{{Short description|Main character in the first and third Terrifier films}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2023}} {{Infobox character | name = Victoria Heyes | series = [[Terrifier (film series)|Terrifier]] | image = File:Samantha Scaffidi as Victoria Heyes.jpeg | alt = | caption = [[Samantha Scaffidi]] as Victoria Heyes before her disfigurement in ''[[Terrifier]]'' (2016) and after her disfigurement in ''[[Terrifier 2]]'' (2022) | first = ''[[Terrifier]]'' (2016) | last = | creator = [[Damien Leone]] | portrayer = [[Samantha Scaffidi]] | full_name = Victoria "Vicky" Heyes | occupation = College student (former) <br> Art's partner-in-crime | family = {{unbulleted list|Tara Heyes (older sister, deceased)|Mr. Heyes (father)|Mrs. Heyes (mother)}} | nationality = [[United States|American]] }}
'''Victoria Heyes'''<!-- Credited as Victoria Heyes --> is a fictional [[Character (arts)|character]] in the ''[[Terrifier (film series)|Terrifier]]'' franchise. Initially a [[Hero|heroine]], Victoria first appears in ''[[Terrifier]]'' (2016) as a college student who is left facially disfigured and [[Insanity|driven insane]] after narrowly escaping the serial killer [[Art the Clown]] on [[Halloween]] night. The sequels follow her becoming [[Spirit possession|possessed]]. She is portrayed by [[Samantha Scaffidi]], who reprises the role in ''[[Terrifier 2]]'' (2022) and ''[[Terrifier 3]]'' (2024).
[[Damien Leone]] conceptualized her as a subversion of the [[final girl]] trope, having the [[false protagonist]] Tara Heyes [[killed off]] halfway through the film and depicting Victoria as a heroine who becomes a villain. While she is left underdeveloped in the first film, with much of the focus on showcasing the Art character, Leone wanted to develop Victoria significantly, so he brought her back into a leading role in the third film. Scaffidi views the character as a heroine descending into madness.
As the character has facial disfigurement, Scaffidi had to wear extensive prosthetics throughout the series. For the first two films, she only had to wear a prosthetic for her face, while in ''Terrifier 3'', she had to wear additional prosthetics for her arms and legs for Victoria's [[undead]] appearance. Additionally, the third film features the character in [[Christmas]] themed [[clown]] makeup and attire that resembles Art's. In addition to the films, the character appears in [[literature]] and merchandise, such as [[graphic novel]]s and a [[video game]].
==Appearances== ===Films=== The character made her cinematic debut in ''[[Terrifier]]'' in October 2016. In this film, Victoria ([[Samantha Scaffidi]]) is a nineteen-year-old college student studying for her [[midterm exam|midterms]]. She receives a call from her stranded sister Tara to pick her up. The murderous [[Art the Clown]] lures Victoria into a vacant warehouse. After discovering the corpses of his victims, Victoria engages in a battle with him. After the police arrive, Art runs her over in a pick-up truck, and he eats her face before killing himself upon police confrontation, leaving her disfigured. The disfigurement leaves her mentally unstable, and upon having a mental breakdown on a controversial talk show program, Victoria mutilates the host, Monica Brown.<ref>{{cite video|people=Damien Leone (Director)|title=Terrifier|medium=DVD|location=United States|publisher=Dread Central Presents|date=2016}}</ref>
Victoria returns in the [[post-credits scene]] of ''[[Terrifier 2]]'' (2022)—she is shown to be institutionalized at the Miles County Psychiatric Hospital. Despite being referred to as being docile by her nurse, her stomach begins to swell, and she bleeds profusely, writing obscenities on the wall with blood along with the words ''Vicky + Art'' in a heart. The hospital staff walks in to see her with a glowing yellow eye, revealing she had become possessed by the Little Pale Girl, with Art's living head in her lap, having just given birth to it.<ref>{{cite video|people=Damien Leone (Director)|title=Terrifier 2|medium=DVD|location=United States|publisher=CINEDIGM|date=2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3714685/terrifier-2-damien-leone-previews-gruesome-return-of-terrifier-character/|title='Terrifier 2': Damien Leone Previews Gruesome Return of 'Terrifier' Character|website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|first=John|last=Squires|date=May 12, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2022/06/genre-streamer-screambox-bloody-disgusting-acquire-ultra-gory-slasher-movie-terrifier-2-1235054756/|title=Genre Streamer Screambox & Bloody Disgusting Acquire "Ultra Gory" Slasher Movie 'Terrifier 2'|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=June 30, 2022|access-date=March 31, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/terrifier-2-post-credits-scene-explained/|title=How Terrifier 2's Post-Credits Scene Sets up a Third Film|website=[[Comic Book Resources]]|first=Maddie|last=Davis|date=October 27, 2022|access-date=April 1, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/terrifier-2-ending-explained/|title='Terrifier 2' Ending Explained: Evil Cannot Die|website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|first=Marco Vito|last=Oddo|date=October 28, 2022|access-date=April 2, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/movie/3782214/terrifier-3-teaser-premieres-only-in-theaters-after-terrifier-2-on-november-1-2023/|title='Terrifier 3' Teaser Premieres Only-In-Theaters After 'Terrifier 2' on November 1, 2023!|website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|first=John|last=Squires|date=October 4, 2023|access-date=October 29, 2023}}</ref>
{{quote box | align = right | width = 25em | quote = "...there's a lot more to explore with Art the Clown, the Pale Girl, Victoria and Sienna as our Final Girl. We'll be following her journey to the end of the franchise." | source = — Leone discussing returning characters.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tuna |first1=Thomas |title=Damien Leone Already Hard At Work On Script For 'Terrifier 3' |url=https://www.horrornewsnetwork.net/damien-leone-already-hard-at-work-on-script-for-terrifier-3/ |website=Horror News Network |access-date=21 March 2023 |date=February 2, 2023}}</ref> }} The character returns to a more prominent role in ''[[Terrifier 3]]'', which picks up directly after the second film. After killing the nurse overseeing her in the hospital, the demonically possessed Victoria escapes with Art to an abandoned house, where she smashes a mirror and kills herself with the shards. Five years later, two workers enter the house and awaken the dormant bodies of Victoria and Art, who proceed to kill them. Victoria makes a clown costume for herself to join Art as he attacks the house of [[Sienna Shaw]] and kidnaps her and their family. Victoria attempts to possess Sienna by putting a [[crown of thorns]] on her, but ends up killed as Sienna takes hold of her magic sword, and proceeds to stab and decapitate Victoria. As Victoria's body disintegrates, her blood opens a portal to a realm with a striking resemblance to [[Hell]], into which Sienna's cousin, Gabbie, ends up falling. After Art flees the house to recover from his battle with Sienna, the latter is confident that her cousin is still alive and begins to prepare for her mission to rescue her.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Lund |first1=Anthony |title=Terrifier 2 Creator Says Terrifier 4 Will Possibly End the Art the Clown Saga |url=https://movieweb.com/terrifier-4-possibly-end-the-franchise/ |website=[[MovieWeb]] |access-date=21 March 2023 |date=February 4, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/12/terrifier-chris-jericho-lauren-lavera-damien-leone-casting-filming-1235664387/|title='Terrifier 3': Director Damien Leone & Star Lauren LaVera Lift The Lid On Next Installment In Breakout Horror Franchise & What Could Come After|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|first=Andreas|last=Wiseman|date=December 12, 2023|access-date=December 24, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212161908/https://deadline.com/2023/12/terrifier-chris-jericho-lauren-lavera-damien-leone-casting-filming-1235664387/|archive-date=December 12, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1440991-terrifier-3-new-details|title=Terrifier 3: Damien Leone Shares Fresh Details on His Festive Slasher Sequel|website=ComingSoon|first=Neil|last=Bolt|date=December 13, 2023|access-date=December 24, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213174417/https://www.comingsoon.net/movies/news/1440991-terrifier-3-new-details|archive-date=December 13, 2023}}</ref>
===Literature=== Victoria makes her literary debut in the [[novelization]] ''Terrifier 2'' (2024), written by [[Tim Waggoner]]. The novel provides Victoria with more character development, providing insight into her recovery, her relationship with her parents following her disfigurement and sister Tara's death, and the events leading up to her possession. In the novel, Victoria spends extensive time in rehabilitation and psychoanalysis at St. Michael's Hospital.{{sfn|Waggoner|2024|p=219}} She has no lips but has learned to speak with [[Ventriloquism|ventriloquist]] techniques.{{sfn|Waggoner|2024|p=381}} Her parents support her recovery; however, Victoria believes they resent her for not getting to the warehouse in time to rescue Tara.{{sfn|Waggoner|2024|p=380}} During one of her therapy sessions, Victoria encounters the Little Pale Girl for the first time, whose presence Victoria finds comfort in despite her resemblance to Art, even referring to her as "a friend" when seeing her again after being released from the hospital.{{sfn|Waggoner|2024|p=381}}{{sfn|Waggoner|2024|p=385}} After her disastrous interview with Monica Brown, under the influence of the Little Pale Girl, Victoria attacks Monica in her dressing room, which gets her sent to the Miles County Psychiatric Hospital, where she becomes possessed and gives birth to Art's head.{{sfn|Waggoner|2024|p=388}}{{sfn|Waggoner|2024|p=397}}
==Development== Victoria was created by [[Damien Leone]].<ref name="Development">{{cite web |last1=Tinnin |first1=Drew |title=Director Damien Leone Regrets How Terrifier Treated One Of Its Central Characters |url=https://www.slashfilm.com/1074814/director-damien-leone-regrets-how-terrifier-treated-one-of-its-central-characters/ |website=[[/Film]] |access-date=October 5, 2024 |date=October 28, 2022}}</ref> Leone made the [[Terrifier|original ''Terrifier'' film]] to showcase [[Art the Clown]], who had become popular amongst audiences after appearing in [[short film]]s and the [[anthology film]] ''[[All Hallows' Eve (2013 film)|All Hallows' Eve]]'' (2013).<ref name="Development"></ref> As a result, Leone left the protagonists of the 2016 film underdeveloped, particularly the Victoria character.<ref name="Development"></ref> Victoria acts as the bookending character and as a subversion of the [[final girl]] trope after the false protagonist, Tara Heyes, is [[Killing off|killed off]] halfway through the film.<ref name="Development"></ref> While Leone was searching for the lead actors, a friend of his, Gino Cafarelli, who portrays an employee at a pizza restaurant, suggested [[Samantha Scaffidi]] for a role.<ref name="Filmhounds Magazine">{{cite web |last1=Sayce |first1=Rebecca |title="It goes beyond the limitations of my mind" — Terrifier 3's Samantha Scaffidi Shares What Fans Can Expect |url=https://filmhounds.co.uk/2024/09/terrifier-3-samantha-scaffidi-franchise-return/ |website=Filmhounds Magazine |access-date=October 5, 2024 |date=September 22, 2024}}</ref> Scaffidi auditioned, and Leone ultimately cast her as Victoria.<ref name="Filmhounds Magazine"></ref>
Leone brought Victoria back for the sequel ''[[Terrifier 2]]'' (2022), writing her into the [[post-credits scene]], which sets up the [[Terrifier 3|third film]].<ref name="Commentary">{{cite web |last1=Divincenzo |first1=Alex |title='Terrifier 2' – 11 Things We Learned from the Blu-ray Commentary Track |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3745415/terrifier-2-11-things-we-learned-from-the-blu-ray-commentary-track/ |website=[[Bloody Disgusting]] |access-date=October 5, 2024 |date=January 3, 2023}}</ref> Her original scene set up her demise, as she would have been in the psychiatric hospital, and instead of becoming pregnant, Art would have emerged from the back of her head; however, Leone found this ending to be too similar to the concept of the horror film ''[[Malignant (2021 film)|Malignant]]'' (2021).<ref name="Commentary"></ref> Following a suggestion from production designer Olga Turka, Leone rewrote it to the birthing scene and her becoming [[Spirit possession|possessed]] by the Little Pale Girl.<ref name="Commentary"></ref>
Leone wanted to give Victoria significant character development and make her a prominent figure in further installments in the series.<ref name="Villain">{{cite web |last1=Bythrow |first1=Nick |title=Why Terrifier 3 Turns Franchise's Original Final Girl Into A Villain Explained By Creator: "It's A Risky Move" |url=https://screenrant.com/terrifier-3-movie-vicky-villain-explained-director/ |website=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=October 5, 2024 |date=October 1, 2024}}</ref> He wrote her as the secondary antagonist in ''Terrifier 3'' (2024), acting as Art's accomplice.<ref name="Villain"></ref> Leone felt that writing her as a villain was a "risky" creative decision but states her characterization in the third film was "so organic, it was so necessary."<ref name="Villain"></ref> Scaffidi describes Victoria's story arc as "this kind of final girl – or heroine – but descending into madness."<ref name="Filmhounds Magazine"></ref>
==In popular culture== In 2021, Victoria was featured in the three-issue [[graphic novel]]s based on the first film.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/comics/3670430/official-terrifier-comic-book-now-available-wait-terrifier-2/|title=Official 'Terrifier' Comic Book Now Available While You Wait for 'Terrifier 2'|website=[[Bloody Disgusting]]|first=John|last=Squires|date=June 21, 2021|access-date=April 16, 2023}}</ref> In December 2022, an [[License|officially licensed]] clay figurine of the character was released—depicting Victoria in her bloodied hospital gown.<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=Steve Barton |author-link=Steve Barton |user=UncleCreepy |number=1602470587091353600 |title=You want cool? THIS is cool. Get your officially licensed #terrifier and #terrifier2 collectibles NOW at http://clayguy.com}}</ref> Victoria will appear as a [[player character]] in the upcoming [[beat 'em up]] [[Arcade video game|arcade]] inspired [[video game]] ''[[Terrifier: The ARTcade Game]]'' (2025).<ref>{{cite web |last1=T |first1=Amber |title=A TERRIFIER Video Game Is Coming Our Way |url=https://www.fangoria.com/terrifier-video-game/ |website=[[Fangoria]] |access-date=October 11, 2024 |date=October 11, 2024}}</ref> Victoria will be a featured character in the upcoming [[Universal Orlando]] ''Terrifier'' [[Halloween Horror Nights]] [[amusement park]] attraction.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fontanez |first1=Lola |title=Halloween Horror Nights announces new ‘Terrifier’-themed haunted house for 2025 |url=https://www.orlandoweekly.com/arts/halloween-horror-nights-announces-new-terrifier-themed-haunted-house-for-2025-39951054 |website=[[Orlando Weekly]] |access-date=July 15, 2025 |date=July 14, 2025}}</ref> In October 2025, [[Funko]] released a vinyl [[figurine]] of Victoria based on her appearance in ''Terrifier 3.''<ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Rourke |first1=Ryan |title='Terrifier's Art the Clown Gets His Goriest Collectible Yet Just in Time for Halloween |url=https://collider.com/terrifier-3-funko-pop-art-the-clown-victoria-images/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=October 28, 2025 |date=October 19, 2025}}</ref>
==Reception== In her debut appearance, the script describes her as a traumatized young woman struggling with her facial [[disfigurement]]. Writing for [[Comic Book Resources|Comic Book Resources (CBR)]], Jon Mendelsohn describes Victoria as exhibiting traits of the [[slasher film]] "[[final girl]]" trope. He notes that she challenges the trope through her hopeless ending of having her face eaten off by Art and becoming both traumatized and murderous.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mendolsohn |first1=Jon |title=How Terrifier Destroyed Slasher Movie Rules |url=https://www.cbr.com/how-terrifier-destroyed-slasher-movie-rules/ |website=[[Comic Book Resources]] |access-date=5 January 2022 |date=July 7, 2020}}</ref> Similarly, Apeksha Bagchi of ''We Got This Covered'' refers to Victoria as being a "final girl."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bagchi |first1=Apeksha |title='Terrifier 2': What is the ultimate fate of Victoria Heyes, the 'final girl' who survived Art the Clown? |url=https://wegotthiscovered.com/movies/terrifier-2-what-is-the-ultimate-fate-of-victoria-heyes-the-final-girl-who-survived-art-the-clown/ |website=We Got This Covered |access-date=21 March 2023 |date=October 17, 2022}}</ref>
An analysis by Brendan D. describes Victoria as a reflection of Art—"Our most recent final girl is Victoria from ''Terrifier'', and what makes her so unique is her post-final girl status. Most final girls appear in the sequel or following situation as a capable guide for the next group of cannon fodder to demonstrate the villain's return. Instead, the trauma corrupts Victoria; she becomes monstrous like Art, with a disfigured appearance; and the brutality of a live-show death when a talk-show host mocked her. She is not a heroine but a dark reflection of the atrocities Art the Clown committed, fit for ridicule and loathing."<ref>{{cite web |last1=D. |first1=Brendan |title=The Final One: An Analysis of Horror Character Tropes |url=https://themembranesjournal.com/2021/07/22/thefinalonepart1/ |website=The Membrane's Journal |access-date=5 January 2022 |date=July 22, 2021}}</ref>
''[[Collider (website)|Collider]]'''s Raquel Hollman states, "Victoria (Samantha Scaffidi) is introduced as our accidental final girl who is barely allowed to survive. In reality, Art just ran out of time. He leaves her face mutilated before being taken to the morgue. By leaving Victoria’s face unrecognizable, Art essentially steals the film back from her. She isn’t allowed to become an oppositional face or force to his story, instead, she is turned into another set piece by him. Everything to Art is a performance, and he’s not letting a final girl steal his shine."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hollman |first1=Raquel |title='Terrifier 2's Sienna Is Our New Favorite Final Girl |url=https://collider.com/terrifier-2-lauren-lavera-favorite-final-girl/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=15 November 2022 |date=October 29, 2022}}</ref> Writing for the same website, Chris Sasaguay praises Victoria's development as a villain in the third film, describing her as scarier than Art.<ref name="Harley">{{cite web |last1=Sasaguay |first1=Chris |title=Art the Clown Is Brilliant, This 'Terrifier 3' Character Made Him Better |url=https://collider.com/vicky-scary-villain-terrifier-3/ |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]] |access-date=October 29, 2024 |date=October 25, 2024}}</ref> Sasaguay highlighted Scaffidi's portrayal and states that Art and Victoria's dynamic reflects darker versions of [[DC Comics|DC]]'s [[Joker (character)|Joker]] and [[Harley Quinn]] and that turning her into a "female [[bogeyman]]" complements Art.<ref name="Harley"></ref> Rocco T. Thompson of ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' wrote that she is the more effective villain in the third film, stating that Samantha Scaffidi "exudes a chilling sense of evil from beneath pounds of prosthetics."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Thompson |first1=Rocco T. |title='Terrifier 3' Review: Art the Clown Gets Naughty in Christmas Massacre for the Gory Faithful |url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/terrifier-3-review-damien-leone/ |website=[[Slant Magazine]] |access-date=September 28, 2024 |date=September 21, 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Works cited== * {{cite book|last=Waggoner|first=Tim|year=2024|title=Terrifier 2: The Official Movie Novelization|publisher=[[Titan Publishing Group]]|isbn=978-1-835-41321-0}}
{{Terrifier}}
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[[Category:Female characters in film]] [[Category:Female horror film characters]] [[Category:Teenage characters in film]] [[Category:Film characters introduced in 2016]] [[Category:Final girls]] [[Category:Fictional heroes]] [[Category:Terrifier (film series)]] [[Category:Female horror film villains]] [[Category:Fictional zombies]]