If you’re a fan of those horror and slasher movies, then of course, Terrifier must have been on your watchlist, and you might have already watched it, right? Well, this movie was released back in 2016, but it is once again in the headlines in 2025 because one of the actresses in the movie has actually brought up this Terrifier lawsuit, and the details are pretty disturbing, actually. So let’s get on with the details and see what it’s really about after all.
A Quick Recap of the Movie
For those who don’t know it yet, well, yes, Terrifier was initially a horror film made with a minimal budget. One of the characters, named Dawn, was played by Catherine Corcoran. If you don’t remember, she’s the one who gets killed in a very brutal manner in the movie, which is probably the most violent scene of the whole film. This particular scene is the centerpiece of this legal action, and we’ll be discussing it shortly.
Sure enough, the movie was initially funded with a very modest budget; however, it eventually turned out to be a great success, which some people had seen it coming. The total Terrifier fanbase has gone beyond the $100 million mark in earnings, which is quite insane for a series whose production costs were less than $2.5 million, as it has been rumored. The 2024 only, third-film, made the most of the franchise by racking up almost $89 million in revenue.
What’s In This Lawsuit?
Catherine went on with the legal action in California in October 2025. She is holding responsible the director Damien Leone, the producer Phil Falcone, and the production companies that worked on the movie.
Here’s what she claims happened:
“They Promised Her 1%, Then Disappeared”
Initially, Catherine was ready to accept a very small amount of money for her part. She claimed that the reason for that decision was a deal – she would get 1% of the income from the film, its sequels, and the merchandise.
Pretty fair, isn’t it? However, she said that the agreement was not honored.
According to her, at first, the money came at a good pace, but it gradually slowed until it stopped completely in July 2024. None! And so, as she tells it, she has only been paid in total about $8,341, of which only $6,400 came from merch (posters and apparel).
Just to give you a perspective on things, well, for a franchise that has made more than $100 million, it is less than a drop in the ocean.
Another thing she mentions is that after her attempts to get clarifications about her payments, she was met with silence. It is claimed that someone even responded: “I don’t keep records.”
The Scene That Crossed the Line
What about the terrible scene, the one in which her character is hung upside down, topless, and then, of course, brutally killed?
Catherine claims that she never agreed to be shown nude in writing. And it is quite an important thing. The SAG-AFTRA regulations (the actors’ union), which are quite clear in any case, went on to say and assert that the content of nudity in the scenes should obtain the written consent of the person concerned beforehand, without exception.
According to her, she requested to wear underwear during the scene and was given permission. But the thing is: the part that was ultimately released and is now on the posters is not what they had agreed upon.
However, the point is that it remains absolutely there. She, in addition, asserts that the production of the filming was only unsafe. Allegedly, they hung her upside down for 10 hours in the cold, and her outfit was soaked in fake blood. Later, a doctor told her that she had swelling in the head and problems with her ear due to staying upside down for such a long time.
