TERRIFIER star David Howard Thornton has admitted he’s scared of the dark, while also sharing the scenes that freak him out on set.
The talented actor is the face behind demonic clown Art, from the gruesome Terrifier films – -, whose extra-curricular activities include hacking off body parts, scalping victims and using broken bottles to torture people.
Terrifier star David Howard Thornton has admitted he’s scared of the darkCredit: Getty
The talented actor is the face behind demonic clown ArtCredit: Alamy
The three movies have seen cinemagoers running out to be sick, as well as passing out.
But despite his terrifying on-screen presence, actor David describes himself as a “big softie” away from the cameras, and even has a fear of the dark.
Opening up to The Sun ahead of Halloween, he candidly admitted: “I don’t really get scared at horror films like other people do, because I’m usually laughing my head off at the kill scenes.
“But the Paranormal Activity films scare the crap out of me. Like Blair Witch or anything that looks like real life stuff.
“Plus, I don’t like dark spaces. I had a huge fear of the dark as a kid, and so I don’t like dark spaces or being out in the dark or in the woods in the dark, or anything like that.”
The horror movie actor went on: “You don’t know what’s out there in the dark, and that’s what scares me. In the Paranormal films where you had the bedroom scenes and you’re just waiting and expecting something to come out of the doorway – no thank you.
“It really freaks me out.”
The actor admitted he even has to have all his doors closed in his house and room when he goes to sleep, due to his fear of dark voids.
And as well as dark spaces, David also cannot stand seeing vomit – something he has to see his fair share of while on set for the Terrifier films.
The star, whose dream role is to take on the Joker, said he sees some completely gruesome things on set, but it’s sick that gets to him the most.
He shared: “Obviously there’s a lot of gore, there’s a lot of extreme stuff going on.
“Occasionally you’re having to handle some kind of like, you know, bits of meat and stuff like that, that’s where the ick factor comes in sometimes because you’re like, oh gosh, I need to really wash my hands after this.
“But the one part in part three that really grossed me out a lot was the puke, because I cannot stand it.”
“The rat scene involved projectile vomiting and I just thought ‘I hate this.’
“I was like ‘ can’t y’all just put my stunt double in and let him be my arm or something like that?’ They’re like, ‘Oh, Dave, your face is in the shot.’ My face was not in shot.
“And it was horrible too because they used this nasty cream of mushroom soup, and they put other stuff in it too and it smelt horrible. Plus the room was hot, so it was just so gross.
“Then my co-star Samantha Scafiti came down eating this horrible smelling bag of corn nuts and was just breathing it in my face on purpose just to gross me out more and I’m like this is just so much fun.”
Towards the end of last year, ‘s supernatural killer Art the Clown returned, alongside actress Lauren LaVera, in the freaky flick – and
Other fans relished the gross-out and couldn’t get enough, even marvelling at the fact that they were handed sick bags in the cinemas upon entry.
And David has revealed his “pride” at the impact the slasher film has had on fans.
He told The Sun: “There is a little bit of vindication there.
“I’m like, yeah, we did something, we affected people in a certain way. Also, I know I got grossed out at some parts, so the fact that the audience does too, well, it means I don’t feel like a total wimp.
“It’s kind of cool and it’s kind of a sense of pride to know that people had to get up and leave your movie because they got so scared or grossed out.”
The horror movie star continued: “You don’t want people walking out in other genres of films, but in horror it’s like a badge of honor.”
But there’s one aspect of filming that David admits to struggling with.
“Don’t get me wrong there are different things that I’ve been uncomfortable doing because I’m a big softy at heart.
“I’m a pacifist in real life and so I really had to get used to the fighting in these movies and doing back things to people.
“But I always try to check in with my co-stars and make sure they’re OK. I don’t want to hurt them, especially children.”
The former teacher continued: “I have a degree in elementary education, so I love children. I want to protect children.
“So like the scene in part three where I’m having to just torment Gabby and have a knife to a child’s throat and just doing sadistic things to a child creeped me out.
“And Antonella Rose, who played Gabby, is such a fantastic little actress. She was shaking and crying even after we had cut and so I thought I was traumatising this poor child.
“I kept saying to her ‘I am so, so sorry,’ but she was like ‘no I’m doing great, I’m having fun,’ and so I thought wow, what a great actress.
“It really skeeved me out though, doing that to a child. I even went up to her mom and said ‘If I’m doing anything that makes you uncomfortable please let me know. I want her to be OK and for you guys to be OK with what is going on.’
“But her mum was like ‘yeah if she’s uncomfortable with anything she’ll let you know.’
“With children, I want to make sure that they’re OK because I don’t want to be responsible for some child having to go for years of therapy.”
For those ready to embrace the horror, and are available for free on Tubi this Halloween.
Tubi offers streaming movies in genres like Action, Horror, Sci-Fi, Crime and Comedy.
The actor admitted he even has to have all his doors closed in his house and room when he goes to sleepCredit: Getty
Terrifier 1 & 2 are available for free on Tubi this HalloweenCredit: Alamy 
