By ERNIE MAGNOTTA 

With the evil – yet hilarious – Art the Clown (the amazing David Howard Thornton) as its central villain, the gore-filled Terrifier series has quickly become one of the most popular horror franchises of the last decade. The brainchild of talented writer-director-FX artist Damien Leone, the series has something just as important as Art going for it; a strong and identifiable final girl, Sienna Shaw (played brilliantly by the gifted Lauren LaVera).

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and a skilled martial artist, LaVera rose to fame thanks to her portrayal of Sienna in 2022’s Terrifier 2. She can also be seen in films such as Wetlands (2017), Not For Nothing (2022), The Fetus, The Well and The Life of Chuck (all released 2024) and on TV in episodes of  Iron Fist and Law & Order: Organized Crime,  just to name a few.

RUE MORGUE caught up with LaVera just days after the premiere of TERRIFIER 3. The cool and very down-to-earth actor happily chatted with us about a variety of subjects, including her approach to playing Sienna, the positive effect her character has had on viewers, working with special makeup FX, her favorite Art moment, acting with David Howard Thornton and returning for a sequel.

TERRIFIER 3 beat out major Hollywood films Joker: Folie à Deux and Megalopolis at the box office. We love seeing indie films do well, but this is history-making. It must be exciting and quite a surprise for all of you. 

It’s exciting, to say the least. It’s surreal. It’s not only exciting for us but also for the future of indie filmmakers. It’s a testament to what actual audiences want – original stories told by real people as opposed to this looming threat of AI.  

The Sienna character is well-fleshed out on the page in both Terrifier 2 and 3, but I was curious about what you added to her. Was your performance based on yourself or on anyone you know? 

“TERRIFIER 3’s” Lauren LaVera – 21st-century final girl

I certainly bring myself to every character I approach. My process is I write extensive notes that help build a whole world around my characters. I ask myself questions that aren’t on the page, so they feel like real and whole human beings. What would their day look like if the obstacles in the scene hadn’t occurred? What’s their favorite song? Questions that seem trivial but make the scenarios they’re put in more grounded for me. Aside from the usual work, for Sienna in TERRIFIER 3, I reached out to mental health facilities and watched YouTube videos on PTSD to have a better understanding of what she’s going through.

I believe that media has more of an impact on audiences than some people realize. I’m sure that your performances as Sienna have not only had a positive effect on girls and young women but on male fans, too. Do you feel the same way and have fans reached out to you about this? 

Absolutely. And I’ve had many interactions with fans who have told me how important Sienna is to them. Men and women alike have said that they feel represented by her and may even feel inspired or emboldened by her. That’s always been the ultimate goal for me. Film helped me feel less alone growing up, and I want to do the same for others.

That’s great. And I didn’t only mean the positivity of Sienna’s physical strength when fighting Art. I also meant her inner strength, emotionally, fighting through great trauma, which she does throughout this movie. 

Totally. I’ve had people even this weekend approach me and confide in me that they may have anxiety or PTSD, and to see Sienna conquer, in spite of all that, made them feel all the more capable. 

Excellent! You’ve been in some major practical FX scenes in this series. Which one was the trickiest for you? 

That would definitely be having to bite into the intestines in TERRIFIER 3. It just wasn’t working. We had to work on it for two days. 

The scene where you’re tied to the chair for a good ten to fifteen minutes must have taken at least a week to shoot. Was that the most difficult part of making part 3? 

It was definitely the most physically and emotionally taxing, but it was also the most rewarding to both film and watch on the big screen.

Your performance was incredible. I felt that Sienna was more emotional in this one – and rightly so. You showed some powerful acting here, and once again, got to play many different levels. 

Thank you so much, Ernie. 

Is it difficult to work yourself up into such a frantic state, like when you were tied to the chair and you think that a loved one has died and you pretty much go nuts? I’m thinking it would be, especially if you have to do multiple takes. 

I think the hardest thing about it is how tiring it is. Accessing those emotions might be easier some days than others. I find the hardest part is keeping that intensity up take after take. I always hope the one that’ll make it into the final cut is one of the earlier takes. Aside from losing energy, you start to lose the sense of spontaneity, and that can be frustrating.

Tell me a little bit about playing off of David Howard Thornton and Samantha Scaffidi, who kind of takes center stage in the third act.

It’s a dream. They’re wonderful actors and great scene partners. This was my first time working with Sam, and she was so attentive and just overall brilliant. 

Do you have a favorite Art the Clown moment from this film? Mine is when he sees Santa Claus and acts like an excited little kid.

That’s a great one! I like when he takes his glasses off to show Mia his eyes in the shower scene. It’s a satisfying full-circle moment. 

That’s a creepy scene. I also thought it was hilarious when he kept smacking you in the back of the head. You really have to start using some of those martial arts moves on him.

 [Laughs]

What about a favorite Sienna moment? 

I love when Sienna begins to fight back [and] says, “Best gift ever,” and spear-throws her sword at Vicky. Very satisfying and extremely fun to shoot.

Great moment. And your scenes with Antonella Rose were terrific too. She’s a talented kid.

She certainly is. She’s a joy to work with, and this is only the beginning for her for what will surely be a long and exciting career. 

Sienna already showed slight maternal qualities in Terrifier 2, but those qualities are brought out even more in her moments with Antonella. Would you agree?

That could very well be what Damien [Leone] was going for, but I don’t necessarily see her that way. I just see her more as a hero than maternal. What I love about Sienna, especially in part 3, is that her gender feels irrelevant. Her qualities aren’t necessarily feminine or masculine. She’s just a person, struggling, and fighting for family.

Well, I see huge things ahead for you – and not just in horror. But after you win a few Oscars, be sure to come back to the genre. In 35 years, when they do a legacy sequel, you have to return to kick Art’s old ass again. 

[Laughs] I appreciate that very much and I sure will!

To learn more about Lauren LaVera, visit her website. TERRIFIER 3 will be available via VOD on SCREAMBOX beginning November 26 – just in time for the holidays!