Warning: Major spoilers for Terrifier 3 below!Terrifier 2's controversial bedroom scene is a perfect example of this.

While the extreme violence and gore of the Terrifier movies are an acquired taste, it can't be denied they're put together with craft and care too. Art himself is a unique horror creation, while final girl Sienna Shaw (Lauren LaVera) is a very sympathetic protagonist. Terrifier 3 reveals how Art managed to regenerate following the second film, before jumping ahead five years for his next massacre. Naturally, he seeks revenge against Sienna for his previous defeat, setting about dismantling her life in typically gory fashion.

Art The Clown May Have Needed That Time To Regenerate Fully

Terrifier 3 sees Art and Victoria taking some time out

In the aftermath of Art and possessed accomplice Victoria (Samantha Scaffidi) reuniting following the events of Terrifier 2, they head back to an abandoned house. This is where they both enter a state of hibernation, with Victoria - who is now inhibited by The Little Pale Girl demon - sitting in a bathtub filled with her own blood, while Art just sits in a chair. Since Art is mute, no explanation is offered for why he and Victoria decide to take five years off their slaying duties.

While he already appeared to be back in fighting shape following his "rebirth," it's possible Art needed more time to regenerate after being defeated by Sienna. The original Terrifier heavily implied that Art was a regular human being before his resurrection in the second entry. Even though he regenerates after being injured, perhaps Art's body needed more time to stitch itself together before returning to full fighting shape.

Did Art The Clown Wait To Attack Until Sienna Was Free?

The timing of Terrifier 3's reunion is... suspicious

Speaking with Screen Rant, series director Damien Leone revealed an altogether more practical reason for the five-year time jump. If he'd had his way, there would have been no more than a year-long gap between Terrifier 2 and 3. However, actor Elliott Fullam (who plays Sienna's brother Jonathan) had visibly aged so much between production on the Terrifier sequels that a five year jump became necessary.

This had its benefits storywise, since it allowed Leone to explore the psychological impact of the second film on both Sienna and Jonathan. Plus, it's possible Art and Victoria hibernated until they could get to Sienna again. Terrifier 3 reveals she spent years in a mental health center, with her release coinciding with Art the Clown and Victoria snapping out of their self-induced slumbers. Initially, it appears the killers only awaken when two luckless demolition workers discover them in the house, though the timing of this and Sienna's release is too good to be true.

Even if Sienna was locked away, Art isn't the most subtle of slashers, so he could have found out where she was staying and hacked his way inside.

This raises further questions though. Even if Sienna was locked away, Art the Clown isn't the most subtle of slashers, so he could have found out where she was staying and hacked his way inside. Terrifier 3's ending sees Art and Victoria torment Sienna with an extended sequence where they destroy what's left of her family, so The Little Pale Girl could attempt to possess her at her weakest moment. Maybe Art's years-long wait was about making Sienna put her guard down and feel safe, to make this moment all the more painful.

Art the Clown made his debut in Damien Leone's 2008 short film The 9th Circle, which is referenced in Terrifier 3's final scene.

Terrifier 4 Can Officially Answer Why Art The Clown Waited To Attack Again

Art and Sienna are on course for a final showdown

Despite all she suffers through in Terrifier 3's finale, Sienna's will is too strong and she repels the possession attempt. She later succeeds in decapitating Victoria too, though her cousin Gabbie (Antonella Rose) is dragged to Hell in the aftermath. Sienna vows to rescue her, while Art is later seen about to attack a new victim on a bus. There's still much about Art the Clown that remains a mystery, though it will be interesting to see if Terrifier 4 reveals if he went back into hibernation.

Terrifier 4 will need to provide some answers on franchise lore, including why Art waited five years to attack again.

Terrifier 4 will need to provide some answers on franchise lore, including why Art waited five years to attack again. There's also the question of why he was resurrected as a demon in the first place. Of course, maybe it's better to leave some of these questions unanswered; it's actually a creepy touch that Art just decided to sit in a chair for years before making his move.

Source: Screen Rant