, the under-18 ratings ban in France marks the first time the country has labeled a horror movie with the ratings classification since Saw 3 in 2006.

Terrifier 3 will be distributed unrated by Cineverse in North America.

David Howard Thornton in "Terrifier 3."

The official logline for Terrifier 3 reads, “After surviving Art the Clown's Halloween massacre, Sienna (Lauren LeVera) and her brother are struggling to rebuild their shattered lives. As the holiday season approaches, they try to embrace the Christmas spirit and leave the horrors of the past behind.

“But just when they think they're safe, Art the Clown returns, determined to turn their holiday cheer into a new nightmare. The festive season quickly unravels as Art unleashes his twisted brand of terror, proving that no holiday is safe.”

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Rotten Tomatoes critics who have reviewed Terrifier 3 after screening the movie at film festival screenings have given the movie an 88% “fresh” rating based on 16 reviews.

The RT Audience Score, which is tabulated by verified user ratings, is still pending.

Terrifier 3 opens in theaters domestically on October 11.

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