2024 has been a pivotal year for the popcorn bucket industry, a phrase seldom used in past years. This sudden surge in popularity can largely be attributed to the internet’s affinity for turning pop culture items into viral memes, particularly when they carry an unintentional provocative or salacious undertone. The “Dune: Part Two” sandworm popcorn bucket is a prime example of this phenomenon. Following this, the “Deadpool & Wolverine” franchise also jumped on the bandwagon, licensing their own popcorn bucket that was intentionally provocative. Although this marked the end of the popcorn bucket joke as a marital aid, it also signaled the beginning of a new trend: popcorn buckets as coveted movie memorabilia. From the “Alien: Romulus” Xenomorph head to the less risqué sandworm bucket for “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” these items are selling out rapidly in theaters nationwide.
As the trend of risqué popcorn buckets is tapering off, designers are shifting their focus towards creating quirky popcorn containers that tie in with new movie releases. This brings us to the question: can a popcorn bucket be terrifying? This is precisely the aim of the new popcorn bucket that Cinemark theaters will be selling to promote “Terrifier 3.” Preorders for this bucket, which may initially seem less unsettling than its predecessors, will start from September 18, ahead of the film’s October 11 release. This Art the Clown bucket, devoid of uncomfortable holes or moving parts, may still hold some surprises.
Santa Art is comin’ to town
Cineverse
The “Terrifier 3” popcorn bucket from Cinemark may not seem extraordinary at first glance. It’s simply a popcorn holder designed to resemble Art the Clown, the demonic serial killer character portrayed by David Howard Thornton. However, anyone familiar with Art the Clown knows that his eerie black and white clown makeup and unsettling stare are far from friendly. To add to the unease, the Art bucket features a particularly aggressive half-smile, half-growl, topped with a Santa Claus hat. Yes, “Terrifier 3” is a Christmas movie, and writer/director Damien Leone has embraced this element since the film’s initial teaser trailer. So, not only will Art be dressed as Santa in the film, but this bucket is also a representation of Santa Art.
Although the bucket is not as gruesome as one might expect or fear, given the “Terrifier” films’ reputation for extreme gore, it does contain a bit of blood splattered on Art’s face. This is a rare instance of the franchise adopting a “less is more” approach. The mere suggestion of blood, coupled with his evil stare set in stone (or plastic), makes for a rather intimidating object to have around, let alone on your lap. As the images and video of the bucket released so far do not reveal the popcorn compartment, it can be assumed that there’s either a hole in the top, or perhaps the Santa hat comes off. In either case, you’re likely going to be eating popcorn straight out of Art’s head. This is both a nod to consuming the brain of the brutal murderer and a tribute to a kill from Art’s repertoire: In “Terrifier 2,” Art dispatches Allie’s Mom (Amy Russ) on Halloween night, hollows out her head, and serves candy from it to trick or treaters. What a tribute!
The Terrifier 3 popcorn bucket might be used as a decoration, or something more horrifying
Cineverse
Like any popcorn bucket worth its salt (pun intended), the “Terrifier 3” bucket does not necessarily need to serve solely as a popcorn container. Given its festive holiday theme, it can double as a decoration for your Christmas celebrations. Who wouldn’t want to enjoy a turkey dinner with the family while Art takes center stage on your table? While the weight of the bucket is uncertain, most of them are not too heavy, so you could potentially tie a string to it and hang it on your Christmas tree. Or perhaps replace your front door wreath with it. The possibilities are endless!
However, there’s a hidden alternative use for the popcorn container, one that Cinemark might want to start advertising if the theatrical release of “Terrifier 3” is similar to “Terrifier 2.” Since Leone has publicly stated that the third film will continue the series’ tradition of extreme, over-the-top gore, it’s not too late to shift the marketing campaign from a popcorn bucket to a barf bucket. This would place the bucket and “Terrifier 3” in the long and proud tradition of boundary-pushing horror films that made licensed barf bags a key selling point. It would be a clever bit of promotional hype to get audiences excited and nervously anticipating the film, while still aligning with the grotesqueness of “Terrifier.” How about a diarrhea bucket instead of a barf bucket, given Art and the Little Pale Girl’s tendency to lose their bowels without warning? All this is to say, there’s no limit to how you can use your Art the Clown bucket. But please, refrain from posting any pictures of you using it online.
“Terrifier 3” will be released in theaters on October 11, 2024.
Credit: www.slashfilm.com
