Director of 2024's most 'messed up' horror shares the one film that 'terrifies' him

A slasher film so extreme it caused audience walk-outs, vomiting and panic attacks at preview screenings is finally out in UK cinemas today (October 11).

Terrifier 3 has been branded one of the most 'messed up' releases of the year and is currently on track to beat Hollywood heavyweight Joker: Folie à Deux at the US box office over its opening weekend, despite being made for a fraction of the budget.

The latest entry in the Terrifier franchise picks up just after the events of Terrifier 2, reacquainting audiences with siblings Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) and her little brother Jonathan (Elliott Fullam), as they attempt to rebuild their lives after coming face-to-face with supernatural serial killer Art the Clown (portrayed by David Howard Thornton).

The film series is renowned for pushing the boundaries of gore and the newest release is no exception. Discussion about one gross-out scene involving two lovers in a shower block and a chainsaw swept the internet even before the film was officially released, with the movie's opening minutes truly testing the mettle of cinema-goers.

Given the extreme gore on show, is there anything that can unsettle Terrifier's creator, Damien Leone? Speaking to The Mirror, the writer and director opened up about the films that get under his skin.

"The Exorcist is absolutely terrifying. I still think that's the scariest movie ever made," he shared. "When I was younger, zombies freaked me out. That's still my favourite sub-genre."

He continued: "There's a lot of movies, but over the years it's getting harder and harder to scare me because I know how the illusions are created, you know? I'm the guy behind the curtain at this point but I'm still so impressed with other people's films.

"The newest movie I saw in the horror genre was The Menu, a long time ago now, which I was obsessed with. It's one of my favourite recent horror movies, and Saltburn, that one was sick. But I'm very far behind, I haven't seen Longlegs. I want to see The Substance."

A fourth Terrifier film has been given the green light, news that Leone confirmed weeks before Terrifier 3 was even out in cinemas. While a script is yet to be written, the director confirmed he had already thought up a 'couple' of ideas for show-stopping kills that could beat those shown in the third instalment.

Terrifier 3 is out now in UK cinemas