Art the Clown and the Terrifier franchise are back to scaring audiences silly.
After Terrifier 3, the latest in filMMAker Damien Leone’s horror-slasher series revolving around the sadistic killer clown, held a premiere in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, Oct. 2, film distributor Signature Entertainment wrote on X that staff at the movie theater “reported 11 people walking out and 1 person vomiting” during the screening.
“If the #Terrifier3 event impacted you please let us know if you need more support at this time,” the distribution company added in its statement. The message was shared along with a post from the movie’s official X account that showed an image displaying a warning for “extreme violence and excessive gore.” “If you are feeling unwell, please find a member of staff. Staff trained in first aid are on site,” it read.
Separately, LADbible reported that 11 audience members walked out during the movie and that nine of those people left during the film’s opening scene. The outlet also claimed that one audience member vomited, citing the public relations team working on Terrifier 3.
FilMMAker Leone shared that article in a post on his X account in which he wrote that he “did personally witness some crazy stuff at this UK screening.”
Reports of audience members walking out and growing ill during Terrifier screenings are nothing new for the franchise, which began with 2016’s original. The movies are independently financed by Cineverse and its subsidiary Bloody Disgusting, the horror genre-themed website and production company. 2022’s Terrifier 2 saw a reported major increase in its box office performance that appeared related to reports of audience members passing out and vomiting at screenings.
Leone even took to social media in October 2022 to claim that those reports were “100% legit” in response to some who claimed tales of audience members growing unwell were part ofTerrifier‘s marketing plan.
In France, minors under age 18 have been banned from admittance into Terrifier 3 screenings; a press release for the film described the ban as “the equivalent of” the United States’ NC-17 rating. Terrifier 3‘s U.S. release is unrated.
The Terrifier movies largely revolve around Art the Clown as he terrorizes teenagers, with actress Lauren LaVera taking a leading role in the second and third movies. The latest movie in the series is set on Christmas Eve.
Leone confirmed that he will make a fourth entry in the series ahead of the movie’s premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin, Texas on Sept. 19, according to Variety.
Terrifier 3 releases in theaters Oct. 11.
