Damien’s statement was refreshing coming from Hollywood…why isn’t anyone at the Oscars/Netflix stating the same thing about Karla Sofia Gascón?! I mean it’s ridiculous. Hollywood is in bed with the Democratic Party and their far left ideology and Karla got a taste of the authoritarian left…hopefully this is the end of “Woke” Hollywood? Who knows but Damien is trying to eloquently navigate a political pendulum swing that is happening in the culture and please both sides in a commendable way. He knows where it’s going with the rise of the right (probably for the next 12 years at best, in my opinion) and he wants to make his movies as is. I’m sure he will reference politics big time at some point like bring Art to the White House! They did with Chucky! lol
If they bring Art to the White House, I’m out. But I agree with you. Emilia Perez feels like a movie that begs to be recognized for being “progressive” when in fact there are far better movies from even this year that tackled similar topics (I Saw The TV Glow).
It’s not all left or right though. That division is what’s killing the country. You can’t place people in one box or another. Humans are more complex.
But that’s beside the point. This post has nothing to do with left or right. It has to do with being anti-censorship and supporting freedom of expression and I sincerely hope Damien Leone understands that and it was just a poorly worded statement, because his movies are in fact political, just not in a red vs blue sense.
Please… enough is enough. Stop trying to make everyone take a side. There is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. Social media comments both past and potentially future by one or some involved with a film should not be seen as a statement for all or the franchise itself. What you have written is manipulative and I am sick of this style of propaganda. Essentially trying to pull everyone into being on one side or the other. Your diatribe goes far beyond what he was attempting to convey. I haven’t read the social media comments of Thornton. But you claim that every “decent” human being would see them as uncontroversial. This may be so, as I said I haven’t read them. But I also know as a gay man, there are many statements that claim to be supportive of LGBTQ+++++ that I personally find offensive. For one, I feel that there has been a hijacking. Many fought for equal rights, the right to get married, etc. We had come so far, but now there are these people who will never be happy and will always want more. It went from being treated equal, to being special. And I don’t want to be a part of that. And neither do many others. Time for some do-gooders to wake up.
You should read David's comments then. He said nothing other than "if you're going to hate these people, then don't follow me". Pretty basic message of tolerance. Not extreme at all. I am sure Damien received messages about that from some hateful people and thought he had to say something.
Either way, the release of this film was political. I praised it for being so anti-censorship and sticking it to the system. He was making a statement, and is now backtracking saying he has nothing to say. Can't have it both ways.
I respectfully disagree. While one may assume he was referring to just Thornton and the specific post you are referring to, it is entirely possible he was speaking in a broader context. I think being “general” here was the right approach. Calling out individuals or specific statements really amounts to taking a side. In fairness to him, the times we are living in are not comparable to any other. Yes, there were challenges then, and opposing views. But the “us vs them” mentality was not the same then as it is now. If he doesn’t want himself, other workers on the film or the film itself to be pulled into polarizing conversations that is understandable. Especially when “cancel culture” is still a thing.
You mentioned books being banned (I personally have ordered some of the books banned from schools in Florida just to see myself. Even I was shocked at the graphic depictions that should not be seen by kids - KIDS). The books being banned are usually kids books.
You may be referring to other books and you can correct me. But in film there is a ratings system for a reason. Do I think a child should watch Terrifier 3? No.
Damien certainly pushes the limits, but it is up to him where the focus is. Individuals who may use their notoriety (intentional or not) from the film to get into political conversations is their choice. And he says that. Damien also has the right to provide clarity to the wider population who may not be able to discern that an individual does not necessarily speak for the whole.
Forgive me for rambling, but I just don’t see the issue here that you see. We can agree to disagree. And sadly, that shouldn’t be a political thing, but in the world we live today a difference in views usually is.
I will add that a message of tolerance is obviously positive on the surface. And I would support any message that speaks against hate. If Damien’s post is only responding to that sole message I may have a different thought on it. However, the sad thing is that even “Pride” has changed. What was once a welcoming celebration for all has become almost a militant group of whoever wants to be “something different”. I was just speaking with a group of fellow gay friends the other day about this. “Pride” has become a political movement. And it has been somewhat hijacked by those that want special treatment. I would argue that “Pride” used to be a statement. Everyone was welcome and it was a celebration of being free to be who you are. A lot of us have now been alienated from what “Pride” once was. And I don’t know if it will ever be what it once was.
This is a bigger conversation and now I am rambling a little.
LOL Too bad I didn’t live near you, as it would be fun to grab a beer and have a good discussion/debate on all this. :)
While horror often reflects societal and cultural issues, not all filmmakers approach their work with explicit political intent. Damien Leone’s statement seems to clarify that Terrifier was created for pure entertainment rather than as a political statement, which doesn’t negate the genre’s broader historical context. This may simply be a case of miscommunication, art can carry unintended political meaning, but that doesn’t mean every creator consciously engages with it. Acknowledging both perspectives fosters better understanding rather than division.
He contradicts this statement with his own past statements about sticking it to the MPAA and going "rogue" with his unrated, uncensored release to theaters. You cant have it both ways. He made a political statement with this film about censorship and breaking down these boundaries, and then backtracked to say nothing about the film is political.
Nothing about the film itself may be overtly political. I agree - its a killer clown, horror comedy. It isn't deep. But the release strategy certainly is and challenged established systems, which is a political statement about the way our films and media are governed.
You're right that Leone's stance seems to contradict some of the decisions he made in releasing Terrifier in the way that he did. The choice to go unrated, for example, is undeniably a statement against censorship and the MPAA, which does have political undertones, even if the film itself doesn't overtly push a political agenda. I think Leone might be trying to distance himself from the idea that Terrifier is intentionally political, but it’s hard to ignore that the way it was released certainly challenges established norms and systems. It’s an interesting grey area, where the actions surrounding the film have a political impact, even if the film itself doesn’t try to make a political statement. The context definitely matters in these conversations, and I agree that it’s not always as clear-cut as a simple yes or no.
To be honest, I don’t think any of this was intentional on Leone’s part. It feels like a rushed response, possibly not worded the way he would've wanted. I think a lot of the frustration around this comes down to miscommunication. After all, it's been well over six years since he last addressed this topic, so maybe things have changed, or he's had more time to reflect on how his words might come across. It’s easy for statements like this to get misinterpreted, especially when dealing with complex topics like censorship and artistic freedom.
I agree. I wish he had taken some more time to write this all out, because it’s just caused a Streisand Effect. He did more harm than good by trying to say something and doing it poorly.
Also, I really appreciate that Leone is pushing the boundaries with Terrifier, especially when so many modern horror films seem to play it safe. Art, especially Horror Movies, thrive when it's willing to take risks and challenge expectations. Horror has always been a genre that disrupts, questions, and breaks boundaries, and I think Terrifier does that in a way we don’t see often these days. That’s something I think a lot of people miss when focusing on the controversy, it’s about pushing art forward, even if that means stepping on some toes.
This is hilariously and horrifically true...politics can seem quite horrific in reality...examples of this are political controversies and politicide in general. This is the world we love in today. It is like genocide versus politicide... an inclusive notion anyone could consider.
Damien’s statement was refreshing coming from Hollywood…why isn’t anyone at the Oscars/Netflix stating the same thing about Karla Sofia Gascón?! I mean it’s ridiculous. Hollywood is in bed with the Democratic Party and their far left ideology and Karla got a taste of the authoritarian left…hopefully this is the end of “Woke” Hollywood? Who knows but Damien is trying to eloquently navigate a political pendulum swing that is happening in the culture and please both sides in a commendable way. He knows where it’s going with the rise of the right (probably for the next 12 years at best, in my opinion) and he wants to make his movies as is. I’m sure he will reference politics big time at some point like bring Art to the White House! They did with Chucky! lol
If they bring Art to the White House, I’m out. But I agree with you. Emilia Perez feels like a movie that begs to be recognized for being “progressive” when in fact there are far better movies from even this year that tackled similar topics (I Saw The TV Glow).
It’s not all left or right though. That division is what’s killing the country. You can’t place people in one box or another. Humans are more complex.
But that’s beside the point. This post has nothing to do with left or right. It has to do with being anti-censorship and supporting freedom of expression and I sincerely hope Damien Leone understands that and it was just a poorly worded statement, because his movies are in fact political, just not in a red vs blue sense.
Please… enough is enough. Stop trying to make everyone take a side. There is absolutely nothing wrong with what he said. Social media comments both past and potentially future by one or some involved with a film should not be seen as a statement for all or the franchise itself. What you have written is manipulative and I am sick of this style of propaganda. Essentially trying to pull everyone into being on one side or the other. Your diatribe goes far beyond what he was attempting to convey. I haven’t read the social media comments of Thornton. But you claim that every “decent” human being would see them as uncontroversial. This may be so, as I said I haven’t read them. But I also know as a gay man, there are many statements that claim to be supportive of LGBTQ+++++ that I personally find offensive. For one, I feel that there has been a hijacking. Many fought for equal rights, the right to get married, etc. We had come so far, but now there are these people who will never be happy and will always want more. It went from being treated equal, to being special. And I don’t want to be a part of that. And neither do many others. Time for some do-gooders to wake up.
You should read David's comments then. He said nothing other than "if you're going to hate these people, then don't follow me". Pretty basic message of tolerance. Not extreme at all. I am sure Damien received messages about that from some hateful people and thought he had to say something.
Either way, the release of this film was political. I praised it for being so anti-censorship and sticking it to the system. He was making a statement, and is now backtracking saying he has nothing to say. Can't have it both ways.
I respectfully disagree. While one may assume he was referring to just Thornton and the specific post you are referring to, it is entirely possible he was speaking in a broader context. I think being “general” here was the right approach. Calling out individuals or specific statements really amounts to taking a side. In fairness to him, the times we are living in are not comparable to any other. Yes, there were challenges then, and opposing views. But the “us vs them” mentality was not the same then as it is now. If he doesn’t want himself, other workers on the film or the film itself to be pulled into polarizing conversations that is understandable. Especially when “cancel culture” is still a thing.
You mentioned books being banned (I personally have ordered some of the books banned from schools in Florida just to see myself. Even I was shocked at the graphic depictions that should not be seen by kids - KIDS). The books being banned are usually kids books.
You may be referring to other books and you can correct me. But in film there is a ratings system for a reason. Do I think a child should watch Terrifier 3? No.
Damien certainly pushes the limits, but it is up to him where the focus is. Individuals who may use their notoriety (intentional or not) from the film to get into political conversations is their choice. And he says that. Damien also has the right to provide clarity to the wider population who may not be able to discern that an individual does not necessarily speak for the whole.
Forgive me for rambling, but I just don’t see the issue here that you see. We can agree to disagree. And sadly, that shouldn’t be a political thing, but in the world we live today a difference in views usually is.
I will add that a message of tolerance is obviously positive on the surface. And I would support any message that speaks against hate. If Damien’s post is only responding to that sole message I may have a different thought on it. However, the sad thing is that even “Pride” has changed. What was once a welcoming celebration for all has become almost a militant group of whoever wants to be “something different”. I was just speaking with a group of fellow gay friends the other day about this. “Pride” has become a political movement. And it has been somewhat hijacked by those that want special treatment. I would argue that “Pride” used to be a statement. Everyone was welcome and it was a celebration of being free to be who you are. A lot of us have now been alienated from what “Pride” once was. And I don’t know if it will ever be what it once was.
This is a bigger conversation and now I am rambling a little.
LOL Too bad I didn’t live near you, as it would be fun to grab a beer and have a good discussion/debate on all this. :)
While horror often reflects societal and cultural issues, not all filmmakers approach their work with explicit political intent. Damien Leone’s statement seems to clarify that Terrifier was created for pure entertainment rather than as a political statement, which doesn’t negate the genre’s broader historical context. This may simply be a case of miscommunication, art can carry unintended political meaning, but that doesn’t mean every creator consciously engages with it. Acknowledging both perspectives fosters better understanding rather than division.
He contradicts this statement with his own past statements about sticking it to the MPAA and going "rogue" with his unrated, uncensored release to theaters. You cant have it both ways. He made a political statement with this film about censorship and breaking down these boundaries, and then backtracked to say nothing about the film is political.
Nothing about the film itself may be overtly political. I agree - its a killer clown, horror comedy. It isn't deep. But the release strategy certainly is and challenged established systems, which is a political statement about the way our films and media are governed.
You're right that Leone's stance seems to contradict some of the decisions he made in releasing Terrifier in the way that he did. The choice to go unrated, for example, is undeniably a statement against censorship and the MPAA, which does have political undertones, even if the film itself doesn't overtly push a political agenda. I think Leone might be trying to distance himself from the idea that Terrifier is intentionally political, but it’s hard to ignore that the way it was released certainly challenges established norms and systems. It’s an interesting grey area, where the actions surrounding the film have a political impact, even if the film itself doesn’t try to make a political statement. The context definitely matters in these conversations, and I agree that it’s not always as clear-cut as a simple yes or no.
To be honest, I don’t think any of this was intentional on Leone’s part. It feels like a rushed response, possibly not worded the way he would've wanted. I think a lot of the frustration around this comes down to miscommunication. After all, it's been well over six years since he last addressed this topic, so maybe things have changed, or he's had more time to reflect on how his words might come across. It’s easy for statements like this to get misinterpreted, especially when dealing with complex topics like censorship and artistic freedom.
I agree. I wish he had taken some more time to write this all out, because it’s just caused a Streisand Effect. He did more harm than good by trying to say something and doing it poorly.
Also, I really appreciate that Leone is pushing the boundaries with Terrifier, especially when so many modern horror films seem to play it safe. Art, especially Horror Movies, thrive when it's willing to take risks and challenge expectations. Horror has always been a genre that disrupts, questions, and breaks boundaries, and I think Terrifier does that in a way we don’t see often these days. That’s something I think a lot of people miss when focusing on the controversy, it’s about pushing art forward, even if that means stepping on some toes.
This is hilariously and horrifically true...politics can seem quite horrific in reality...examples of this are political controversies and politicide in general. This is the world we love in today. It is like genocide versus politicide... an inclusive notion anyone could consider.