See exclusive new images of Art the Clown in gory Christmas horror movie 'Terrifier 3'

Let’s hope you’re asking Santa Claus for a stocking full of blood and gore this year, because Art the Clown is coming to town.

Though he’s back just in time for Halloween, the silent horror villain plans to have a very bloody Christmas in the slasher movie “Terrifier 3” (in theaters Oct. 11). USA TODAY has a selection of exclusive images from the film before a new teaser trailer drops online Wednesday.

The cult franchise has become a hit for scary-movie fans and a litmus test for more squeamish audiences. And with the new threequel, writer/director Damien Leone couldn’t pass up a chance to have the silly and sadistic Art (played by David Howard Thornton) in yuletide wear.

"You can put this character anywhere, in any setting, in any time, and he would work. He's just so ridiculous in any situation,” says the filmmaker, who wanted to do his own spin on the “maniac” Santa. “If I put Art the Clown in the Santa suit, now that makes Art fresh again.”

“Terrifier 3” catches up with Sienna (Lauren LaVera) and her younger brother, Jonathan (Elliott Fullam), five years after the events of the previous film, which ended with Sienna embracing an warrior angel spirit and decapitating Art (who since the first “Terrifier” has been possessed by a mysterious evil entity). They’re spending the holidays in Miles County with their aunt and uncle, but the ensuing years have been hard coping with the past trauma.

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“Especially for Sienna, it hasn't been an easy road,” Leone says. “She's been in and out of a mental health facility just dealing with all of this – not only just what she's been through but what she's becoming and what her role is in this universe.”

Art returns, naturally, and “still has his eyes set on them with a lot of unfinished business,” the director adds. “Terrifier 3” will reveal more about the evil entity, which took the shape of Art’s “Terrifier 2” sidekick, the Little Pale Girl, and fans will learn “why it resurrected Art and what its intentions are and why it's trying to target Sienna.”

In addition to building out the “Terrifier” mythology – Leone teases he’ll “address” Art’s connection to Sienna and her late father – the film features Victoria Heyes (Samantha Scaffidi) in a significant role: The disfigured final girl from the original “Terrifier” is possessed by the entity, too, and was last seen in “Terrifier 2” giving birth to Art’s head in a mental health institute.

Among the supporting cast, AEW wrestler Chris Jericho reprises his role as hospital nurse Burke and Jason Patric will make his franchise debut as a “really amazing” character, Leone says. “I literally have a ‘Lost Boys’ magnet on my fridge.” The filmmaker heard that Patric, a “Terrifier” fan, dressed up as Art for Halloween and didn’t believe it. “Sure enough, it was true.”

“Black Christmas” and Robert Zemeckis’ seasonal “Tales from the Crypt” episode are holiday horror influences on “Terrifier 3,” as well as “Bad Santa,” Leone says. “Pretty much any classic Christmas movie trope you could imagine, I try to put Art the Clown in that situation and see how he would handle that.”

But a silent night for Art equals a deadly night. Even with ornaments and decorations all over the place, Leone’s making sure “Terrifier 3” lives up to the franchise’s grisly reputation, which in the past has included reports of people fainting and puking at showings. The new flick “certainly is way more relentless and gory, that's for sure.”

But trying to outdo his own kill scenes and those of other slasher movies is one of the harder parts of Leone’s job. “There's only so many things you can do to the human body,” he says. “It's easy to really just hack somebody to pieces for five minutes. Can you also be creative when you're doing it.” Thankfully, Art’s inherent levity, like his penchant for wearing sunflower sunglasses, keeps the film from leaning too dark and grim to be accessible. “As evil as he is, he's equally charming and there's something sweet about him. You almost want to be his friend.”

The success of the “Terrifier” movies “remains very surreal,” Leone says. In 2022, “Terrifier 2” grossed $15.4 million on a reported budget of $250,000, and the third film looks to make even a bigger splash this fall, when fans can get their hands on new life-size animatronic "Terrifier" Halloween decorations and Art Funko Pop toys.

“You know you've made it when they make a Funko,” Leone says. “I’m always pinching myself.”