I have to start by saying a really important fact about me… I LOVE scary movies. It is by far my favorite genre. I’ve even been quoted as saying “I hate when something has a happy ending”. You get the picture. What interests me so much about horror is the sheer vastness of it. Anything can be considered scary and different things scare different people. There’s ghosts, demons, witches, psychological horror, kidnappings, and of course, slashers. And no film in recent history has solidified itself as a tried-and-true slasher than Damien Leone’s Terrifier series.
From the beginning, Terrifier seemed like it would be… a lot… and it is. Art the Clown will go down in history as one of the worst horror movie killers of all time. No woman, man, or child is safe from his bag of weapons and supernatural tricks. The movies are a bloody and violent good time. If you’re into that sort of thing :) .
However, this article isn’t about the deep, thought-provoking plot points of Terrifier (I am actually very interested in seeing if Sienna is able to rescue Gabbie from hell by the way). It’s about the genius of the series and how it went from an obscure slasher to breaking indie records and shaking up the entertainment industry. I never expected there to be three (and counting) Terrifier movies. Usually unrated movies this graphic are pretty niche and attract more of an underground audience. But by keeping production costs low and word of mouth marketing, the Terrifier series has continued to grow in both theater presence and attracted audiences. I saw older men, middle-aged women, and young teenagers coming to watch the film and all seemed to enjoy it. For those that don’t believe me, the proof is in the pudding. Terrifier 3, released in October of this year, made over $85 million dollars against a $2 million budget, making it the highest-grossing unrated film of all time. This is great news for horror, for slashers, for indie films, and for Hollywood itself!
Since the beginning of films and television, the horror genre has often does not receive the respect it’s due. The genre is often snubbed at award shows, only given limited theatrical releases, and rarely receives the funding it deserves. It’s as if Hollywood believes it’s a throwaway genre or something to be made fun of versus one of the most poignant forms of social commentary and community engagement we have. Everyone can relate to being scared - terrified even. Although plenty of horror films have made a lot of money and are very popular, it’s rare that the genre is respected like dramas or action films. With successes like the movies Get Out, Hereditary, Talk To Me, and Smile 1 and 2 and shows like Haunting of Hill House, The Fall of the House of Usher, and FROM, horror is forcing that narrative to change and demanding the respect (and funding) it deserves. The Terrifier series has sealed that deal and the financial and cultural profit to be gained from investing in horror can no longer be denied.
I believe in the saying “a rising tide lifts all boats”. I believe that the success of this unrated indie film will open countless doors for future indies. The passion, talent, and quality of films are rarely the issue. The lack of funding is the struggle many filmmakers face to get their stories told or seen by large audiences. The original Terrifier movie went straight to video. The most recent one was in theaters for months and made over 40x its budget. How many other indies has the public missed out on simply because they weren’t given a chance in front of wide audiences?
Another important aspect of Terrifier’s success is that it stayed true to Damien Leone’s vision. Leone had to remain independent to truly get this story told because major studios were asking him to tone down the gore, the very thing that had everyone talking about the movie! Coralie Faegeat, writer and director of The Substance, another indie film that was both a critical and commercial success, was reportedly asked by Universal Studios to make certain edits that she refused. By staying true to her vision, The Substance earned over $66 million on a $17.5 million budget. When are major studios going to take the hint?
My unsolicited advice for the studios? Wake up! Times are changing. Stories need to be told and they will be told no matter what. Through Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, and independent film companies, unique and diverse stories are making their way slowly but surely to the public sphere. Not only are we in a horror renaissance, but an indie renaissance as well. Filmmakers are no longer letting disconnected suits tell them what their purpose and passion should be. And it’s working! Talk To Me made $92.2 million against a $4.5 million budget. Longlegs made $126 million on a budget of less than $10 million, making it the highest-grossing independent film of the year. Late Night With The Devil made $15 million and only spent $150,000 on VFX. Independent production and distribution companies like A24, Neon, MUBI, and Cineverse are making money hand over fist while maintaining strong creator relationships by allowing filmmakers to maintain creative control. They are expertly bridging the gap between art and business and giving filmmakers a safe place to create and distribute outside of the rigidness of the studio system.
Indie films and horror show no sign of slowing down and audiences are craving more. Major studios can either see the open landscape in front of them and trust horror filmmakers and their visions or they can continue to leave millions of dollars and cultural relevance on the table.
And I find that terrifying!
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