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Art the Clown
Warning: This page contains content related to ‘fictional horror character.’ The material is intended for “mature audiences” (above or at 18 yrs) and may be ‘unsettling or disturbing.’ Viewer discretion is advised. Please don’t proceed if you are sensitive to ‘intense or frightening’ themes. And, by continuing, you ‘acknowledge and agree’ that the content may not be suitable for all viewers.
| The Bad Guy | |
|---|---|
| Full Name | |
| Alias | Art / ‘Art the Clown’; Sir / ‘The Clown’; Miles County Clown; Santa / “Clowny Claus” |
| Debut | The 9th Circle (2008) |
| Founder | Damien Leone |
| Role Performed from | Mike Giannelli (2008–2013); David Howard Thornton (2016–present) |
| Type | Sadistic Serial Killer |
| Species | Demon |
| Capabilities and Abilities | Immortality; Deceit; Stealth; Trickery; Superhuman ‘strength, resilience, and durability’ |
| Weapons | Whip with Blades (Cat o’ Nine Tails); Clown Props; Firearms; Acid; Hammer; Scalpel; Hacksaw |
Art is bald with black-and-white clown makeup, a black nose, dark hollowed-out eyes, and “an eerie, almost skeletal grin.” His “eyes, mouth, and (fake) eyebrows” are painted black, while the rest of his face is painted pure white. On his head, he has a ‘white bald cap’ with a little black hat strapped on top. He wears a black-and-white clown suit and ‘carries an array of crude and deadly weapons in a black trash bag.’
Art is a demon-like killer with an ‘insatiable’ urge to brutally slaughter people. His killings are marked by extreme ‘mutilation and torture,’ often keeping victims alive to push them to their limits of suffering. He is tireless, and ‘pursues his prey until he catches it.’ On the spot, Art chooses whether ‘to spare the victims to live with the trauma he caused’ or to kill them slowly and painfully. He never speaks, relying on exaggerated ‘facial expressions, gestures, and body language’ to convey his emotions and intentions, even never miming screams of pain when injured. Despite his power, at different moments, Art shows ‘cowardly’ behavior when he loses the upper hand. For example, in the ‘Terrifier’ scene, unaware of his imminent resurrection, Art chooses to shoot himself in the face rather than confront the two police officers who have cornered him.
Concept Origin and Follow-up -
Thinking of a common situation — a weary woman riding a city bus home after work, where a ‘clown boards, sits across from her, mocks her, and teases her’ — inspired Leone’s concept for ‘Art the Clown.’ Leone wanted Art to evoke a mix of ‘discomfort and comedy,’ becoming increasingly ‘danger and violent’ as time passed.
Art made his ‘screen debut’ as a supporting role in Leone’s short film ‘The 9th Circle.’ This film was a mix of various “horror elements” (clowns, witches, demons, etc.) thrown together to see what resonated with audiences.
After ‘The 9th Circle,’ viewers expressed interest in Art. Leone gave the character a bigger role in his next short film, Terrifier (2011). In the story, a ‘costume designer’ who witnessed a murder committed by Art was the target of his manhunt. His eerie and dangerous image became more well-known. Art’s trademark trash bag and ‘knack for irking people’ may have been present in ‘The 9th Circle,’ but ‘Terrifier’ is where these aspects were taken to the point of horrific murder.
Jesse Baget, a film producer, proposed that shorts be included in an anthology. As a result, Leone produced All Hallows’ Eve (2013), a film with a wraparound plot about a ‘babysitter’ who finds a mystery VHS recording and becomes Art’s target. Throughout All Hallows’ Eve, Art’s appearance undergoes significant modifications. He seems like a ‘human clown’ in the first short VHS video. He has a more eerie appearance in the second and third short VHS clips, with a head that is oddly formed, profoundly sunken cheeks, a ‘crooked, elongated’ nose that ends in an impossibly sharp point, and ‘dirty, rotten’ teeth. Art’s supernatural nature is alluded at in this film, although it remains unclear where he came from. The film ‘Terrifier (2016)’ had Art’s same appearance but portrayed by ‘David Howard Thornton’ instead of Mike Giannelli.
Following All Hallows’ Eve, Leone desired a full-length movie that was solely on Art. He felt that a memorable horror ‘antagonist’ was needed in the 2010s, especially a clown that was different from Pennywise (of ‘It’). In contrast to Pennywise, Art then came out as ‘bald, quiet, black-and-white outfitted, and armed.’ Also, Art appeared to be more of a mimer than a clown.
David Howard Thornton was cast as Art by Leone when Mike Giannelli resigned from performing. Thornton was a perfect fit because of his ‘clowning experience’ and comedic background. Thornton took major inspiration for his portrayal of ‘Art the Clown’ from his late friend, Stefán Karl Stefánsson, best known for playing ‘Robbie Rotten’ in the children’s TV series LazyTown. Thornton, according to Leone, has a cartoonish energy in real life, yet he alters it to show Art’s “dark, sinister” side.
The Evolution of ‘Art the Clown’ -
In the short film ‘The 9th Circle,’ Art plays a ‘smaller, but pivotal,’ supporting role. A young woman named Casey, gets captured by Art, waiting alone in a deserted train station on ‘Halloween’ night. She is then taken to a ‘demonic cult’ for a ceremonial sacrifice. Art’s transformation into a contemporary ‘horror icon’ began with this short film.
Terrifier, a 2011 short film, featured ‘Art the Clown’ for the second time. In this installment, he takes on a more prominent role as a ‘sadistic and terrifying’ figure. The story follows a young woman who becomes the target of Art’s “twisted and violent” games after she inadvertently witnesses him committing a ‘brutal murder’ at a gas station.
Art the Clown made his feature-film debut in “All Hallows’ Eve (2013),” a horror anthology film that ties together his earlier appearances in ‘The 9th Circle’ and ‘Terrifier (2011).’ These short films are shown “in sections on VHS tapes” that the main character, Sarah (Katie Maguire), sees while babysitting two kids on Halloween night. After terrorizing the characters through the tapes, he crosses into the real world, ‘murdering the children’ and terrifies Sarah. By fusing the supernatural with slasher themes, Art established himself as a ‘distinct and frightening’ character in this horror film, laying the groundwork for his subsequent stand-alone productions.
In the 2016 slasher Terrifier, ‘Art the Clown’ made his second appearance in a feature-film. The film, which is set in the made-up ‘Miles County, New York,’ revolves around Art’s gory and relentless Halloween night chase of “Tara Heyes (Jenna Kanell), her sister Vicky (Samantha Scaffidi), and Tara’s best friend Dawn Emerson (Catherine Corcoran).” The film is renowned for its “graphic killings” and extreme brutality, with Art brutally killing Tara and Dawn. The only survivor, Vicky, goes through a ‘terrible struggle’ after Art crushes her with a pickup truck, leaving her permanently deformed. Next, Art ends his life by shooting himself after “the cops show up and confront him before he can kill Vicky.” However, the narrative leaves an ominous note, as Art’s body later ‘reanimates’ in the morgue, showing his supernatural nature.
In ‘Terrifier 2 (2022),’ the lore surrounding ‘Art the Clown’ expands significantly, introducing supernatural elements and deeper connections to the characters. The film begins with Art’s resurrection by a ‘sinister entity’ known as the Little Pale Girl (Amelie McLain), who becomes his eerie companion throughout the movie. Together, they target Sienna Shaw (‘Lauren LaVera’) and her younger brother Jonathan (Elliot Fullam). Michael (Jason Patric), the father of the siblings, had a ‘prophetic’ relationship with Art because of visions he documented in his sketches prior to his passing from a brain tumor. These sketches included graphic representations of Art’s victims as well as an ‘angelic warrior figure’ who he believed to be Sienna (Art’s ultimate enemy). Before his death, Michael left Sienna a ‘mysterious sword,’ hinting at its significance.
In a last confrontation in an ‘abandoned carnival,’ Sienna tackles Art while dressed in a ‘Halloween’ costume inspired by her father’s drawings. She manages to behead Art using her father’s sword. However, the ‘film’ (Terrifier 2) takes a shocking twist in its conclusion. Vicky Heyes, who is currently in a mental hospital and under the influence of the ‘Little Pale Girl,’ gives birth to Art’s “living, severed” head, implying that he will return and that she will become his mother.
In Terrifier 3, Art the Clown returns to continue his ‘reign of terror,’ following the events of Terrifier 2. The film opens during the holiday season, incorporating a ‘Christmas theme’ that contrasts with its brutal content. Sienna Shaw (‘Lauren LaVera’), still recovering from the trauma of Art’s previous conflicts, once again finds herself confronting the ‘malevolent clown.’ Meanwhile, Victoria Heyes, now deeply connected to Art’s “supernatural chaos,” plays a pivotal role in the film’s carnage. The story intensifies as Art targets Sienna’s family, and the plot unfolds with shocking twists, including “betrayals” and intense confrontations. The movie culminates in a battle involving “Sienna, Victoria, and Art,” with new supernatural elements like a portal to Hell introduced.
That’s all friends.
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