
Henry & Eddie sit down with star of the Terrifier films, the man behind Art the Clown - David Howard Thornton joins the show to discuss the massive success of the Terrifier franchise, the evolution of Art, how he landed the role, and the many influences and experiences that came together to create a modern-day horror icon.
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Podcast Host 1
There's no place to escape to. This is the last on the left. That's when the cannibalism started.
David Howard Thornton
What was that.
Podcast Host 1
Eddie? I'm scared today.
Podcast Host 2
Why are you scared?
Podcast Host 1
Because I'm afraid that we won't live up to the potential of the moment.
Podcast Host 2
I know.
Podcast Host 1
You know, I agree with that. Like you remember when Tiger woods, he got in that car accident.
Podcast Host 2
Well, it was late.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, I know.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah, yeah. I think he was inebriated, but I don't know for sure.
Podcast Host 1
I. He was focusing on his recoup.
Podcast Host 2
Yes.
Podcast Host 1
Which is what distracted him from driving. That's what I'm afraid of.
Podcast Host 2
You were driving like a maniac this morning.
Podcast Host 1
I was in a car. I'm in a cutting phase. So I'm actually. The problem is the creatine makes me aggressive. But today we have something extremely special for you. Happy Halloween. It's a very special, unique. We've never done this before. It's just a one off interview with an actor that fascinates someone that brings something extra to the table, as it were. And we're excited to have this person. We recently. We're not being paid.
Podcast Host 2
No.
Podcast Host 1
To push this up. He's gone and we lost him. No. Well.
Podcast Host 2
Oh, we can still hear him. All right, well, that's fine. We'll keep going.
Podcast Host 1
That's fine.
Podcast Host 2
Oh, man. I love just how it's spooky even talking to you over zoom.
Podcast Host 1
We can't even really just to even bring the audience in, we had a little bit of a technical core fluffle, but it's still frightening because we're watching. It's like, it seems like. I don't know why, I don't know what it is about your energy that they're the. The tubes are afraid of, but we have a. The one of our new horror icons. Yes. We're very excited to have the actor who portrays Art the Clown, Nay, is Art the Clown. David Howard Thornton. Thank you for being here.
David Howard Thornton
Oh, thank you. I'm glad I'm actually able to be seen now.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, we could see you. You look good. We. We've been talking and singing the praises about the Terrifier films for the last couple days. Surprise. It's like, I feel like the entire country is sort of surprised at how much they've allowed themselves to like the films.
David Howard Thornton
It's a bit crazy.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah. Because, like, when you look at it, you're like, this is for nobody. Right. Like, you know, like, if I showed this to my mother, she would puke and die.
Podcast Host 1
Well, hey, that's what it's for. Like, how did you. Like, how did it all begin? Like, if those of you that don't know the Art the Clown character, it did start in All Hallows Eve. Correct. So that was a anthology film that was like, so. But he was way more. It was kind of more of like a sketch almost, in a way.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah, that. That was, that's what that was. Those are basically almost like proof of concept movies at the time because, you know, Damien was just doing that, just, you know, having fun with his friends, making movies. And.
Podcast Host 1
And that was. And that wasn't you. That's not you. That's some other guy.
David Howard Thornton
Mike Gianelli. Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
Now, is he angry?
David Howard Thornton
Not that I know of. I mean, we, we met last year. Finally got to do some cons together and everything like that. So he, he seems to be happy. He. He's a. A dad now, so he's got two little ones, so he's, he's, he's got his hands full. So I think he's, you know, well distracted.
Podcast Host 1
That's actually. Do you think him being Art the Clown was actually making him infertile?
David Howard Thornton
Oh, no. I hope that's not the case with me.
Podcast Host 1
Now. I. So did you audition to be in Terrifier?
David Howard Thornton
I did, yes. Yes. They. They put a notice up on Actors Access when I was living in New York, and I just went in and did that. My. My agent even fought me on it. She. She saw no value in it because she's like, oh, it's an independent, low budget horror film. It will never get you anywhere. And I was like, well, I wanted experience doing work in. On film because I had always just done stage work and voiceover work. And I kept on at, you know, just bugging her and bugging her and bugging her to submit me. And then I'm no longer with that agent.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. Man, see, they're always wrong.
Podcast Host 2
They're always.
Podcast Host 1
Every story is like this. They're all like. They always said the Simpsons would never work. You know, like, they never did all that, though. So when you. Before you audition. Because it's like it says here that you were also in a. You were in the Grinch musical.
David Howard Thornton
I was, yes. I. I understudied the Grinch. Who was Stephen Carl. He was Robbie Rotten from Lazy Town. And I also played Grandpa, who.
Podcast Host 1
Oh, wow. It was that with the full face. Was that also, like. Have you always been doing prosthetics?
David Howard Thornton
Yeah, pretty much ever since I was like a teenager doing children's theater. I was doing prosthetic work and, like, crazy makeup and stuff like that. So I'm pretty used to it. They actually asked me that when I was auditioning for Terrifier if I was used to prosthetics or a lot of makeup. I'm like, oh, yeah.
Podcast Host 2
Are you trained as a clown?
David Howard Thornton
No, no. I didn't even go to school for acting. I just. My. My classroom was always the stage and just watching, like, better actors and just learning from them and adapting.
Podcast Host 2
Amen.
Podcast Host 1
Now. So you get into the Terrifier films. Like, I personally, I feel like some people call them. The first one is probably the closest to a straight up torture porn versus any of the rest of them. Now when you are preparing for something like this, like, in terms of the amount of, like, what the grizzly stuff that you have to do. Like, I know that, like, on a set, it's not that emotional because everybody's having a blast, everybody's laughing and having a good time. So, like, what do you do to prepare to essentially do wanton violence?
David Howard Thornton
Nothing.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, Yeah.
David Howard Thornton
I. I don't know what that says about me. I just go in there and just do my thing. I mean, they have given me some, like, instruction on set, you know, how to do certain things with certain weapons and stuff like that. So, you know, like on. On part three, I got on the set training on the proper way to actually swing an axe at a object. I guess you could say yes.
Podcast Host 1
Well, you. Because you could tell you really. And this is not. You progress in the fleshing out of the character of Art the Clown so successfully through two and three, which is like, I actually thought it was. It was very interesting. You can kind of see you get more comfortable as you go. Like, is it because of Damian Lyon or like, on yourself, like, do you feel like when you are. That style of character I played, I would. I did a full thing On Adult Swim, where I was fully body painted for many years. And on some level, when you're in that amount of makeup, sometimes I feel that a director, as much as I love Dave Willis, he's like a friend of mine, you know, I mean, like, we're close. At what point I was like, am I a prop? Like, am I just. Am I like, literally a piece of costuming? Or is there a man in here? Like, do you. Yes.
David Howard Thornton
I've had directors like that before. Back especially my stage days. There's this one director would micro direct everything I would do on stage down to like, okay, I want you to turn your head at this angle on this line. I'm like, oh, my God, is any of this mine? Is I? Or am I just a puppet here for you? But I mean, Damien is completely opposite. He's very actor friendly director. He's willing to hear ideas and like. Like, I would say more. He directs me more on, like, the killing, in the horror aspects, everything. When it comes to, like, more of the comedic bits, he'll give me some ideas sometimes, but most of the time he's just like, just go play. We'll see what we come up with. Like the. The entire, like, bar scene. He basically let like, Howard, Brad Striker and Danny Roebuck and I just play for like two or three days on set. And that was. That was just fun.
Podcast Host 2
It was crazy because in Terrifier 3, it's like each scene is a different genre of horror movie. And like. And that one was like a fun. It was like a fun, like, kind of like campy scene, but then the next scene, it's just terrifying.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, he's great. That's the best part about the movie.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah. And it really blew my mind, man. Now, one of the things I love about art the clown over, like, you know, say, like Jason Voorhees or something, is that no weapon is off limits to art.
Podcast Host 1
We love that he shoots people.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah.
Podcast Host 2
I think that's like one of our.
Podcast Host 1
Favorite bits is that he also. He uses a gun. He uses the fact that. Again, spoilers across the board.
Podcast Host 2
But this. That's in the first one, it's.
Podcast Host 1
Yes. But in Terrifier 3, Terrifying Terrifier 3, the bombing is like, when that happens. I. I think I was the only person in the theater that was like, awesome.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
I was like, yeah, yeah, good work. I mean, we blew up the kids. Yeah.
David Howard Thornton
Fuck them kids.
Podcast Host 2
But is there any weapon that, like, would be off limits for art? Or is that a. Is would, you know, like, if I Asked you about the Laurel, the lore of art. Would, you know, is that even like something that you have control over?
David Howard Thornton
No, I think everything's totally within balance for him to use as a weapon. He likes to play. He likes toys. So it's like. Yeah, it's like, I love that idea with the bomb, too. That was like. That was a brilliant idea that Damien had. And he actually. You actually see me, the bomb being assembled during that one little bit there. You do. People don't see that. And I'm like, oh, yeah, right there.
Podcast Host 1
There was a good thing. There's that little moment where it's like, oh, shit, where's that bomb gonna go? Like, that was like the first thought I have. And I think that what you guys do. Good. Which is like, it's a. I know that technically it's like a film trick, but I love the little pieces in the beginning, the seeds. And then you're gonna see each one of these pop off. Like each. The beginning is so good in a terrifier movie because it's setting the tone of this person's gonna be dead and that person's gonna be dead, and that person's gonna be dead. You love all this. You love all these people. They're all dead. And I. That's my favorite.
David Howard Thornton
Oh, yeah. Damien's great at that. He. He is so good at like, you know, planning everything out and just dropping little hints and everything there. I mean, he's been doing that from the get go with the first film. He's been dropping little seeds and stuff like that that people still are starting now to pick up on. Which is. That's why I get so irritated when people are like, oh, there's no plot to these movies. Like, oh, no, there most certainly is a plot.
Podcast Host 2
Oh, yeah, they're very much.
David Howard Thornton
Certainly there. There was a. That some, I think Tick tocker or something like that. Recently posted. A video going over the plot of two and three especially and all these things, I was like, wow, this guy totally gets it. He totally understands what we're doing. Even Damien commented on him and said the dude, you. You've. You nailed it.
Podcast Host 1
My first thought when I saw 2 and 3, it was like, that's Elm Street 3 and 4.
David Howard Thornton
Yep.
Podcast Host 1
And then we're careening into. You're gonna go straight into the lore. Like in 4 Terrifier 4 when it does, it probably will happen, is that it's going to go deep into the lore. We're now going to go into Art the Clown's full world, which excites me a great deal.
David Howard Thornton
Oh yeah. Excites me too. I mean, I know a few things that, you know, he's got planned for part four or part five or whatever he's going. Because he's still trying to, I think, decide if it's going to be four movies or five movies because he's got so many ideas. I think he's probably going to have five movies at least.
Podcast Host 1
He should be. Well, this is my question though, is that do, do you get afraid of yourself? Like, it's hard as an actor. I feel like as a, as a, as a person, you're like, I'll come back for nine of these. Right. Like, I can do Art the Clown forever. But you ever feel like that you maybe yourself could end up jumping the shark with, with Art the Clown if you go too far? Like, is it a thing that, like, if he's doing 8, 9, 10, and you're going to be like, maybe you could get. Maybe it should be a lady. Maybe it should be like, you know, somebody at some other version of the.
Podcast Host 2
Clown, like, well, there was a lady.
Podcast Host 1
Yes. Who's great. She's got to come back, right?
David Howard Thornton
Who knows? I have no idea. He's keeping so many things close to his vest right now. So I'm just like, he, he likes to surprise us as well. So he, he doesn't tell us things until we read the script and we're like, oh, are you kidding me? So I, I have no idea. But to answer the question, yeah, I, I totally get afraid of that. I'm, I'm totally afraid of going too campy with things and because I, you know, I don't want him just to be, just, you know, you know how Freddy became later on after Wes Craven lost control of the character.
Podcast Host 2
We literally were talking about this right before you came on.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, it's the touch. Because the key is the touch. I've always loved. Again, Freddy Krueger is probably my favorite icon because he's, because he's funny. But it's, but you know that the movies aren't as good. It's like this double edged sword where you know the movie is not as good. You know that the later Elm Streets are not as good. But I'm like, just put, put Robert Engel into my veins. It doesn't even really matter.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But that's, and that's definitely something we've been very conscientious of since the very first Terrifier film. We were, we're always trying to walk that line of going Too campy with the comedy in this. And we. We do film some scenes where I do a lot more comedic takes on it. And then we're like, okay, that's just too far. But, like, we have it there just in case, because you never know. You might find something from that you can use. And. But yeah, that's. We got. I look at, like, the. The torture scene in the first film where I've got terror tied up to the chair. I did a whole bunch of takes with different weapons coming out. I was doing comedic routines with them. There was like, this one thing that I had a club with a big, huge spike on it, and I did the whole, like, you know, fake golfing bit from, like, Johnny Carson or something.
Podcast Host 2
He's supposed to. This is his act. You know, he is. There is an audience of one, and.
Podcast Host 1
It'S Art the Clown. Yeah, he is the. He is obviously having a very good time.
David Howard Thornton
Exactly. And that's. That's the thing. We. We have to still acknowledge that he is a clown. So he is having fun, but we don't want to go too cartoonish, campy with it all. We don't want to totally jump back kind of shark. We still need to keep it in that realm of believability and horror as well.
Podcast Host 1
Can I also ask, Becoming now getting this much attention as a scary person, like, do you think that you're, like, you're the people that follow you, your fans? Do you think that that quality has also changed? Because it's like, I do find that there are people that, like, when you're in a dark, darker aspect of entertainment, that there are people that sort of maybe connect with the wrong thing a little bit about what it is that you're doing and you have to deal with, like. Like scary people.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah, there might be a few of those people out there and stuff like that, but it's few and far between. I. I found, like, horror fans in general are, by the vast majority, are just the coolest, sweetest, kindest people to ever meet. It's actually, I think some of the other people that kind of scare me more.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah.
David Howard Thornton
In real life.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. Like comedy fans.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah.
Podcast Host 2
Are there any clowns that you would, like, study to get mannerisms, or is this all just like you?
David Howard Thornton
Oh, yeah, definitely. So, I mean, I. I grew up watching a lot of the great silent comedians and clowns. I mean, I was watching, like, you know, Marx Brothers and Charlie Chaplin and all. Even like, Emma Kelly Jr and Emma Kelly and gosh, Mr. Bean was a huge influence on me. As well. Marcel Marceau, Peter Sellers, you know, Don Knotts. I could just go on and on, list all these. Jim Carrey just on and on and on. Ashley Stefan, who I understudied for Grinch, he was professionally trained in clowning, in mime work. So I took a lot of what I learned from Stefan and put it into art. You can actually watch videos of Robbie Rotten and compare them to Art the Clown and you'll see probably a lot of similarities with mannerisms.
Podcast Host 1
That's really interesting.
Podcast Host 2
Now is there any music that like you would listen to to kind of like get in the mood? You know, just like, do you like play circus music or something before you get out there or.
David Howard Thornton
No, not, not really. I mean, not for myself, but like I. A lot of the times in the chair when dam. Especially in parts one and two, when Damien was doing my makeup, he was listening to a lot of yacht rock.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, sure.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah, that, that's what I think is so funny. People probably think Damien's like this hardcore badass, listening to heavy metal all the time. No man grooves to yacht rock. He loves yacht rock and 80s music. We will drive like when we're going to set something like 2 hour, 3 hour drive sometimes upstate, we would just be sitting there listening to like yacht rock and 80s music the whole entire time, just grooving out. That's, that's just how we are. But like for myself though, I, I will sometimes just for shits and giggles, put on something I, I sometimes would like to put on like the, the song Denny Elfman song from the first Batman movie with the. The jokers, like Waltz to the Death.
Podcast Host 1
Oh yeah.
David Howard Thornton
That's just always. That always just puts me that little wacky, little mischievous, evil clown type of mode. So sometimes I would just think that in my head if I have to go a little bit, a little bit nuts, I guess you could say. Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
Do you feel like now that the movie got like Terrifier 3, probably got the biggest like budget, the most legit budget. How is it going from being driven by the director to set who would do the makeup and then you'd shoot obviously probably like 5. How much the most shoestring crew possible to like an actual like movie set? Like how, like is there anything you miss or is there anything. What's better?
David Howard Thornton
Oh, we. We still had a lot of the old school feel to it all because we weren't a full on like traditional movie set where we, we didn't have the honey wagons or anything like that. So it wasn't a Big. Hugely. But it was. We did have, you know, a makeup team that came in this time, and so that was definitely a nice thing to have there because it allowed Damien more freedom, too, because he wasn't having to stop my making and go on the set and do stuff and come back and do my makeup more. And so that was nicer in that way. But, yeah, we're still not like what you traditionally see here in Hollywood on a set. So we were. Still had that. That, you know, independent feel to a lot of things.
Podcast Host 1
Because they changed the makeup too. Right. Didn't they do a thing? Because it used to be sort of despair, different separate pieces, and then they just made it a whole mask for you, essentially.
David Howard Thornton
No, it was always a one whole mask. But the original mask wasn't even molded to my face. It was Mike Giannelli's original mold.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah.
David Howard Thornton
And so it didn't fully fit my face. Damien always had a manipulated suit would fit my face. But this time, Christian Tinsley, who. His team that did our makeup for this one, on part three, they actually did a new SK sculpt and mold of my face. So it's a little bit more gaunt than the last one was because Damien wanted art to be more gaunt in this one. And then I also. Oh, thank. I love. I love the look it. And they also gave me a scar. Scarlet lenses for. For my eyes this time. So I. I. My eyes were different. And, like, part two, I had my natural green eyes, and part one, I had contacts for a little bit. And then, like, we had one night where I had a rip in my lenses, and so I couldn't wear them for that night. And we. We had to film. So we decided from that point on, I would just be wearing my. My regular eyes. And if anybody knows what the hell, you know.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. Why you're not paying attention to the right thing.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah, exactly. And I. I kind of just say in my head, like, the eye color changed after he got knocked out by the exterminator. So I was like, oh, yeah, the eye. The contacts popped out, and so now that's.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, sure. Yeah, yeah, definitely notice, you know, he's.
David Howard Thornton
Rebirthed, so now he's. He's become more demonic in part three, so he has different eyes going forward.
Podcast Host 1
This is a question that we were talking about before.
Podcast Host 2
Is he a human in the first one?
David Howard Thornton
Yes.
Podcast Host 2
Okay. And when does he. Like, when does it become supernatural?
David Howard Thornton
At the very end of part one, where he's brought back from the dead.
Podcast Host 1
Yes. And then, like, so he was just a Man.
David Howard Thornton
Yes.
Podcast Host 1
And so the face underneath the makeup, you would assume would have just been like Art the Clown. So what's Earth the Clown? What was his day like?
Podcast Host 2
Yeah, what did he do during the day?
Podcast Host 1
What did he. What's his night job?
Podcast Host 2
Did he. What. What was that?
Podcast Host 1
Oh, you can't say yet.
David Howard Thornton
Can't say yet.
Podcast Host 2
Wow. All right, I'm glad there is an answer.
Podcast Host 1
Yes, that's one of those things too, where. God, that'll be great. Everyone will be very excited to see that. Jump in.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah. I will say this, that I know for one thing, for his origin, we don't want to make him a sympathetic character. No. We don't want him to have one of those tragic backstories where he was abused and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. Basically, how I view him in my head is he came out of his mother's womb and strangled her with his own umbilical cord. He's just evil incarnate. He is just. That's why hell latched on to this guy. He's like, this is our avatar on Earth.
Podcast Host 1
We love this guy.
David Howard Thornton
Evil.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we love this guy. Yeah. It's like, it's the same variant of. He's from the seed of a thousand maniacs.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah, exactly. He was just born evil. And that's the thing is like, I do generally believe there are some people that are that way. They just came out of the womb and they are just fucked up in the head. I knew a kid like that when growing up, or he was this kid that lived across the street from one of my best friends and I saw him flat out just take glee in killing, you know, squirrels.
Podcast Host 1
Yes, right.
David Howard Thornton
He would like shoot him with his BB gum and watch them bleed out or he would just strangle them himself. And I was like, this kid's just evil. And my mom was like, do not play with that kid ever again. He's evil. So that's how I view art. He was just born that way. He just had that tendency from the very get go where he just loved to kill things. It brought him joy.
Podcast Host 1
I also find that people that have the happiest existence play unrepentant maniacs really well. And I can tell from the Lego on your. The shelf behind you that you are. You seem like a very happy go lucky man.
David Howard Thornton
I. That comes from, you know, years of struggling with. Yeah, that's. You know, I was bullied relentlessly growing up, but it's like I always. How I escaped all that was finding the things that brought me joy and Brought me happiness. And so it's like I am a child of heart in a lot of ways. I guess some people would say I'm like a. Have a. What is that? Arrested Development?
Podcast Host 1
People have said that about me, too. And it's like, whatever. Whatever, you idiot. Whatever, you fucking butthead. Fuck you.
David Howard Thornton
Your stupid face.
Podcast Host 1
Shut up. Shut up. Oh, I'm a child? Well, you're fucking. You got big ass and stupid feet.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
So save that in your pocket if you ever need. Turn.
David Howard Thornton
I think it's just all that bullying I went through that's less. It's like. I think I've been able to channel a lot of that on. On set. I mean, there are even times on set where, like, you know, I'm just not fully giving them what they need for a. An attack or something like that. And they'll just go, hey, Dave, just pretend it's this certain person and go. And I'm like, yeah. Like, oh, Dave, where'd that come from? Like, repressed rage.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. Do you remember how much you hate Rachel Ray? Imagine this is Rachel Ray.
David Howard Thornton
Exactly.
Podcast Host 2
Earlier, you were saying how sometimes you like to put on the song the first Batman movie where Joker did. Now, I've heard a rumor that you are gunning to play the Joker at some point. Is this true?
David Howard Thornton
I am intended. Totally gunning.
Podcast Host 2
James Gunning.
Podcast Host 1
Yes.
David Howard Thornton
I. I want that role so badly. I'm like, that's. That's my dream role. That is a character I have wanted to play fully. I played him on a YouTube series like, nine, 10 years ago, and, you know, that was. That was. That was a lot of fun, and I got a good taste of playing the character. I really want to play him in more official capacity and because I love the character so much, and I'm so freaking tired of seeing Hollywood bastardizing this character.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
I miss Caesar Romero Joker.
David Howard Thornton
Yes.
Podcast Host 1
Like, I. Over the top, ridiculous Joker.
David Howard Thornton
Well, you can do that and be sadistic and evil and scary at the same time. And. And I.
Podcast Host 1
Mark Hamill, revolutionized that angle of Joker.
David Howard Thornton
Exactly. Exactly. He. He. That's. That's why Marcus, my favorite version of Joker, because, like, he truly understands that character. He. You could tell. He did his research. And especially you look at the. The. The. Especially the 80s 90s version of Joker, that's when he got a lot darker.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah.
David Howard Thornton
And actually, the very first version of Joker was very dark, too. He. He was like, you know, homicidal maniac then, too. And it was. It was because, you know, back in the mid-1900s, that's when they were like, oh, we got to be a lot more, you know, wholesome and friendly. So they made it more campy then. But it's like, I. I want to return more to, like, that. That Alan Moore era of. Of, you know, or, like, you know, that. That. That kind of dark Joker, you know, killing joke.
Podcast Host 1
Have you ever thought about. Let me pitch this to you, all right? You do a thing where your movie is. Everybody's calling you the Joker, but it's revealed that it's a musical in a courtroom. Listen, it's a musical in a courtroom, and you've never been the Joker at all. And the only time that you ever even admit to not being Joker is after you've been group sexually assaulted by a bunch of jailers. So what do you think? Is that something you'd, like, be interested in?
David Howard Thornton
No.
Podcast Host 1
Man.
Podcast Host 2
Isn't it crazy that you, as Art the Clown, defeated the Joker?
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, he did.
Podcast Host 2
It is.
Podcast Host 1
That's the only thing I want to remind you, dude. Technically, you won the. Technically, you beat the Joker.
David Howard Thornton
That's insane when you think about it. And what's even crazier about it, it was Art the Clown versus Arthur the Clown.
Podcast Host 2
Yes. Wow.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. I didn't even think about it.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah, it was Arthur, too, which was insane. It's just like.
Podcast Host 1
But he was never a clown.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah, well, kind of street clown.
Podcast Host 1
He was sore.
David Howard Thornton
He's a street clown.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, I guess he does.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
I guess if you call yourself one, then you are one, you know? So how else does your life kind of change? Or is it just like. I guess people say, like, this is. I know that I'm certain that the money's just rolling in, but I.
David Howard Thornton
It's not really rolling. It's starting to is.
Podcast Host 1
It's a nice.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah, it's going to, though.
David Howard Thornton
It's a nice trickle, which I'm okay with because, like, I spent, like, 13 years of my life basically struggling to make ends meet waiting tables in New York City. So it's like.
Podcast Host 2
And I hear you, Village Poor house over here.
Podcast Host 1
Where'd you work?
David Howard Thornton
Oh, God, so many different restaurants. I started off working at Bubblegum Shrimp Company in Times Square.
Podcast Host 2
Oh, you poor bastard.
Podcast Host 1
Jesus Christ, that place is awful.
David Howard Thornton
Oh, the stories I could tell you about that place.
Podcast Host 1
You could probably base Art the Clowns, like, off of, like, five people you can meet at that bubble.
David Howard Thornton
Oh, yeah. Just doing a shift there one night. Yeah.
Podcast Host 2
Would be amazing.
David Howard Thornton
Oh, my God, it was horrible.
Podcast Host 1
Can I also ask you, like, this is, like, one of those very kind of practical seti things. What do you do? Like, Kate Corcoran is a friend of ours in her now very famous scene in Terrifier. For in terms of the horrifying films, she's hung upside down, completely naked, and you cut her from the fucking. You cut her through her cooter, through her snooter, and she knows that that is in there. That's Lex to the snooter. I see.
David Howard Thornton
I call that the up of the crack of dawn scene.
Podcast Host 1
Yes, yes, of course. Like, when you're hanging out on set, like I did. I've done a couple of movies with nudity, but it's like, what do you do between set? Like, is it one of those where, like, obviously you're trying to get this wrapped right? Right. Like, it's because she is physically hanging upside down.
Podcast Host 2
She's a wonderful lady.
Podcast Host 1
Oh, she's the sweet. She's only. She's only doing it because she's so nice. She's only doing it because she's so happy. Yes. And she's so down for it. But like, what's that mid. Like, how. Like, do you feel like, was that Damian's kind of role to comfort her, make sure things were moving along? Do you feel like in those functions, like, are you kind of like just trying to stay out of it and get it done as quickly as possible? Or like, are you joking around? Like, how do you handle that?
David Howard Thornton
That night I was not joking around at all because that was very dangerous what we were doing with her too. And I. And it was freezing cold and there was like 20°. So that was miserable for her. So I was more concerned about just trying to make her feel as comfortable as. As possible. Yeah, I'm like that all the time. I'm like, with especially any of the fight scenes, I'm always trying to check in with my co stars, making sure they're okay and everything. I. I think they probably get annoyed with me because I'm always saying, oh, my God, are you okay? I didn't hurt you or anything like that. But, like, especially when. When it has to do with nudity or anything like that, I try to be as respectful as possible. I. I'm like, it's just because that's. That's something that's. It's. It's a very personal thing. It's very invasive to be exposed in such a manner. And I try to. I was raised to be a gentleman in that way by my father especially. And so I'm like, I try not even to look at what is Going on. I'm just kind of like, okay, I'm going to, like, look over here. Because it just feels wrong.
Podcast Host 1
Well, you. Also. The best part is that, you know, as a bashful. As a fellow bashful man, when you're in character, it's. It's better because then it's like, I'm Art the clown. I can sit here. I can. Like, I'm much scarier because, like, that's what's interesting too. You think, like, oh, I don't want to look at these naked ladies. Everybody's staring at you.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
You know, like, they're looking at the evil clown.
Podcast Host 2
I think you not wanting to look is also terrifying.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. Yeah. Art the Clown acting bashful is almost even scary.
David Howard Thornton
I am really. I become like that vulture from Looney Tunes. That's just how I was raised. I'm like, okay, someone's in a state of. Because I'm. That's also how I was just doing community theater. You know, sometimes people would have to make a costume change right on the side of the stage because it was a quick turnaround and you just had like, okay, that's going on. I'm just. I'm going to be respectful and look down or something like that. And.
Podcast Host 1
Oh, yeah. I'll always remember in junior high school when I had to choose between drama and hockey and I was tired. I remember talking to the dudes in the hockey team, being like, you know that there's naked women over in drama.
David Howard Thornton
Yes.
Podcast Host 1
Like, here I'm just surrounded by all these naked suits.
David Howard Thornton
Balls. Sausage fest.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. Yeah. I was like, I want to go there. And they all thought I was crazy. They thought I was homosexual. But I said, too, yeah. No, sirs, I am more than. I am more than just one. I am all.
Podcast Host 2
Oh, man. So you were. You. Obviously. This is Halloween. You're in your busy season. The movie just came out. Are you. This is also a straight up Christmas movie.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
You're gonna have to promo this again.
Podcast Host 2
You're gonna have to go through all of this again, and then it's gonna be. But the thing is, you know, we were talking about, you know, you know, with the budget and all that or whatever, forever. People are gonna be watching Terrifier 3 over Christmas.
Podcast Host 1
I can't wait.
Podcast Host 2
It's gonna be great. I once interviewed Macaulay Culkin. He says he gets a million dollars every year from Home Alone every Christmas.
David Howard Thornton
Oh, God, I wish that would happen with me. That would be amazing.
Podcast Host 2
I'd say probably like 60,000, you know.
David Howard Thornton
Lego sets.
Podcast Host 1
Absolutely they get more expensive each time. Do you have a. Do you have, like, a family?
David Howard Thornton
I, like. I have a dad and a sister back home.
Podcast Host 1
No. I mean, I know you come from humans, but I didn't know if you have kids.
David Howard Thornton
No, I haven't gotten lucky enough to, like, find a lady to settle down with yet. It's just.
Podcast Host 1
I hear that.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
Hey, come on. Come on down. Art the Clown is single. He doesn't. He doesn't know yet how to make sweet love. Someone's gonna have to teach him.
David Howard Thornton
I definitely do want to, like, get married and have kids. I'm actually at that phase of my life now where I definitely do want to settle down and do that because, like, for years I was working just so I could live comfortably, so I can have a family. Because, like, waiting tables in New York City, there's no way I was gonna be able to support a family and kids with, you know, just bring them to work.
Podcast Host 2
And you're getting ready for it because you're making a children's movie. You're playing Mickey Mouse.
David Howard Thornton
Exactly.
Podcast Host 1
Okay, I want to know. Can I ask about. So now, for those of you who don't know, there was a little teaser trailer before Terrifier three for the new. Like, I guess it was as soon as Steamboat Willie, the copyright ran out because I got a shirt that says fuck you, asshole with Steamboat Willie on it immediately from our buddies Met Syndicate. But my question is, is that when you, like. So how did that all happen? How quickly did that go down? So the movie's called Scream Boat, and you're playing a horror version of Steamboat Willie. Yes, that's all I know.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
And that's all you got to tell us, but more just like, how the fuck. Like, when did all that kind of happen?
David Howard Thornton
This all started happening, like, last year because the director from that is also my director from the mean one. And he. To a school with the fuzz on the lens, guys from Terrifier. So they kind of partnered up for this film because he's like, he. He knew this. This property was coming out in public domain in two in this year. And he's like, well, I. I want to snap it up before anybody else does because I have a great idea for this, and why not? So he approached me last year, was like, hey, I have this script playing Willie. Will you do it? I'm like, oh, my God, yes, of course. Because it's. It's a full circle moment for me too. Because my first big real leading role was back in eighth grade at my My middle school was. I played Mickey Mouse and Mickey's Christmas Carol, and that was the show that made me decide that I wanted to do theater more because I like making people laugh and everything like that. So it's a full circle moment. So I'm like, I have to do this. There's. There's no way I'm not doing this. So I. That's what we did. And we're like, okay, let's start filming it. Let's do it. And yeah, it's. It's a lot of fun. I just did ADR for it last week, so that a. A lot of fun for me. A lot of whistling.
Podcast Host 1
I can't wait. I can't wait to see it. Like, anything.
David Howard Thornton
Oh, it's insane.
Podcast Host 1
Anything that with Mickey, I'm happy with.
David Howard Thornton
It is such a horror comedy is. We're really leaning into the campy horror, like, comedy type of vibe for this. We're not trying to go full terrified, just trying to be dark and scary. We're like, oh, no, let's. We know what we are. We're having fun with it. And there's so many Disney jokes in there. It's. It's like, it's. It's a big, huge love letter to Disney and, and Disney fans. So I think the Disney fans will have so much fun with this movie. It also has one of my terrifyer co stars in it, Kaylee Hyman.
Podcast Host 1
Oh, great.
David Howard Thornton
She's in it too. She's hysterical.
Podcast Host 1
I can't wait for this. You know, now with that, we're going to be wrapping up here. I just want to leave the audience with. Are you like. So were you a horror movie guy?
David Howard Thornton
Really?
Podcast Host 1
Before all this?
David Howard Thornton
I was a little bit. I was more of a comedy guy, though I was late to horror. I didn't start watching horror till my senior year of high school because my mom was afraid of horror movies and stuff like that, so we didn't watch them in my family. But I saw Scream 2 in theaters because I couldn't chicken out in front of this girl I had a crush on in a show. And they all went to go see it. So I was like, okay, I'm gonna go. And I had a blast and was like, I love horror, but I never thought I would be doing this, though. I was like, I was always a comedy guy. I want to do comedy and Broadway and voiceovers for cartoons, and I was doing a lot of that. Before I took on Terrify, I was doing a lot of voiceover work for children's shows.
Podcast Host 1
Dude, it's kind of funny what doors open and what leads you. This business is very strange. And I do think it's like, I wish that in college someone had taught me more about like, you know, that like, it's not just be a movie star.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
Is necessarily make it in show business. You know what I mean? Like, you never know where the it is this thing's gonna take you.
David Howard Thornton
No, you just gotta. I learned long time ago, you just got to go with the flow. Wherever it leads you, just go with it. And yeah, I'm glad I did that because I. I wouldn't be here. I would still probably be waiting tables in New York City right now, struggling to get by.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. Think about the things you didn't get that you were angry about. Right. Like we're upset or sad about now.
David Howard Thornton
You realize I was up for five or six different Broadway tours right before I got Terrifier and they all fell through for me. And it was. I was very frustrated. I was in like final, final callbacks for like Susan Stroman and Roger Reeves and all these people. And I was like, oh, my God, I'm so close to getting something. And so I won't. Why won't something stick? And there's a reason for that. If I had gotten any of those, I wouldn't have been able to do Terrifier. And who knows?
Podcast Host 1
Weird.
Podcast Host 2
You are one of the all time horror icons now.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, it's in there now. 3.
Podcast Host 2
Really?
Podcast Host 1
Is that crazy? Is that ridiculous?
David Howard Thornton
Yeah, that's weird. It is very. I mean, I was just walking down the street here in Burbank the other night, just getting dinner. I had my glasses on, everything. I was a little bit disheveled because I had just gotten off the airplane and this one woman just recognized me right there on the street and like ran up to me and was like, oh, my God, I have to say something to you. And I'm like, I'm amazed you know who I am.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. Eventually you're gonna get a lot of like, kill me, not coming. Kill me. Pretend to kill. Pretend to choke me. Pretend to choke me.
Podcast Host 2
And Burbank is a horror town.
Podcast Host 1
Oh, it is. Very much so. Yeah. Well, so can. Is there any, like, what's your favorite horror movie?
David Howard Thornton
I really love just Wes Craven in general. I'm a big Nightmare on Elm street fan, also big Scream fan. I love slashers. That. That's always been my favorite genre of horror movies, the slashers. I think they're just fun.
Podcast Host 1
So for tonight, for Halloween, what are you doing what's your plan?
David Howard Thornton
I. Oh, actually, I don't have any plans because I'm going out of town. So you're traveling. I am traveling. On Halloween.
Podcast Host 1
That's a true spooky professional. Yeah, that's a true spooky professional. It's called a work day.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah, it's a work day.
Podcast Host 2
It's the busy season, we call it over here.
David Howard Thornton
It's crazy because everybody's like, what are you dressing up as? I'm like, I'm going as myself. Because dress up all year long as other characters. I was like, I'm going to myself.
Podcast Host 1
You'll have other years where you'll celebrate.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. And then you'll. You'll celebrate. You'll get. Eventually you're going to be the point. When you're doing terrifier 15, just being like. When you're in a full scuba suit and on the water set, you're just going to be like, this is the last one.
David Howard Thornton
All right?
Podcast Host 1
I'm not. You're like screaming over a tender green salad being like, I'm not doing this again. You know, like, just cut to that. Just know. Send out my stunt double.
David Howard Thornton
I'm not.
Podcast Host 1
What the hell? I gotta do goddamn Sydney. You tell Sydney Sweeney I'm busy, all right? My dick is empty. Thank you. I can't. I must work. Thank you so much. Yeah, it's all. No, it's disgusting. And you didn't say it. I said it. Thank you so much. David Howard Thornton. Heart the Clown.
Podcast Host 2
This was lovely, man.
Podcast Host 1
Is there anything else you want people to go look for?
David Howard Thornton
Well, my film Stream just came out on streaming platforms. It was in theaters a few months ago.
Podcast Host 1
It's called Stream.
David Howard Thornton
Stream. Stream Streaming.
Podcast Host 1
Is it on? Do you know which one? Just any. It's a good prime, at least on.
David Howard Thornton
Amazon prime, right off the top of my head. So.
Podcast Host 2
Nice, nice. And go see Scream Boat when that comes out. I'm so excited for that.
Podcast Host 1
And more importantly, go see terrifier 3. Oh, take your family and then watch it again, Christmas. Sneak in your kids. I actually think this is the one to really sneak in the kids to. You could. Don't. But no infants. Someone brought an infant. Someone brought an infant. Terrifier 3.
David Howard Thornton
Why?
Podcast Host 1
And they were just like. I guess it's because they can't. They know that the baby won't.
Podcast Host 2
They can't afford a babysitter, and they have to see you kill people.
Podcast Host 1
They have to see you kill people, so. Isn't that great? That's called the sticky audience.
David Howard Thornton
We did A screening this past weekend up in Detroit to a huge, giant emacs theater. And there were children in the audience that I even called them out. I'm like, oh, wait, how old are you? And they're. I'm six. And like, where's your parents?
Podcast Host 1
Over there.
David Howard Thornton
Hi. Yeah, parents are here. It's fine.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. Terrify 3. Terrify is hard to take.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
But, hey, I see.
Podcast Host 2
Hey.
David Howard Thornton
I leave it up to the parents to decide because, you know. Oh, yeah, that's gonna handle things. I mean, I look. I look at, like, Chrissy Fox, you know, who's in Part three. Her daughter L, who I would go to war for. She's five years old and she loves horror films. She loves horror films.
Podcast Host 1
That's how I was.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah.
Podcast Host 1
And look at me.
David Howard Thornton
She's great. She's totally fine. She's the cutest little thing. She. She travels like. We were on a airplane together. I pass her going to the restroom and Elle just looks up and goes, I'm watching Abigail and she's holding an Art and Found all at her hand.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah, that's amazing.
David Howard Thornton
Is the cute thing.
Podcast Host 1
Yeah. That's perfect. That's perfect.
David Howard Thornton
Yeah.
Podcast Host 2
Oh, man.
Podcast Host 1
Dude, thank you so much, man. Happy Halloween.
Podcast Host 2
Congratulations, buddy. This is amazing. You. You're really taking the world by storm. It's so cool to talk to.
David Howard Thornton
It's a wild ride. I'm just very grateful for it.
Podcast Host 1
So I will definitely have you back for four.
David Howard Thornton
Oh, definitely, definitely, definitely coming back for four, too.
Podcast Host 2
Yeah, man.
Podcast Host 1
All right. Well, hell say. And Happy Halloween.
Podcast Host 2
Hail Art the clown and the Genre.
Podcast Host 1
The genre.
Summary of "Terrifier 3: An Interview with David Howard Thornton"
Last Podcast On The Left hosted by The Last Podcast Network delves deep into the chilling realms of horror, cults, serial killers, and more. In the Halloween-special episode titled "Terrifier 3: An Interview with David Howard Thornton," the hosts engage in an engaging and insightful conversation with David Howard Thornton, the actor behind the infamous horror icon, Art the Clown.
The episode kicks off with an exciting announcement, as the hosts express their enthusiasm about having David Howard Thornton join them for a unique, one-off interview. The atmosphere is tinged with the spooky spirit of Halloween, setting the perfect backdrop for an in-depth discussion about the Terrifier franchise and David's role within it.
David Howard Thornton shares his journey into acting, highlighting his roots in children's theater and his extensive experience with prosthetics and makeup. He mentions his initial focus on stage and voiceover work before transitioning into film.
He reflects on his early roles, including understudying the Grinch and playing Grandpa, emphasizing his comfort and familiarity with heavy makeup and prosthetics—a skill that later proved invaluable in his portrayal of Art the Clown.
The conversation delves into the origins of Art the Clown, tracing his beginnings in All Hallows Eve and his evolution into a standalone horror icon through the Terrifier series.
David discusses the creative freedom afforded by director Damien Leone, contrasting it with his past experiences of being micro-managed by directors. This freedom has allowed Art the Clown to become a more fleshed-out and menacing character in each installment.
David provides an insider's view of the filmmaking process for Terrifier 3, particularly focusing on the balance between horror and campy comedy. He shares anecdotes about on-set experiences, such as the meticulous way certain scenes are crafted and the collaborative environment fostered by Damien Leone.
He emphasizes the intentional layering of horror elements to maintain suspense and terror, ensuring that Art the Clown remains unpredictable and frightening.
A significant portion of the interview explores the various weapons and methods Art the Clown employs, highlighting his versatility and unpredictable nature.
David asserts that no weapon is off-limits for Art, reinforcing the character's role as a relentless and inventive antagonist.
The discussion also touches upon the evolving lore of Art the Clown, particularly with hints about his supernatural aspects introduced at the end of the first film.
David expresses his excitement about future Terrifier installments and hints at the expansive plans for the character's lore in Terrifier 4 and beyond.
Additionally, he reveals his enthusiasm for an upcoming project titled Scream Boat, a horror-comedy twist on the classic Steamboat Willie, showcasing his versatility and continued passion for the horror genre.
The interview delves into David's personal life, shedding light on his aspirations beyond Art the Clown. He candidly discusses his dreams of portraying iconic characters like the Joker, drawing parallels between his comedic roots and his horror roles.
He reflects on his journey from struggling actor to horror icon, sharing heartfelt moments about fan interactions and the unexpected paths his career has taken.
David highlights the supportive nature of horror fans, contrasting it with his humorous take on comedy fans.
He recounts experiences from screenings, including encounters with young fans, emphasizing the universal appeal and impact of horror cinema.
As the interview wraps up, the hosts and David share lighthearted banter, cementing the camaraderie and mutual respect among them. David mentions his upcoming projects and expresses gratitude for his unexpected rise in the horror community.
The episode concludes with well-wishes for Halloween and excitement about future collaborations, leaving listeners eagerly anticipating the next installment of both Terrifier and David's acting ventures.
David Howard Thornton [04:19]: "I wanted experience doing work in on film because I had always just done stage work and voiceover work."
David Howard Thornton [08:39]: "Each scene is a different genre of horror movie... it's a fun, kind of like campy scene, but then the next scene, it's just terrifying."
David Howard Thornton [14:57]: "We have to still acknowledge that he is a clown. So he is having fun, but we don't want to go too cartoonish, campy with it all."
David Howard Thornton [21:26]: "He is just evil incarnate. He is just. That's why hell latched on to this guy."
David Howard Thornton [25:36]: "I want to return more to that Alan Moore era of the dark Joker."
David Howard Thornton [38:27]: "If I had gotten any of those, I wouldn't have been able to do Terrifier."
Listeners are encouraged to watch Terrifier 3 for its blend of horror and campy elements, explore David's other works like Stream, and stay tuned for upcoming projects such as Scream Boat. The hosts humorously suggest taking the film for a family viewing—albeit with the tongue firmly in cheek.
This episode not only provides a comprehensive look into David Howard Thornton's portrayal of Art the Clown but also offers valuable insights into horror filmmaking, character development, and the unexpected trajectories of an acting career. Whether you're a die-hard horror fan or new to the genre, this interview is a must-listen for its depth, humor, and behind-the-scenes revelations.