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But what’s a horror villain without an equally important “Last Lady”? For the Terrifying films, that honor goes to Lauren LaVera, who joined the franchise as Sienna Shaw in the second film and quickly became not only a formidable foil to the murderous mime, but also a huge fan favorite.

Sienna is back on the Christmas scene Terrifying 3which takes place five years after the events of the previous film. And although Art took a much-needed nap between films, he returns just as effectively, more brutal than ever.

Speaking to TooFab ahead of the trio’s release, LaVera revealed how gross things were received by her on set… despite not being too bothered by all the blood, guts and gruesome deaths in each of the films.

“When I see the practical results, I’m just amazed by it and they don’t really bother me. I really need extra moments in really emotional scenes. I would need a moment to recover from this and breathe because my body doesn’t know the difference,” she shared. “Like, I’m stressing out, and even though I can snap out of it mentally, my body is still sweating and just stressed.”

Although she was hesitant to say much about the particular scene, LaVera teased a “gag where I actually choked up because of it.” The second in question required her to “chew one thing and the goo was meant to shoot, but instead it shot straight up my nose.

“And it was cherry puree and hand soap. So I was coughing up red hand soap for days after that and I was really uncomfortable,” she continued. “And when (director Damien Leone) shouted ‘Minimize!’ I’m like, choking. I’m like, ‘Oh, someone give me a towel.’ And Damien said, ‘Wait a second.’ He will take your cell phone. He’s like, ‘Say cheese.’ He loves to delight in our anguish.”

At this point, the third film was an altogether more comfortable filming experience for LaVera – who spent most of the time Terrifying 2 in a Valkyrie warrior outfit that, while it looked incredible, was also incredibly uncomfortable for the actress to wear.

“I hated carrying that costume. It was the worst, it was so uncomfortable. I was so excited to wear a little oversized jeans, a sweater. Like, I was fully dressed,” said LaVera, who will be wearing comfy, cozy winter clothes throughout the new film.

“I was like, that was amazing. I may have filler. I couldn’t put upholstery Terrifying 2 when I was whipped and thrown around… my skin was exposed, so I couldn’t,” she continued. “I had to take a lot less ibuprofen this time, which was good.”

While she “loved” the wardrobe update, she also teased a “eye-catching and iconic kind of finish” final look that fans will have to wait to see on display.

That final look she teases is featured during a big showdown between her and the terrifying clown, a showdown that also includes art and a chainsaw.

“That was, like, my favorite week on set. So I have to give props to Drew Leary, our stunt coordinator,” said LaVera, who added that she was “really excited” to film the final showdown after training with stunt double for David Howard Thornton, who plays Art.

“Bobby was unimaginable. Sometimes (he and Dave) stand next to each other and I’m like, ‘Which is which?’” she continued. “But I think I understand how Dave moves, so as they moved, I knew which was which… But Bobby was amazing, so collaborative. I always thought, ‘Are you okay with this?’ And stunt guys don’t normally get that question, so he’s like, ‘Why are you asking me that? Like, I’m advantageous.’”

Despite her own martial arts experience, LaVera rewarded her stunt double, Jenna Hellmuth, for taking on some of the more dangerous moves that her director wouldn’t allow her to do.

“I understand, because in his mind, if I get hurt, we lose days, we lose time,” she said, before adding that she was “perfectly satisfied” to be able to “do all the prevention” this time round – less than a second in which she is dragged downstairs and thrown onto a couch.

Becoming a member of Terrifying universe was a groundbreaking moment for LaVera, who appeared in episodes of Iron Fist and MacGyver – as well as stunt double for Anya Taylor-Pleasure in Cut – before landing in Sienna’s position. The huge success of the second film, which grossed almost $16 million on a budget of $250,000, wasn’t exactly something she expected.

“I mean, it’s definitely surprising. I know it shouldn’t be,” she said of the franchise’s upward trajectory, before revealing what Leone told her when she was cast.

“(David Howard Thornton) and Damien took me to Outback Steakhouse and I remember – because Damien and I, like, shared the brownie dessert, which is so good – and I was like, I have to get in shape for this movie. . Like, this is my last time — it wasn’t my last time — and I remember Damien telling me that he believes Sienna would be the Batman to Art’s Joker,” she recalled.

“And I was like, ‘Okay, sit down, what are you talking about?’ And he said, ‘I’m telling you, Lau, this is going to be amazing. Like, people are really going to love Sienna,’” she continued, adding that while she “believed in his passion” at the time, she “didn’t understand the scope and trajectory it could take.”

“It feels like a dream come true,” she said of the franchise’s success, adding, “Daily I pinch myself.”

Since the second film took off, LaVera has been a fixture on the horror conference circuit, where she’s met tons of fans who feel an emotional connection to her character. Because it’s a franchise that prides itself on blood and violence, the actress said she was surprised by how much the films – and Sienna, in particular – touched people.

“I think the moments I really have (how much people care) are when I’m at conventions and I have these women dressed as Sienna — men too, but mostly women — dressed as Sienna,” she shared. “They come up to me shaking and crying and say, like, ‘I lost a mom or a dad and I feel represented by Sienna. And I feel less alone with Sienna. And that’s the dream. That’s why I started acting.

“When I think about it, it hits me on such a deep and emotional level, especially considering the type of film it is. It’s such a wicked film and the fact that people are so emotionally attached to it is really everything we could have hoped for,” she added.

And although this depravity will likely continue in more installments, LaVera left TooFab with no comment on whether she believes Art the Clown can actually be killed. Even though we’ve seen him die in the past, he keeps coming back.

“’Works of art can be killed. But can he stay dead? is the question,” she replied. “I know the answer to that. OK. And I don’t assume I can tell you.

Stay tuned!

Terrifier 3 hits theaters on October 11, 2024.