Independent Artist Matt Bolea Speaks Out about Additional ‘Terrifier’ Allegations
Many people have reportedly shared confidential stories of feeling “misled” or “cheated,” but are apprehensive about retaliation if they come forward.
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Last week we shared the widely reported story about Catherine Corcoran suing Damien Leone and the producers of Terrifier (2016) for breach of contract. Since then, more stories have come out that appear to paint a bleak picture about the behind-the-scenes machinations of the Terrifier juggernaut.
IndieWire published a story on October 31st about Steve Barton (co-founder of Dread Central and a prominent figure in supporting and promoting Terrifier from 2017 to 2023) and his disappointment with how his extensive contributions towards the success of the franchise were dismissed by producer Phil Falcone. Today, IndieWire followed up that story with another that adds even more context to the growing narrative.
Published on November 6th, the latest allegations concerning the business and social practices of some of the people behind Terrifier come from freelance artists whose work helped organically build excitement for the film series among a growing number of fans. Acting as the voice for the individuals who may be unwilling or too apprehensive to come forward is Matt Bolea.
In his interview with IndieWire, Bolea talks about how his Terrifier fan art started becoming so popular in the “Art the Clown Appreciation Society” (ATCAS) Facebook group that it was suggested that he should get an official licensing deal. He was put into contact with Phil Falcone, but he says that Falcone summarily shut down any talks of a deal while emphasizing that he wasn’t licensed to sell any Terrifier related merchandise. Bolea states that he was confused and frustrated by the hard-line stance, but that was just the beginning.
Bolea describes that the ordeal led to other people who have had direct dealings with members of the Terrifier team to come forward with their experiences. Bolea shared screenshots with IndieWire that reportedly show “in-fighting between ATCAS and the core Terrifier team” that include the moderators “viciously disparaging a number of people — including Falcone.” An additional revelation conveyed by Bolea is that he was told by a licensee that Falcone demanded exorbitant 35% royalty fees from people hoping to create and sell merchandise, a rate that is seen as unsustainable for smaller businesses.
I urge you to go check out the IndieWire article to get the full scope of Matt Bolea’s experience, which continued to spiral as the ATCAS administrators who had once supported him began to turn against him and others who spoke out against Damien Leone and/or Phil Falcone. This isn’t a story about a disgruntled fan, it’s about someone speaking out when certain individuals within the community have apparently harassed and slandered those who do step forward. IndieWire indicates that “many” people have shared stories with them confidentially, but they wouldn’t agree to be named officially out of fear of “legal and social retaliation.”
