Catherine Corcoran, best known for her role in the 2016 horror hit Terrifier, has filed a lawsuit against the film's director, Damien Leone, and its producers.
The actress claims the filmmakers breached their contract and distributed sexually explicit material without her consent, among other serious allegations, per the Independent.
But what exactly is the scene that Corcoran is contesting?
The Terrifier Scene
A key aspect of the lawsuit centers around a controversial scene from Terrifier in which Corcoran’s character meets a brutal demise at the hands of the film’s infamous villain, Art the Clown.
In this disturbing sequence, Corcoran’s character is hung upside down by her ankles and exposed in full nudity.
Corcoran is suing the creators of Terrifier. Credit: Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty Images
Corcoran claims she was not informed ahead of time that she would be required to be fully nude for this graphic scene.
This, she argues, violates the guidelines set forth by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), which mandates that actors give written consent before participating in any nudity or simulated sexual acts.
Sitting down with Anchor Bay Entertainment on The Plank podcast, Corcoran went back through the scene which has caused so much trouble.
The actress claims that she was cast for her body specifically for the "hacksaw scene" that saw the end of her character.
The scene, which has become famous, was "very dangerous" Corcoran said. She further explained that she "could have died."
"You're not supposed to do it this way," she said, as she explained that they were hanging her upside down for a prolonged amount of time.
The actress revealed that she has only watched it back three times, as it is a traumatic "near death experience".
The Lawsuit
According to SAG-AFTRA, performers involved in scenes with nudity or simulated sex are entitled to “appropriate notice,” the chance to provide “meaningful, written consent,” and a safe working environment.
Corcoran argues that none of these measures were followed during her filming experience.
The lawsuit also alleges that during the filming of the distressing scene, Corcoran was forced to endure 40-second intervals of being suspended upside down over a grueling 10-hour shoot.
This lack of sufficient recovery time reportedly caused significant health issues, including cranial swelling and eardrum damage, which were later diagnosed by a doctor.
The Filmmakers’ Defense
In response to the lawsuit, the filmmakers have denied all allegations.
Larry Zerner, the attorney representing director Damien Leone and producer Phil Falcone, issued a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, asserting: “Damien and Phil deny the claims in the complaint and will vigorously defend this lawsuit.”
The creators deny the allegations. Credit: Lia Toby / Getty
Corcoran's attorneys argue that her willingness to take a risk on the low-budget Terrifier was crucial to the film's success.
The lawsuit states: "Were it not for Corcoran’s willingness to take a risk on this production and receive her compensation on the back-end, the series would not exist as it could not have been made on a shoe-string budget otherwise."
Despite the film’s modest financial backing, Terrifier became a sleeper hit, earning a cult following thanks to its graphic gore and shock value.
The franchise's notoriety only grew with the release of Terrifier 2, which reportedly caused some audience members to faint or vomit during screenings due to its intense content.
However, Corcoran’s lawsuit points out that the producers allegedly failed to honor their financial commitments when it came time to pay her royalties.
Her attorney, Devin McRae, remarked: “When it came time to pay what was owed, the producers chose to cheat her.”