Brightcast Media
In the history of horror films, we have met some truly terrifying villains. And while we could surely list 100 or more monsters, let’s start with 25 of the best the genre has to offer.
25. Bughuul (Sinister)
MovieStillsDB
At No. 25, Bughuul. We first met this haunting figure in 2012’s Sinister. There are a few things that make Bughuul a daunting villain. For starters, the pagan deity doesn’t commit murders on his own. Instead, he manipulates the lives of children and influences them to murder their families. Once the children have completed the task, Bughuul can consume their souls. If that isn’t scary enough, consider the fact that Bughuul has been terrorizing families since the 1960s without being stopped.
24. The Thing (The Thing)
Sunset Boulevard/Corbis/Getty Images
Ah, The Thing. Based on the 1938 novel Who Goes There?, The Thing hit theaters in 1982. Directed by horror legend John Carpenter, the film told the story of a research team that lived out a nightmare in Antarctica. Early on, the American research team is involved in a situation involving a neighboring Norwegian team — namely, the Norwegians are trying to kill a dog that escaped their base. As it turns out, the dog is not a dog after all. Instead, it is a shape-shifting alien that can transform into other life forms. Known as The Thing, the alien spreads like a virus — anyone that it encounters can be ‘taken over’. If that happens, good luck surviving.
23. Rose, Dean, Missy, and Jeremy Armitage (Get Out)
MovieStillsDB
In Jordan Peele’s directorial debut, the multi-talented visionary introduced us to a new group of monsters. In the beginning, Get Out sets the table for an important weekend. Chris Washington, an African-American man, is accompanying Rose, his white girlfriend, to her parents’ home for the weekend. Upon meeting the Armitages, Chris is slightly unnerved by their reception. As we soon learn, Chris was right to question his girlfriend’s parents’ demeanor. Rose and her family are deeply disturbed — and the leaders of a racist cult-like group that swap the brains of their African-American victims with white group members. Rose, her brother, and her parents are the worst type of monsters.
22. Annie Wilkes (Misery)
Columbia Pictures/Getty Images
In recent years, Hollywood veteran Kathy Bates has played dastardly villains in multiple seasons of American Horror Story. Based on her epic performance in Misery, we should have seen it coming. In Misery, Bates played the role of Annie Wilkes — a nurse and superfan of famous author Paul Sheldon (James Caan). While driving home one night following the completion of a new book, Sheldon crashes his car and is left in serious trouble…until Wilkes comes to the rescue.
Unfortunately, Wilkes’ true intentions — and psychotic personality — soon become apparent. The superfan holds Sheldon hostage and physically and mentally torments him. Oh, we also come to learn that she has previously murdered her father, a former roommate, and numerous hospital patients. Will Sheldon become her latest victim?
21. The Creeper (Jeepers Creepers)
MovieStillsDB
Poor Darry (Justin Long) never had a chance. While driving through a desolate area to kick off spring break, Darry and his sister, Trish, witness a dark figure throwing a massive bag down a drainage pipe of sorts. The two make an idiotic decision and pull off the road to investigate. The two make their way down the pipe and discover a cave full of dead bodies — including those of two infamously missing people. The creature responsible for the bodies is known as The Creeper — a demonic beast that returns every 23rd spring to feast on humans for 23 days. The Creeper becomes stronger the more it eats, and is seemingly impossible to kill. With reptile-like skin, fangs, absurd strength, and the ability to fly, The Creeper is a super predator.
20. Annabelle (The Conjuring, Annabelle)
MovieStillsDB
Dolls are downright creepy. They always seem to be staring at you, they almost certainly move when you aren’t watching — and not in a fun Toy Story way. From the moment we met Annabelle in The Conjuring, it was clear the doll was going to be trouble. Part of what makes Annabelle so terrifying is her connection to the real world. According to real-life paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, a haunted Raggedy Ann doll named Annabelle is responsible for at least one death. While Annabelle may appear harmless locked inside a box, the demonic presence contained inside of her is anything but forgiving. Dolls should cease to exist.
19. Norman Bates (Psycho)
MovieStillsDB
Some of the scariest monsters are the ones who are the most unassuming. In Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic film Psycho, Norman Bates is the local killer. We are first introduced to Norman, we learn that he is the manager of the Bates Motel. As it turns out, Norman lives with his mother in the creepy house that looms over the motel. Despite appearing meek and soft-spoken, Norman is a dangerous psychopath. Norman has peepholes in rooms to spy on the guests, and eventually, he is revealed to be the person responsible for murdering Marion (pictured above) — despite the audience believing the killer to be an old woman. Norman had previously killed his mother and began dressing as her to keep up his deranged façade. There is a reason why Norman Bates is still discussed 60 years after Psycho‘s debut.
18. Jack Torrance (The Shining)
Warner Brothers/Getty Images
Jack Nicholson is one of the greatest actors of all-time, and his performance as Jack Torrance in The Shining is one of his crowning achievements. In the film, Jack and his family travel to a massive, isolated hotel for the winter. While at the Overlook Hotel, Jack is determined to snap out of his writer’s block — but instead, Jack starts losing his mind with each passing day. The recovering alcoholic begins seeing strange things around the hotel which leads to his mind further deteriorating. Famously, Jack attempts to murder his wife, Wendy, with an axe — “Here’s Johnny!” A deranged writer trying to kill his wife and son…one hell of a villain.
17. Samara (The Ring)
Paul Hawthorne/Getty Images
According to legend, anyone who was unfortunate enough to watch a cursed videotape would die seven days later. Once the video ends, you receive a call with the voice on the other end stating, “Seven days.” For the next week, you are haunted by nightmares, suffer nose bleeds, and dangerous situations present themselves consistently. When your seven days are up, your TV will turn on and the image of a well appears. A young girl with long, black hair crawls out of the well and begins walking closer to the front of the screen…and eventually comes through the TV. The girl, Samara, then proceeds to kill whoever viewed the tape. Samara is the definition of a nightmare.
16. Damien Thorn (The Omen)
20th Century Fox/Getty Images
The Omen was not only a dark movie, but there have been a handful of eerie and tragic events involving people who worked on the film in the years following its release. At the center of the story is a child named Damien. Shortly after Damien’s birth, he is adopted by Robert and Katherine Thorn. The US Ambassador to Great Britain, Robert relocates his family to London. However, mysterious deaths and accidents begin to occur around the family. Damien’s nanny commits suicide. At one point, Damien causes his mother to fall over a balcony — resulting in serious injuries. As it turns out, Damien is the Son of Satan and the first Antichrist. Never trust a child in a horror film.
15. Chucky (Child’s Play)
Rolf Konow/Sygma/Getty Images
In theory, Chucky shouldn’t be a scary villain. After all, how could a tiny doll cause any harm to a human? First introduced to the world in 1988’s Child’s Play, Chucky is a possessed doll hell-bent on destruction. The doll, formerly a “Good Guy” doll, becomes possessed by a serial killer named Charles Lee Ray aka Chucky. While nearing death, Chucky performs a voodoo ritual that transfers his soul into the doll. Once his soul is transferred, Chucky’s ultimate goal is to eventually transfer his soul back into a human body. His bloody, murderous ways only intensify as time goes on.
14. Jigsaw (Saw)
MovieStillsDB
“Hello. Do you want to play a game?” Directed by horror legend James Wan, 2004’s Saw was a sick, twisted, transformative film. As the movie begins, two strangers wake up in a room and soon realize that they have been kidnapped and placed into a deadly game. The men come to learn that they’ve been taken by the serial killer known as Jigsaw. The only chance they have to survive is to escape before time runs out. However, they must play Jigsaw’s deadly games in order to get out. Jigsaw’s traps and games are diabolical — and as gruesome as we’ve ever seen.
13. Candyman (Candyman)
TriStar/Getty Images
The Candyman is downright scary. The son of a slave who was murdered for dating the daughter of a wealthy Caucasian man, the Candyman (a spirit) appears when anyone utters his name five times in front of a mirror. One of his hands has been replaced by a bloody hook. Candyman haunts the land on which he was killed — and is determined to keep his spirit alive by killing as many people as possible. One of the Candyman’s more terrifying abilities is that he can summon an army of bees from his body. Between that power, his bloody hook, and the fact that he’s a ghost — the Candyman is one of horror’s scariest villains.
12. Pennywise (It)
MovieStillsDB
Clowns can buzz off. Most clowns are scary, but no clown is worse than Pennywise. Pennywise is more than just a clown — he is a shapeshifting alien who uses his ability to appear as a clown to prey on children. Every 27 years, Pennywise returns to the town of Derry to torment and murder the town’s youngsters. The Dancing Clown taps into people’s minds and can mimic and exploit their worst fears. Possessing both telekinetic powers and the ability to teleport, Pennywise is a nearly unstoppable force. Nobody will feel safe walking through a sewer system (nor should you) ever again.
11. Pazuzu (The Exorcist)
MovieStillsDB
What’s worse than an unhinged child in a horror movie? An unhinged child that has been possessed by an ancient demon. In The Exorcist, a 12-year-old little girl named Regan MacNeil is possessed by Pazuzu. Under Pazuzu’s control, Regan transforms into an evil entity. She murders one of her father’s friends, begins speaking numerous languages, and even has the words ‘help me’ seemingly carved into her stomach. While a priest attempts to perform an exorcism, a possessed Regan begins cursing up a storm, levitates, and throws up incessantly. The demon’s antics eventually lead to the priest dying of a heart attack and lead another person to commit suicide. Regan’s demonic appearance is a lasting image in horror history.
10. Hannibal Lecter (The Silence of the Lambs)
Phil Bray/MGM Pictures/Universal Pictures/Dino DeLaurentiis/Getty Images
More often than not, the scariest villains are the ones that can exist in real life. While entities like Pennywise and Chucky are terrifying and can haunt your dreams, there is a sense of relief knowing they can’t exist in reality. However, Dr. Hannibal Lecter is a monster that can appear as your friendly neighbor. When we first met Dr. Lecter he was incarcerated — a cannibal serial killer who was needed by an F.B.I. cadet to help catch another serial killer. Aside from Dr. Lecter’s cannibal ways, he is frightening due to his extreme intellect and manipulative ways. An unassuming villain at first glance, Hannibal is as dangerous as they come.
9. Xenomorph (Alien)
Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
Whether you believe in aliens or not, I think we can all agree that seeing a xenomorph in person would be a terrible thing. Every stage of a xenomorph’s life is nightmare-inducing. From starting as a gross egg to hatching into a crab-like creature that attacks your face, to growing inside of you and punching its way through your stomach…and growing into the monster pictured above, the xenomorph is consistently frightening. A lethal killer, this alien is equipped with a flexible and toxic tail, razor-sharp claws and teeth, and an “attack tongue” — an inner jaw that shoots out of its mouth and attacks its prey’s head. Oh, and the alien is about 7-feet tall. Good luck surviving an attack.
8. Imhotep (The Mummy)
MovieStillsDB
Imhotep has been terrorizing explorers (and audiences) for nearly 100 years. First portrayed by Boris Karloff in 1932, Imhotep was introduced to a new generation in 1999’s The Mummy. Portrayed by Arnold Vosloo in both The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, Imhotep was once a high priest of Osiris. However, Imhotep is assassinated for having an affair with Anck-Su-Namun. 3,000 years later, Imhotep is revived after a passage from the Book of the Dead is read aloud. In addition to being 3,000 years old, Imhotep is imposing for many reasons. To regenerate, the mummy sucks the life out of his victims. Additionally, Imhotep can control the desert sands, control the ten Plagues of Egypt, and is nearly invincible. The mummy is undoubtedly one of horror’s most iconic figures.
7. Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
MovieStillsDB
Coming in at No. 7 and the second cannibal on this list, Leatherface. There isn’t much that needs to be said about this horrific monster. With the help of his family, Leatherface kidnaps, kills, and eats his victims. Once he is done using his chainsaw as a weapon of mass destruction, the murderer uses the skin of his victims as a mask. Yeah, I think that pretty much covers it.
6. Dracula
MovieStillsDB
Count Dracula is arguably the most recognizable villain of all-time. Dracula — and vampires in general — has appeared in countless films over the years, and people will never get over his prowess. Famously, Dracula can turn people into vampires by biting them, sucking their blood, and infecting them with vampiric disease. The fanged assassin doesn’t cast a shadow and can’t be seen in a mirror. The Count can fly, climb upside down, vanish into thin air, turn into a bat (among other things), and hypnotize his victims. Dracula is a dangerous monster — but also a monster that is more popular than most.
5. Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street)
Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
Going to sleep can be difficult. Some people suffer from insomnia, while others have crippling nightmares that result in stress, fear, and sleepless nights. A Nightmare on Elm Street introduced a character that made millions of people question going to bed at night. The spirit of a serial killer, Freddy Krueger is capable of killing people while they sleep — if they die during their dream, they die in real life. Freddy’s body is scarred from being burned to death — giving him a menacing appearance — and his right hand is equipped with a bladed glove which he uses to kill his sleeping victims. Sleep should be peaceful…but Freddy makes closing your eyes a potentially deadly decision.
4. Ghostface (Scream)
Daniel Zuchnik/Getty Images
Ghostface is arguably the most recognizable villain to emerge in the past 30 years. Donning a mask inspired by Edvard Munch’s painting The Scream, Ghostface is menacing for multiple reasons. For starters, the mask is haunting — there is nothing friendly about the large black eyes/mouth and long profile of the face. Ghostface is also unique in that the killer often taunts his potential victims. If you see the cloaked, knife-wielding killer it’s often the end of the road for you. Not knowing who is behind the mask only adds to the fear. Ghostface is a realistic killer…what is scarier than that?
3. Frankenstein’s Monster (Frankenstein)
Getty Images
When discussing horror’s greatest monsters of all-time, Frankenstein’s monster must be near the top of the list. In the 1931 epic Frankenstein, Boris Karloff plays The Monster to perfection. Karloff’s performance remains the high bar for portraying the iconic character — his mannerisms remain frightening to this day. As we all know, Dr. Frankenstein (Colin Clive) attempts to create life by putting together body parts of the dead. Frankenstein’s experiment is a success as The Monster is animated, but he soon escapes and becomes a problem. The Monster has reappeared in many films over the years and is one of the most familiar faces come Halloween.
2. Michael Myers (Halloween)
Fotos International/Getty Images
Speaking of Halloween, let’s talk about the villain at the center of the Halloween franchise. Michael Myers is horror. When he was six years old, Michael was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after murdering his sister. 15 years later, the twisted killer escaped captivity and continued to hunt down his family — and others who got in the way. Michael uses his incredible strength and ability to move in silence to his advantage. Even if you can fight back, Michael has the upper hand. He is able to overcome seemingly lethal injuries in a matter of minutes. In fact, many believe he can’t be killed. So, why is Michael not the greatest horror movie villain of all-time?
1. Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th)
MovieStillsDB
Because Jason exists. While it is thought that Michael Myers cannot die, it is confirmed that Jason can’t be killed — unless someone from his bloodline kills him. What separates Jason from Michael is his movement. Michael is a slow, stealth killer. On the other hand, Jason will sprint after his victims and catch them with ease. Jason possesses superhuman strength, can regenerate after suffering catastrophic injuries, is a top-notch tracker, and is a lethal killer. Whether he is using his trademark machete or a random object he finds while hunting his victim, Jason doesn’t miss his target. A serial killer hell-bent on revenge is scary, Jason (his machete and his mask) is iconic.