Damien Leone

Last updated
Damien Leone
Damien Leone Photo Op Animate Nightmare Weekend Des Moines 2024.jpg
Leone in 2024
Occupations
  • Filmmaker
  • film editor
  • special effects artist
Known for
Terrifier franchise

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. [1]

Contents

Career

In 2016, Terrifier was released. Among other credits, Leone wrote and directed the film, which eventually became a cult film and for which he was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Makeup FX. [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] In 2022, Leone returned for the sequel, Terrifier 2 . Terrifier 2 was received favorably by critics and was a hit at the box office, grossing more than $15 million on a $250,000 budget. [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] [14] Leone was again nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award Best Makeup FX, for his work on Terrifier 2, which he later won. [15] [16]

Leone next directed and wrote Terrifier 3 and co-produced Stream , both 2024 films for which he also provided special effects. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] Terrifier 4, which Leone has said could possibly be the conclusion of the franchise, is currently in the works. [25]

Personal life

Leone grew up in the Great Kills section of Staten Island, New York. [26]

In October 2025, nearly ten years after the film's release, actress Catherine Corcoran, who appeared in the first Terrifier film, filed a federal lawsuit against Leone and producer Phil Falcone claiming both producers shortchanged her on promised residuals for the film and used her on-screen nudity without her consent. A lawyer for Leone and Falcone said, “Damien and Phil deny the claims in the complaint and will vigorously defend this lawsuit.” [27] [28]

Filmography

YearFilmDirectorWriterProducerEditorMakeup/Special EffectsNotesReferences
2005LoveNoNoNoNoYes [29]
2008The 9th CircleYesYesYesNoYesShort film, first appearance of Art the Clown
2011TerrifierYesYesYesYesYesShort film
2013 All Hallows' Eve YesYesYesYesYesAnthology film [30] [31]
2015 Frankenstein vs. The Mummy YesYesNoYesYes [32] [33]
Laugh Killer LaughNoNoNoNoYes [29]
All Hallows' Eve 2 NoNoYesNoNoAnthology film [34]
2016 Terrifier YesYesYesYesYes [35]
2022 Terrifier 2 YesYesYesYesYes [36]
2024 Stream NoNoYesNoYes [37] [38]
Terrifier 3 YesYesYesYesYes [17] [18] [19] [22] [23] [39]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNominated workResultReferences
2011ShockerFestAudience Choice AwardTerrifierWon
2012Louisville Fright Night Film FestBest "Grindhouse" FilmWon
2015 Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards Best Independent Film Frankenstein vs. The Mummy Nominated
2019 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Limited Release Terrifier Nominated [2]
Best Makeup FXNominated
2022Greater Western New York Film Critics Association AwardsBreakthrough Director Terrifier 2 Nominated [40]
2023Fangoria Chainsaw AwardsBest Makeup FXWon [15] [16]

References

  1. ↑ "Horror Feature: Interview with Damien Leone director of Terrifier". Horror Channel. Archived from the original on 2020-11-10. Retrieved 2020-10-30.
  2. 1 2 Barkan, Jonathan (January 22, 2019). "Fangoria Resurrects the Chainsaw Awards and Dread Central Presents' TERRIFIER Snagged Three Nominations!". Dread Central . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  3. ↑ Miska, Brad (September 1, 2022). "'Terrifier' – Original Cult Classic Slasher Is Now Streaming on SCREAMBOX!". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  4. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (June 30, 2022). "Genre Streamer Screambox & Bloody Disgusting Acquire "Ultra Gory" Slasher Movie 'Terrifier 2'". Deadline . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  5. ↑ Donato, Matt (September 23, 2022). "Terrifier 2 Review". IGN . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  6. ↑ Jackson, Matthew (October 4, 2022). "Terrifier 2 Basks in the Glory of Its Own Overkill". Paste . Archived from the original on April 14, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  7. ↑ Collis, Clark (October 14, 2022). "Terrifier 2 director reacts to reports that horror sequel is making people throw up and faint". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  8. ↑ Tinnin, Drew (October 28, 2022). "Director Damien Leone Regrets How Terrifier Treated One Of Its Central Characters". /Film . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Terrifier 2 (2022)". Rotten Tomatoes . 6 October 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Terrifier 2". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  11. ↑ Miska, Brad (October 6, 2022). "Photos from the 'Terrifier 2' Red Carpet Premiere in New York City!". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  12. ↑ Sharf, Zack (October 18, 2023). "'Terrifier 2' Is Making Moviegoers Vomit and Pass Out, but Its Director Says: 'I Don't Want People Getting Hurt. It's Surreal'". Variety . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ Pallotta, Frank (October 31, 2022). "Why horror films kill at the box office all year round". CNN . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  14. ↑ Bilodeau, Matthew (November 7, 2022). "Terrifier 2 Was Just As Brutal To Film As It Was To Watch". /Film . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  15. 1 2 Gilchrist, Todd (January 27, 2023). "Jordan Peele's 'Nope,' Ti West's 'Pearl' Lead Fangoria's Chainsaw Award Nominations". Variety . Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards (May 22, 2023). "Winners - Fangoria Chainsaw Awards". Fangoria Chainsaw Awards . Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Fleetwood, Cullen (April 9, 2019). "[Interview] David Howard Thornton Teases 'Terrifier 2' and Says Script for 'Terrifier 3' is Already Underway". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  18. 1 2 Jacobs, Eammon (February 2, 2023). "'Terrifier' director Damien Leone teases 'Terrifier 3' and a potential 4th film, and says he's met with 'Evil Dead' director Sam Raimi about a new project". Insider . Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Bilodeau, Matthew (February 3, 2023). "Damien Leone Is Writing Terrifier 3, And Then Hopes To Work With Sam Raimi". /Film . Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  20. ↑ Miska, Brad (December 5, 2022). "'Stream' – Guitarist Paul Wiley to Score New Horror Movie from the Producers of 'Terrifier'! [Exclusive]". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved April 14, 2023.
  21. ↑ Squires, John (July 27, 2022). "'Stream' – Fresh Look at New Horror Movie from the Producers of 'Terrifier' [Exclusive]". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  22. 1 2 Wiseman, Andreas (May 31, 2023). "'Terrifier 3': Details Revealed For Bigger Budget Threequel After Second Film's Box Office Breakout". Deadline . Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  23. 1 2 Miska, Brad (May 31, 2023). "'Terrifier 3' Is Officially Happening and Will Continue to Push Boundaries!". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  24. ↑ Miska, Brad (June 2, 2023). "'Stream' Poster Puts Skin In the Game!". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  25. ↑ Melzer, James (May 30, 2025). "Creator of 2024's Most Shocking Horror Hit Promises to Finally Give Fans What They Want in "Epic" Sequel". Movie Web. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  26. ↑ Jones-Gorman, Jessica (October 15, 2022). "New horror flick, written, produced by Staten Islanders, gets national attention for causing viewers to vomit and faint". Staten Island Advance. Retrieved October 21, 2024.
  27. ↑ Li, David K. (October 29, 2025). "'Terrifier' star Catherine Corcoran says producers shortchanged her, filmed her nude without written permission". NBC News . Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  28. ↑ Foreman, Alison (October 27, 2025). "'Terrifier' Actress Sues for Breach of Contract, Alleges Extreme Sexual Harassment in Claim". Indiewire . Retrieved October 30, 2025.
  29. 1 2 Turner Classic Movies. "Damien Leone - Turner Classic Movies". Turner Classic Movies . Archived from the original on August 22, 2024. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  30. ↑ Koestner, Madeleine (November 8, 2013). ""All Hallows' Eve" (DVD Review)". Fangoria . Archived from the original on October 19, 2014. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  31. ↑ McHargue, Brad (October 15, 2013). "All Hallows' Eve (DVD)". Dread Central . Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  32. ↑ Dee, Jake (February 2, 2015). "Frankenstein vs. The Mummy (Movie Review)". Joblo.com. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  33. ↑ Willis, JM (February 20, 2015). "Frankenstein Vs The Mummy DVD Review". Shock Ya!. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
  34. ↑ "All Hallows' Eve 2". Rotten Tomatoes. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
  35. ↑ "Terrifier (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes . 15 March 2018. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
  36. ↑ Joseph, Matt (24 July 2020). "Watch: Art The Clown Returns In First Terrifier 2 Trailer". We Got This Covered. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  37. ↑ Squires, John (September 10, 2021). "From the Team Behind 'Terrifier 2' Comes Horror Movie 'Stream' Starring Danielle Harris and Jeffrey Combs!". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  38. ↑ Miska, Brad (December 5, 2022). "'Stream' – Guitarist Paul Wiley to Score New Horror Movie from the Producers of 'Terrifier'! [Exclusive]". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved March 29, 2023.
  39. ↑ Squires, John (November 2, 2023). "'Terrifier 3' Will Slay Christmas in Theaters on October 25, 2024!". Bloody Disgusting . Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  40. ↑ Anderson, Erik (December 30, 2022). "2022 Greater Western New York Film Critics Association winners". AwardsWatch. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
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