Damien Leone, the mastermind behind the cult slasher franchise Terrifier, has revealed his essential viewing for the holiday season, and it leans heavily into horror. As he gears up to create the series' final instalment, the director shared his favourite festive fright films with fans.
Leone's Holiday Horror Hall of Fame
On social media platform X, Leone was asked about his preferred holiday horror film. He didn't hesitate to name the 1974 slasher classic Black Christmas, directed by Bob Clark. The film, starring Olivia Hussey, Keir Dullea, Margot Kidder, and John Saxon, follows a sorority house terrorised by sinister phone calls and a lurking murderer during the Christmas break.
Leone also highlighted a specific episode of the anthology series Tales From the Crypt titled "And All Through The House" as another must-watch. When a follower inquired if this was the episode featuring a 'hobo Santa', Leone clarified that particular character appears in The Twilight Zone. He then named the 1960 Twilight Zone episode "The Night of the Meek" as another personal festive favourite.
The referenced Tales From the Crypt episode, from 1989, features Mary Ellen Trainor as a deceitful wife who, after killing her husband, is stalked by an escaped psychiatric patient dressed as Father Christmas, played by Larry Drake.
Fan Love for Terrifier 3 and the Road to Terrifier 4
Interestingly, Leone's own holiday-themed sequel, Terrifier 3, was named by numerous followers as their favourite festive horror. The film sees the villainous Art the Clown don a Santa suit to commit atrocities, including a now-infamous shopping centre massacre.
Following a festive break, Leone's focus will shift entirely to Terrifier 4, which he has confirmed will be the final chapter in the series. The film will see the return of Lauren LaVera as 'final girl' Sienna Shaw and Elliott Fullam as Jonathan Shaw for one last confrontation with the demonic Art the Clown, portrayed by David Howard Thornton.
A Finale Promising Intensity and Answers
Leone has promised that Terrifier 4 will be an ambitious and extreme conclusion. Speaking on the Talk is Jericho podcast, the 43-year-old filmmaker described the project as "really intense and experimental".
"It's going to be a really tough one to shoot, especially what I want to do in the last half hour of the movie," Leone revealed. "It's going to be really intense and experimental and really out there. Like crazier than anything I've done before."
He emphasised that this final instalment is about more than just topping the gore of previous films; it's about weaving the story together. Every loose end and unanswered question from the franchise will be resolved in Terrifier 4.
"From a storyteller standpoint, it's the most important aspect of Terrifier 4, which is so exciting," Leone continued. "You're going to get a lot of answers in Terrifier 4."
