10 Movies and Shows Similar to Terrifier (2018)

Description: Wes Craven's debut shares Terrifier's raw, grimy aesthetic and boundary-pushing violence. Both films feature brutal revenge plots and unflinching depictions of suffering. The low-budget, documentary-like style creates a similarly uncomfortable viewing experience.

Fact: The film was inspired by Ingmar Bergman's The Virgin Spring. Much of the cast were non-actors, including the lead actress's real parents. The MPAA forced Craven to cut several minutes of footage to avoid an X rating.

Description: Halloween shares similarities with Terrifier in its focus on a relentless, masked killer (Michael Myers) who terrorizes victims with brutal violence. Both films emphasize suspense, gore, and a sense of unstoppable evil. The low-budget, gritty aesthetic of Halloween also mirrors Terrifier's independent horror roots.

Fact: Halloween was made on a budget of just $325,000 but grossed over $70 million worldwide. The iconic mask worn by Michael Myers was actually a modified Captain Kirk mask from Star Trek. Director John Carpenter composed the film's famous score in just three days.

Description: Like Terrifier, Friday the 13th features a masked killer (Jason Voorhees) who dispatches victims in creative and gruesome ways. Both films are slashers that prioritize practical effects and over-the-top gore. The isolated, eerie settings (Camp Crystal Lake vs. Terrifier's abandoned buildings) amplify the horror.

Fact: Jason Voorhees doesn't actually become the main killer until the sequels; his mother is the villain in the original. The film's famous 'ki-ki-ki, ma-ma-ma' sound effect was created by saying 'kill, kill, kill' and 'mom, mom, mom' backwards. Kevin Bacon made his film debut in Friday the 13th.

Description: While more supernatural than Terrifier, A Nightmare on Elm Street shares its emphasis on a uniquely terrifying villain (Freddy Krueger) and inventive kill scenes. Both films push boundaries with their violence and have a dark, surreal tone. The dreamlike visuals in Elm Street parallel Terrifier's nightmarish atmosphere.

Fact: Freddy Krueger was inspired by real-life serial killer Ed Gein. Wes Craven originally wanted to cast a fat, middle-aged man as Freddy but was overruled by the studio. The infamous 'blood geyser' scene used 500 gallons of fake blood.

Description: Hellraiser and Terrifier both feature extreme body horror and sadistic villains (Pinhead and Art the Clown). The films share a transgressive, boundary-pushing approach to horror, with graphic violence and disturbing imagery. Both have become cult classics for their uncompromising visions.

Fact: Clive Barker based the Cenobites on S&M enthusiasts he knew in London's underground scene. Pinhead was originally a minor character but became the franchise's icon. The film's budget was so low that the 'Lament Configuration' puzzle box was made from a pizza box.

Description: Child's Play shares Terrifier's focus on a memorably monstrous villain (Chucky) who delights in violence. Both films blend horror with dark humor, though Terrifier is more extreme in its gore. The idea of an inanimate object (a doll) coming to life parallels Art the Clown's uncanny, exaggerated appearance.

Fact: Chucky was voiced by Brad Dourif, who also played serial killer Ed Gein in a TV movie. The original script had the doll possessed by a serial killer's spirit, not a voodoo curse. The film was almost banned in the UK during the 'video nasty' era.

Description: Saw and Terrifier both feature elaborate, sadistic violence and morally ambiguous scenarios. While Saw focuses more on psychological torture, its graphic, inventive kills are reminiscent of Terrifier's over-the-top gore. Both films spawned franchises built on escalating brutality.

Fact: The entire film was shot in just 18 days. The iconic 'reverse bear trap' was inspired by a nightmare writer Leigh Whannell had. The bathroom set was built inside a real abandoned bathroom in a rundown building.

Description: The Hills Have Eyes remake shares Terrifier's unflinching approach to violence and survival horror. Both films feature protagonists pushed to extremes by monstrous antagonists. The desert setting creates a similarly bleak, hopeless atmosphere to Terrifier's urban wasteland.

Fact: Director Alexandre Aja insisted on using practical effects for all the gore. The mutants were inspired by real-life inbred families like the Sawney Bean clan. The film's climax was shot during an actual sandstorm in Morocco.

Description: This French extreme horror film matches Terrifier's unrelenting brutality and claustrophobic tension. Both feature unstoppable killers (the mysterious woman vs. Art the Clown) and shocking, graphic violence. The films share a nihilistic tone and willingness to traumatize audiences.

Fact: The entire film takes place in one location over a single night. Director Alexandre Bustillo used his own blood for some of the effects. The film was banned in several countries for its extreme violence.

Description: This found-footage horror film shares Terrifier's disturbing, realistic approach to violence. Both feature sadistic killers who document their crimes, creating an unsettling voyeuristic experience. The films push boundaries of what's acceptable in horror.

Fact: The film was shot in 2001 but not released until 2007 due to its extreme content. Director John Erick Dowdle based the killer on real serial killers like Ted Bundy. The actress who played Cheryl Dempsey reportedly had nightmares for weeks after filming.