Summary
- Seth MacFarlane’s love of nostalgic pop culture references shines through in his TV shows, like Family Guy.
- Fan art combines the dark horror of the Terrifier franchise with the satirical humor of Family Guy.
- While Family Guy celebrates its 25th anniversary, Terrifier 3 is set to continue its gruesome murderous rampage.
When it comes to pop culture references, Seth MacFarlane’s love of nostalgic throwbacks to the ’80s and ’90s has become an integral part of his TV shows. This is certainly true of the animated sitcom Family Guy, and now a new piece of fan art has incorporated a very modern pop culture icon into the franchise in an unexpected Terrifier crossover.
As one of the most talked about and brutal movie franchises of recent years, the Terrifier movies introduced the character of Art the Clown to a wider audience than his earlier interpretations, and is set to release a third movie next year. However, one thing the movie is not going to deliver is the kind of giggity-giggity horror that artist Daniel Björk recently shared on his Instagram account.
At the center of this artwork are two iconic characters from MacFarlane’s long-running series. Glenn Quagmire, the notoriously inappropriate neighbor of the Griffin family, is reimagined as Art the Clown. Coming complete with Art’s black and white costume, Quagmire’s unnerving smile would certainly make you want to start walking in the opposite direction very quickly. One person who doesn’t have this luxury is Meg Griffin, who is suspended upside down alongside him, awaiting the gruesome fate of Dawn from the original Terrifier movie, a scene that first cemented Damien Leone’s franchise as something beyond your average horror movie. The artwork is a masterful juxtaposition of the dark, visceral horror of Terrifier and the more jovial satire of Family Guy.
The Worlds of Terrifier and Family Guy are Very Different
The Terrifier series made a real impact on the horror scene in 2016, although the character of Art the Clown originally appeared back in 2008 in the short, The 9th Circle. With its relentless gore and an instantly unforgettable central villain, portrayed in both Terrifier movies by David Howard Thornton, the franchise has redefined modern horror, and is not stopping yet. Terrifier 3 is already causing outrage thanks to the first teaser receiving a lot of criticism for hinting at the gruesome death of a child.
On the other hand, Family Guy is now about to celebrate its 25th anniversary as a hugely popular staple of adult animated programming. Known for its sharp wit, cultural parodies, and irreverent, mostly inappropriate, humor, the series is still one of MacFarlane’s greatest achievements, despite having been canceled and revived twice in its history. Whether we will ever see the Griffins take on Art the Clown in the show is something we can only wait to find out, but it would certainly not be out of the question.
Season 22 of Family Guy kicked off in October this year, and has already been renewed for season 23, meaning that the Griffins will be on screens for at least another two years. Meanwhile, Art the Clown will return for another murderous rampage in Terrifier 3, currently set to arrive in theaters on October 25, 2024.
Family Guy
- Release Date
- January 31, 1999
- Seasons
- 22
- Studio
- Fox
