Terrifier 3: a new film receives a rare audience in France

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Louise Thomas

The new controversial horror film Terrifying 3 received a rare rating in France after the film shocked British audiences for its excessive violence and gore.

The film, which is released in the UK on October 11, follows the exploits of serial killer “Art the Clown”, as he goes on a rampage on Christmas Eve.

The slasher has already reportedly caused incidents at previews at Signature Entertainment, the film’s UK distributor, claiming their gala screening caused 11 walkouts, nine during the opening scene and one person vomiting.

Bloody disgusting now reports that the French Classification Committee has decided to impose a rare ban on the film, according to the film’s French distributors ESC Éditions, Shadowz Films and Factoris Films.

From now on, anyone under the age of 18 in France is not allowed to see Terrifier 3, which has been happening in the country since Saw III was released in French theaters in 2007. The classification is the equivalent of the United States’ NC-17 certification.

In a press release, the distributors declared: “We can only deplore this unexpected final decision, which will seriously hamper the release of the film, expected by tens of thousands of French viewers and scheduled for October 9 (and of course maintained). Terrifying 3 is an arthouse film in the purest tradition of the slasher genre, with perfectly grand-guignolesque and unrealistic violence. The film never takes itself too seriously, and we know that the viewer will have the perspective and maturity necessary to understand and appreciate this artistic approach.

“Moreover, for more than 2 years now, we have worked daily and tirelessly to defend a free, creative and radical genre cinema, systematically acclaimed by the press and the public. The audience for these films, even teenagers, are passionate film buffs, respectful of the works and the cinemas that screen them.

“The history of genre cinema, its excesses and its outrages, is intimately linked to the history of cinema itself. Restricting public access will always be a serious decision, carrying a worrying message, isolating authors and distancing them from their audience.

David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown in Terrifier 3

David Howard Thornton as Art the Clown in Terrifier 3 (Exclusive Entertainment/Jesse Korman. All rights reserved)

The Terrifier series has been one of the biggest independent horror hits of recent years with its 2022 sequel earning over $15 million (£11 million) at the worldwide box office, on its very modest budget of $250,000 (£191,000).

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The popularity of the films led Leone to claim that an unnamed major studio had approached him with the intention of rebooting Terrifier for a more mainstream horror audience, but on a single request.

Talk to Total moviehe said: “They wanted to reboot it for a wider audience. That’s not what interested me. They were like, “This has to be rated R, it can’t be as bloody as you made it.”

The 42-year-old director added: “I knew they would never let me shoot the first 10 minutes of what I wanted to do (in Terrifier 3). So I thought, “Let’s stay true to what this franchise is.” »

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