Art the Clown

Last updated
Art the Clown
Terrifier character
Art the Clown Terrifier 2.jpg
David Howard Thornton as Art in Terrifier 2
First appearanceThe 9th Circle (2008)
Created by Damien Leone
Portrayed byMike Giannelli
(2008–2013)
David Howard Thornton
(2016–present)
In-universe information
Species Demon [1] [2]
Classification Mass murderer
Miles County, New York
Abilities
  • Superhuman Strength
  • Superhuman Durability
  • Murder methodology
  • Torture methodology
  • Immortality
  • Teleportation
Signature weapons Cat o' nine tails, scalpel, hacksaw, cleaver, gun, chainsaw, axe, rats, hammer, nitrogen

Art the Clown is a fictional character and the primary antagonist in the Terrifier franchise and related media. Created by Damien Leone, the character first appeared in the short films The 9th Circle (2008) and Terrifier (2011). Both shorts were included in the anthology film All Hallows' Eve (2013), which marked the character's feature film debut. In these early appearances, he was portrayed by Mike Giannelli before his retirement from acting. He was replaced by David Howard Thornton, who portrayed Art in Terrifier (2016), Terrifier 2 (2022), and Terrifier 3 (2024).

Contents

Art debuted as a background character in Leone's directorial debut short film to test out different horror concepts. Audiences responded most to Art, leading Leone to develop the character into a recurring slasher villain over the next decade. Art became a pop culture figure and iconic evil clown after the critical and commercial success of Terrifier 2. [3] The character's background remains ambiguous, although all of his appearances show him possessing supernatural abilities. His archenemy is the final girl Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera), with Leone writing Sienna and Art to reflect biblical undertones of good and evil.

Appearances

Film

Mike Giannelli as Art in the short film Terrifier (2011) Art the Clown.jpeg
Mike Giannelli as Art in the short film Terrifier (2011)

The character made his debut appearance in the short film The 9th Circle (2008), which follows his pursuit of a young woman named Casey (Kayla Lian) in an empty train station on Halloween night. Merely a supporting character in this film, Art abducts Casey and brings her to a satanic cult for a sacrifice to Satan. [4]

Art's second appearance was in the short film Terrifier (2011), where he stalks and torments a young woman who witnesses one of his murders at a gas station. [5]

The character made his feature-film debut in All Hallows' Eve (2013) [6] which incorporates the prior two short films as segments on VHS tapes that the film's protagonist Sarah (Katie Maguire) watches with the children she's babysitting on Halloween night. Art enters the real world and murders the children for a terrified Sarah to find. [7]

Art's second feature-film appearance was in the slasher film Terrifier (2016). In Terrifier, Art inhabits the fictitious Miles County, New York and pursues partygoer Tara Heyes (Jenna Kanell), her younger sister Vicky (Samantha Scaffidi) and her best friend Dawn Emerson (Catherine Corcoran) on Halloween night. After killing Tara and Dawn, he targets Vicky, the lone survivor. She fights against Art until he runs her over with a pickup truck and eats half of her face off, leaving her disfigured. Before he can kill her, the police confront him at gunpoint, and he commits suicide.

In Terrifier 2 (2022), a sinister entity known as the Little Pale Girl (Amelie McLain) resurrects Art and accompanies him in his pursuit of Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) and her younger brother, Jonathan (Elliot Fullam). Their father, Michael (Jason Patric) was an artist that died from a brain tumor. He envisioned Art and his victims in his sketches before they happened and drew Sienna as an angel-warrior-attired heroine designed to defeat Art and gave her a sword before his death. Sienna, who made a Halloween costume based on her father's sketches, battles Art in an abandoned carnival. Art is defeated after Sienna decapitates him with her father's sword. However, he is brought back to life after Vicky Heyes, who is in a mental hospital, gives birth to his living head as his new mother, and is possessed by the Little Pale Girl. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12]

Literature

Art the Clown was featured in a comic book adaptation of the 2016 film that retold the story over three books. [13] [14] [15] [16]

Concept and creation

Leone's idea of Art originated from his concept of a woman getting off work and taking the city bus home, where a clown gets on and sits across from her, taunting her. [17] He envisioned Art as a combination of being uncomfortable and comedic to viewers—but with the character becoming "progressively more intimidating and aggressive." [17] Art got incorporated into Leone's directorial debut, the short film "The 9th Circle" (2008), merely as a background character, as Leone states, "I threw in everything, clowns, witches, demons, monsters, everything up against the wall hoping something would stick." [17]

Art appeared next in Leone's follow-up film, the short film Terrifier (2011), which followed Art's pursuit of a costume designer that witnessed one of his murders at a gas station; he had a more substantial role in this film after people who viewed the "The 9th Circle" expressed interest about him to Leone. [17] Film producer Jesse Baget, who saw the short films on YouTube, approached Leone about including them in an anthology film. [17] Leone saw this as an opportunity to direct a feature film of Art, and he ultimately agreed. [17] It would evolve into All Hallows' Eve (2013) and included a wraparound story of a babysitter that becomes the target of Art after one of the children she's watching receives a VHS tape depicting Art after trick-or-treating. [17] This anthology film would further implicate Art being a supernatural entity, although his background remains ambiguous. [17] Actor Mike Giannelli, who is a friend of Leone, portrayed Art in all of these appearances before retiring from acting. [18] [19]

David Howard Thornton first played Art in the feature-length version of Terrifier David Howard Thornton (53039363451) (cropped).jpg
David Howard Thornton first played Art in the feature-length version of Terrifier

After the release of All Hallows' Eve, Leone wanted to create a feature-length film focusing solely on Art as he believed the 2010s lacked an iconic horror villain, particularly an original clown character. [18] He aimed to make Art the opposite of Pennywise the Dancing Clown both in characterization and appearance; Art is bald, does not speak, uses weapons, and wears black-and-white makeup and clothes. [18] Following Giannelli's retirement, David Howard Thornton was cast in the role. [20] [21] Leone describes the difference in casting as, "Mike may as well have been a guy dressed as a clown, whereas David is a clown. If you know him in person, he is a walking cartoon. He is Roger Rabbit in real life, and you'd never believe that he's Art the Clown, but he knows how to flip the switch and bring it to a dark place." [19] Thornton saw a posting on the digital casting website Actors Access for a "tall, skinny, comedic actor that had experience in clowning and comedy". [22] As he was familiar with Art the Clown through All Hallows' Eve, Thornton asked his agent to submit him for it; after improvising a kill scene during his audition, he got cast in the role. [22]

Reception

In a positive review for the magazine Starburst , Sol Harris wrote "Art is a truly enigmatic and memorable villain. He frequently veers into the territory of being genuinely unpleasant to watch, which makes him feel somewhat separate from the stable of horror icons such as Freddy Krueger and Chucky. Special acknowledgement should be given to David Howard Thornton for a truly wonderful performance and one that easily stands toe-to-toe with the likes of Curry and Skarsgård." [23] In a more middling review, the blog Film School Rejects praised Thornton's portrayal and use of body language but panned Terrifier and deemed the character a misogynist with "a deep hatred for women". [24]

In 2018, apparel company Terror Threads released a Christmas jumper depicting the character. [25] American rapper and singer Ghostemane cites the character as influence for his studio album ANTI-ICON (2020). [26] David Howard Thornton later reprised the role of Art the Clown in the 2023 comedy series Bupkis in the episode, "Show Me the Way". [27] [28] In Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III , Art appears in an event called "The Haunting". [29] A song by Ice Nine Kills based on the character called "A Work of Art" is featured in the third film Terrifier 3 . [30]

In December 2024, it was announced that David Howard Thornton would appear as Art the Clown in Art the Clown Eulogy Log , set to be released on December 24, 2024. [31] Art is set to appear as a playable character in the 2025 video game, Terrifier: The ARTcade Game . [32] [33]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evil clown</span> Pop culture trope and horror staple

The evil clown, also known as the creepy clown, scary clown or killer clown, is a subversion of the traditional comic clown character, in which the playful trope is instead depicted in a more disturbing nature through the use of horror elements and dark humor. The modern archetype of the evil clown was popularized by the DC Comics supervillain Joker starting in 1940, and again in 1980s by Pennywise from Stephen King's It. The character can be seen as playing on the sense of unease felt by sufferers of coulrophobia, the fear of clowns.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Todd</span> American actor (1954–2024)

Anthony TiranTodd was an American actor. He was best known for playing the titular character in the Candyman film series (1992–2021) and William Bludworth in the Final Destination franchise (2000–2025). For the former, he was nominated at the Critics' Choice and Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.

"Five Characters in Search of an Exit" is episode 79 of the television anthology series The Twilight Zone. It originally aired on December 22, 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Final girl</span> Trope in slasher horror films

The final girl or survivor girl is a trope in horror films. It refers to the last girl(s) or woman alive to confront the killer, ostensibly the one left to tell the story. The final girl has been observed in many films, notable examples being Psycho, Voices of Desire, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Halloween, Alien, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Scream, and Terrifier 2. The term "final girl" was coined by Carol J. Clover in her article "Her Body, Himself: Gender in the Slasher Film" (1987). Clover suggested that in these films, the viewer began by sharing the perspective of the killer, but experienced a shift in identification to the final girl partway through the film.

<i>All Hallows Eve</i> (2013 film) 2013 film by Damien Leone

All Hallows' Eve is a 2013 American horror anthology film written, edited, and directed by Damien Leone. The film is presented as a series of shorts that two children and their babysitter discover on an unmarked videotape on Halloween night, all of which feature a homicidal clown named Art the Clown. The film stars Katie Maguire, Catherine Callahan, Marie Maser, and Kayla Lian, with Mike Giannelli as Art the Clown. It incorporates footage from the 2008 short film The 9th Circle, as well as the 2011 short film Terrifier, both of which were also directed by Leone and featured Art the Clown.

<i>Terrifier</i> 2016 film by Damien Leone

Terrifier is a 2016 American slasher film written, edited, co-produced, and directed by Damien Leone. The film stars Jenna Kanell, Samantha Scaffidi, Catherine Corcoran, and David Howard Thornton. The plot centers on partygoer Tara Heyes (Kanell) and her sister Victoria (Scaffidi), who become targets of the enigmatic serial killer known only as Art the Clown (Thornton) on Halloween night.

<i>Jack Attack</i> (film) 2013 American film

Jack Attack is a 2013 American short holiday horror film about a babysitter, her charge Jack, and parasitic pumpkins, written and directed by Bryan Norton and Antonio Padovan, who were also responsible, respectively, for special make-up and mechanical effects, and set design. The short was selected by more than a hundred festivals internationally and won more than thirty awards, and was selected for two anthology films in the US: Seven Hells (2014), and All Hallows' Eve 2 (2015).

Samantha Scaffidi is an American actress, writer, and director. She began her career in short films before becoming known for her role as Victoria Heyes in the Terrifier film franchise—appearing in Terrifier (2016), Terrifier 2 (2022) and Terrifier 3 (2024). She had a leading role as Luce in Demon Hole (2017). In addition to acting, Scaffidi is known for directing the RAINN public service announcement Wait (2019).

<i>Terrifier 2</i> 2022 film by Damien Leone

Terrifier 2 is a 2022 American supernatural slasher film written, edited, and directed by Damien Leone. It is the sequel to Terrifier (2016) and the second installment in the Terrifier film series. It includes the return of David Howard Thornton and Samantha Scaffidi, who portrayed Art the Clown and Victoria Heyes, respectively, in the first film, and stars Lauren LaVera, Elliott Fullam, Sarah Voigt, Kailey Hyman, and Casey Hartnett. The plot follows Art's resurrection and pursuit on Halloween night of teenage Sienna Shaw (LaVera), who discovers that she is destined to defeat him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sienna Shaw</span> Character in the Terrifier film series

Sienna Shaw is a fictional character and the main protagonist of the Terrifier franchise. Sienna first appears in Terrifier 2 (2022) as a teenager interested in cosplay who battles the enigmatic villain Art the Clown. She is portrayed by Lauren LaVera, who will reprise the role in further installments. Sienna's creator, Damien Leone, invested a lot of time into fully developing her as a character as he regretted leaving the first film's heroine Victoria Heyes underdeveloped. The character originates from an abandoned film Leone was developing in the late 2000s, featuring the concept of a Valkyrie-angel warrior attired heroine battling Art.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damien Leone</span> American film director, special effects artist, writer and producer

Damien Leone is an American filmmaker, film editor, and special effects artist. He is best known for writing and directing All Hallows' Eve (2013), Terrifier (2016), Terrifier 2 (2022), and Terrifier 3 (2024), each of which feature his character Art the Clown.

<i>Stream</i> (film) 2024 film by Michael Leavy

Stream is a 2024 American slasher film co-produced, co-written and directed by Michael Leavy, and starring Jeffrey Combs, Charles Edwin Powell, Tim Reid, Dee Wallace, Wesley Holloway, Sydney Malakeh, Jason Leavy, David Howard Thornton, Liana Pirraglia, Mark Haynes, Daniel Roebuck, Mark Holton, Felissa Rose, Danielle Harris, Tim Curry, and Tony Todd in his final film during his lifetime. It tells the story of a family vacationing at a small hotel as its apparent owner unleashes four masked killers on them while live-streaming the activities.

Terrifier is an American horror media franchise created by Damien Leone and consisting of slasher films, comic books, novels, and video games. The franchise mainly focuses on Sienna Shaw, a young woman destined to defeat the enigmatic Art the Clown, a demonic serial killer that inhabits the fictitious Miles County, New York. Additionally, the series follows the Little Pale Girl, a sinister entity accompanying Art, and Victoria Heyes, a disfigured survivor struggling with her mental health who the Little Pale Girl possesses, becoming Art's accomplice.

<i>All Hallows Eve 2</i> 2015 anthology film

All Hallows' Eve 2 is a 2015 American horror anthology film. The film is a standalone sequel to All Hallows' Eve (2013). The film was released on VOD and digital on October 6, 2015, and had a DVD release on February 2, 2016. The film grossed $31,603 in home sales.

<i>The Mean One</i> 2022 film by Steven LaMorte

The Mean One is a 2022 American Christmas horror film directed by Steven LaMorte from a screenplay written by Flip and Finn Kobler. It is a horror retelling of Dr. Seuss' 1957 children's book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, and stars Krystle Martin, Chase Mullins, John Bigham, Erik Baker, Flip Kobler, and Amy Schumacher, with David Howard Thornton as the eponymous character. It follows a young woman as she attempts to defend her childhood town from a green-skinned creature who goes on a murderous rampage during the holiday season.

<i>Bupkis</i> (TV series) American television series

Bupkis is an American comedy drama television series created by and starring Pete Davidson. It premiered on Peacock on May 4, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren LaVera</span> American actress

Lauren LaVera is an American actress, stunt performer, martial artist, and writer. Following her breakthrough role as the resourceful heroine Sienna Shaw in the Terrifier franchise, she has become primarily known for her work within the horror genre. LaVera has received accolades for her performances, such as a Fangoria Chainsaw Award.

<i>Terrifier 3</i> 2024 film by Damien Leone

Terrifier 3 is a 2024 American Christmas supernatural slasher film written, edited, and directed by Damien Leone. It is the sequel to Terrifier 2 (2022) and the third installment in the Terrifier film series. The film stars David Howard Thornton, Lauren LaVera, Elliott Fullam, and Samantha Scaffidi. On the days leading up to Christmas, Sienna Shaw attempts to rebuild her life, while pursued by Art the Clown alongside his new accomplice, a possessed Victoria Heyes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria Heyes</span> Main character in the Terrifier series

Victoria Heyes is a fictional character in the Terrifier franchise. Initially a heroine, Victoria first appears in Terrifier (2016) as a college student who is left facially disfigured and driven insane after narrowly escaping the serial killer Art the Clown on Halloween night. The sequels follow her becoming possessed. She is portrayed by Samantha Scaffidi, who reprises the role in Terrifier 2 (2022) and Terrifier 3 (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Howard Thornton</span> American actor (born 1979)

David Howard Thornton is an American actor. He is known for his role as Art the Clown from the Terrifier franchise, a role in which he appeared in Terrifier (2016), Mistress Peace Theatre (2020), Terrifier 2 (2022), Bupkis (2023), and Terrifier 3 (2024). He has had other various roles in film, television, and video games, including Two Worlds II: Pirates of the Flying Fortress (2011), Ride to Hell: Retribution (2013), Invizimals: The Lost Kingdom (2013), Gotham (2017), The Bravest Knight (2019), The Exigency (2019), Alma's Way (2021), and starring as the Mean One in The Mean One (2022).

References

  1. ↑ Frew, Cameron (October 25, 2024). "Is Art the Clown a demon? Terrifier 3 '9th Circle' theory explained" . Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  2. ↑ Dubiel, Bill (October 18, 2024). "Is Art the Clown A Demon?" . Retrieved October 31, 2024.
  3. ↑ Hollman, Raquel (October 11, 2023). "Terrifier's Art the Clown Is the Horror Icon of the 2020s". Collider. Archived from the original on May 14, 2023. Retrieved May 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ Damien Leone (Director) (2008). The 9th Circle (DVD). United States.
  5. ↑ Damien Leone (Director) (2011). Terrifier (DVD). United States: D&D Films LLC.
  6. ↑ All Hallows' Eve, archived from the original on 2024-07-11, retrieved 2020-03-31
  7. ↑ Damien Leone (Director) (2013). All Hallows' Eve (DVD). United States: Ruthless Pictures.
  8. ↑ Squires, John (May 12, 2022). "'Terrifier 2': Damien Leone Previews Gruesome Return of 'Terrifier' Character". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  9. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (June 30, 2022). "Genre Streamer Screambox & Bloody Disgusting Acquire "Ultra Gory" Slasher Movie 'Terrifier 2'". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on June 30, 2022. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  10. ↑ Tinnin, Drew (October 28, 2022). "Director Damien Leone Regrets How Terrifier Treated One Of Its Central Characters". /Film . Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved March 31, 2023.
  11. ↑ Davis, Maddie (October 27, 2022). "How Terrifier 2's Post-Credits Scene Sets up a Third Film". Comic Book Resources . Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  12. ↑ Oddo, Marco Vito (October 28, 2022). "'Terrifier 2' Ending Explained: Evil Cannot Die". Collider . Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  13. ↑ "OFFICIAL THREE-ISSUE TERRIFIER COMIC SERIES IS COMING". screamhorrormag.com. 18 August 2020. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  14. ↑ Squires, John (13 August 2020). "COMICS'Terrifier': Official Three-Issue Comic Book Series in the Works". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  15. ↑ Marshall, Andrew (18 August 2020). "Terrifier Comic Book Series On The Way To Precede Terrifier 2". We Got This Covered. Archived from the original on 14 April 2023. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  16. ↑ Squires, John (June 21, 2021). "Official 'Terrifier' Comic Book Now Available While You Wait for 'Terrifier 2'". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on October 17, 2023. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Bilodeau, Matthew (January 20, 2023). "How Terrifier's Art The Clown Was Created". /Film . Archived from the original on 2 August 2024. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 Taylor, Nick (July 2, 2018). "Horror Business: The Making of Damien Leone's TERRIFIER". Dread Central . Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  19. 1 2 Whittaker, Richard (September 23, 2022). "How Art the Clown Became a Horror Icon". The Austin Chronicle . Archived from the original on 2024-09-19. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  20. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (May 31, 2023). "'Terrifier 3': Details Revealed For Bigger Budget Threequel After Second Film's Box Office Breakout". Deadline . Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  21. ↑ Miska, Brad (May 31, 2023). "'Terrifier 3' Is Officially Happening and Will Continue to Push Boundaries!". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  22. 1 2 Boiselle, Matt (March 25, 2018). "Interview: David Howard Thornton Steps Into The Big Shoes Of Art The Clown". Dread Central . Archived from the original on 30 September 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  23. ↑ Harris, Sol (28 March 2018). "TERRIFIER". Starburst. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  24. ↑ "'Terrifier' Review: Please Do Not Send In The Clowns". Film School Rejects. 23 October 2019. Archived from the original on 27 August 2024. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  25. ↑ Millican, Josh (November 14, 2018). "Terror Threads' Line of Ugly Christmas Sweaters Includes TERRIFIER's Art the Clown". Dread Central . Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  26. ↑ Shand, Lauren (October 23, 2020). "[Podcast] Ghostemane Talks 'Anti-Icon' and Horror Influences With The Boo Crew". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved February 10, 2022.
  27. ↑ Squires, John (April 13, 2023). "Art the Clown from 'Terrifier' Appears in New Pete Davidson Series "Bupkis"?! [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on September 19, 2024. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  28. ↑ Staff, Staten Island Advance (April 14, 2023). "Pete Davidson debuts new 'Bupkis' trailer; one guest star is a real 'Terrifier'". Staten Island Advance . Retrieved April 15, 2023.
  29. ↑ Wilson, Mike (2024-09-10). ""The Haunting" Event for 'Modern Warfare III' Brings Art the Clown, Michael Myers and More on September 18 [Trailer]". Bloody Disgusting!. Archived from the original on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-10.
  30. ↑ Squires, John (2024-09-16). "Official 'Terrifier 3' Music Video from Ice Nine Kills Slashing into Fantastic Fest & AMC Theatres!". Bloody Disgusting!. Archived from the original on 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  31. ↑ Miska, Brad (December 2, 2024). "SCREAMBOX December Streaming Line-Up Includes New 'Street Trash', 'Deus Irae', & Art the Clown Eulogy Log!". ComicBook.com . Archived from the original on December 2, 2024. Retrieved December 2, 2024.
  32. ↑ Wilson, Mike (November 21, 2024). "'Terrifier: The ARTcade Game' Unleashes Bloody New Gameplay Trailer [Watch]". Bloody Disgusting . Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  33. ↑ Nash, Anthony (November 21, 2024). "Terrifier Video Game Gets Gory Gameplay Trailer, Shows Off Co-Op Play". ComingSoon. Archived from the original on November 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.