After inducing vomit and walkouts during its UK premiere, Terrifier 3 has received a rare ban in France due to its graphic content.
The third film in Damien Leone’s revered horror franchise sees the iconic Art The Clown (David Howard Thornton) return to Miles County five years after the events of the second film ready to wreak havoc at Christmas time.
After surviving Art’s reign of terror, Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) has been in and out of medical facilities as she attempts to deal with her trauma, with her life turned upside down as she senses Art’s return.
Ahead of the film’s release on October 11, France’s film classification committee have given it an under-18s ban, the first of its kind in almost 20 years.
The last time a film released in France received this level of restriction was in 2006 with the release of Darren Lynn Bousman’s Saw 3.
Horror films in France ordinarily receive the maximum of an under-16 ban, with an under-18 ban reserved for the most extreme of films.
Speaking to Bloody Disgusting, Terrifier’s French distributors ESC Éditions, Shadowz Films and Factoris Films released a joint statement condemning the decision.
‘We can only deplore this unexpected final decision, which will seriously hamper the release of the film, awaited by tens of thousands of French viewers and scheduled for October 9 (and of course maintained). Terrifier 3 is a film d’auteur in the purest tradition of the slasher genre, with perfectly “grand-guignolesque” and unrealistic violence,’ they said.
‘The film never takes itself too seriously, and we know that viewers will have the necessary distance and maturity to understand and appreciate this artistic approach.’
They went on to defend the hard work of the team behind Terrifier as well as the distribution companies to bring this film to audiences.
‘In addition, for over 2 years now, we’ve been working daily and tirelessly to defend free, creative and radical genre cinema, systematically acclaimed by the press and audiences alike,’ the statement continued.
‘The audience for these films, even teenagers, is a passionate cinephile, respectful of the works and the cinemas that show them.
‘The history of genre cinema, its excesses and outrages, is intimately linked to the history of cinema itself. Restricting access to audiences will always be a serious decision with a disturbing message, isolating authors and distancing them from their public.’
And horror fans have also slammed the ‘ridiculous’ decision of the classification board as ‘insane.’
‘Considering how horrible some new French extremity films are, this seems weird to me,’ doodlols wrote on Reddit, referring to a film movement in France that includes shocking titles such as Martyrs, Inside, and Irréversible.
Bobbert84 added: ‘This really upsets me. Why is it they didn’t ban minors from T2? And why is Saw 3 in this category?’
Others pointed out that the first two films did not receive this censorship, as well as other graphic films released this year such as Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley’s smash hit The Substance.
Early reviews have teased the blood and guts to come, with Digital Spy branding Terrifier 3 the ‘most offensive and shocking Terrifier yet.’
IndieWire wrote: ‘Terrifier 3 is decking the halls with a triumphant celebration that’s horrifying for all the right reasons and snaps into focus what it is that Leone does singularly well.
‘That may or may not win people over, but it shouldn’t lose any repeat customers.’
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AV Club boasted: ‘It’s the best Terrifier yet, just in time to make your Christmas bloodier.’
Meanwhile, Slant Magazine said: ‘Terrifier 3 continues the series’s trend of dotting a sparse and sinuous thread of plot with mini-masterpieces of cinematic ultraviolence.’
Slashfilm warned: ‘Terrifier 3 sets out to offend, and its opening scenes alone serve as a beacon of warning. Turn back before it’s too late.’
Book your ticket to see Wicked now!
Terrifier 3 is released in cinemas on October 11.
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