For much of the history of horror cinema, the genre has been perpetuated by its iconic villains. From Count Orlok 1922 Nosferatu From Universal’s rogue monster movie gallery to the great ’80s slashers, genres have had many faces over the years.
However, over the past few decades, the focus of horror has largely shifted away from creating legendary villains in favor of emotional themes and elaborate character arcs. However, a handful of contemporary horror villains have made their way into the minds of fans of the genre and will remain icons of the genre for years to come.
Jigsaw - “Saw” franchise (2004–2021)
Saw The franchise follows unsuspecting victims who fall into the clutches of the mysterious serial killer Jigsaw (Tobin Bell). His modus operandi includes themed traps, often based on the weaknesses of his victims.
Thanks to Saw movies and their eternal villain: “I want to play a game.” has become one of the most repetitive and well-known dialogues in contemporary horror. Over the course of nine parts, the series explores John Kramer’s tragic backstory, making his morally flawed mission all the more compelling.
Patrick Bateman - American Psycho (2000)
Patrick BatemanChristian Bale) is a handsome businessman thriving in 1980s New York. What sets him apart from his white collar colleagues is his second life as a serial killer.
Despite the later discovery that Patrick never acted out his murderous fantasies, his disappointment in this realization proves that the evil we have witnessed still exists deep within him. Bale’s mixture of charisma and unpredictability makes Patrick a haunting mascot of American rights, as well as a truly memorable villain for the ages.
Gabriel - “Malignant” (2021)
When a mysterious killer walks around, Madison (Annabelle Wallis) strange visions begin to appear in which she becomes a witness to every murder that the killer commits. She works with the authorities in hopes of finding the killer before her fate collides with his.
In one of the wildest twists in recent cinematography, the film’s third act reveals that the killer, Gabriel, is a tumor similar to the one on the back of Madison’s head, and he intermittently takes over the body to act out his brutal crimes. The rest of the film is a series of elaborate gory sets in which we watch Gabriel warp in disturbing ways to tear his victims apart. The change in tone irritated many viewers, but most will agree that the image of Gabriel’s fleshy face peeking out from behind Madison’s hair is something they won’t forget anytime soon.
Pearl - “X” and “Pearl” (2022)
When an adult film crew makes a deal with an elderly couple to stay on their farm, they don’t mention why they want the place. When Pearl’s wifeMia Goth), watching their actions from afar, tensions escalate and eventually violence ensues.
Ti WestReturn to Horror is a fun and stylized throwback to the dark cult hits of the 70s and 80s. What sets his film apart is the completely unique villain in Jewel of Goth. Her oddly specific yet deeply human motifs and their connection to the themes of gender and age are mesmerizing, instantly uplifting. X to the status of a modern horror classic. And with the arrival of the surprise prequel, viewers will soon see even more of the Pearl.
Babadook - Babadook (2014)
Widowed mother Amelia (Essie Davis) struggles to cope with his daily routine while battling loneliness, depression and raising his six-year-old son Samuel (Noah Wiseman) one. As her stress and frustration builds, a bizarre book appears in her house, potentially awakening the creepy monster she talks about.
A good argument can be made that babadookthe titular creature could be removed from the film entirely, as he essentially serves as the epitome of Amelia’s growing grief and depression. However, the physical being looming over Amelia throughout the film further underscores the haunting and suffocating burden she feels around every corner. The dark, top-hatted figure has already exploded in popular culture, becoming a popular meme and unlikely mascot for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Armitage Family - “Get Out” (2017)
When bi-racial couple Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose (Allison Williams) are planning to visit Rose’s family, Chris expresses concern that Rose has not told them that he is black. She assures him it’s not a problem, but after an awkward first night, Rose’s family gives Chris more to worry about than he could have expected.
Jordan Peel groundbreaking satirical horror draws much of its fear from real-life issues, so it only makes sense that its villains are made more effective by how close they are to reality. Before showing their true colors, they appear to be just another white suburban family hiding behind a superficial social consciousness. Unfortunately, given the extreme intolerance shown in America in recent years, the film’s premise, as well as its depiction of the Armitages, seems even more plausible.
Kevin Wendell Crumb aka The Beast - “Split” (2016)
When three teenagers are kidnapped by a man named Kevin (James McAvoy) who seems to have multiple personalities, quick-witted Casey (Anya Taylor-Joy) tries to reason with him in order to free himself and two other victims. However, this becomes increasingly difficult as more of Kevin’s personalities are revealed, each with their own motives.
Say that McAvoy’s performance split is a showcase for his incredible range, that’s a gross understatement. In lesser hands, the transition between Kevin’s many personalities could have been abrupt or even cheesy. Instead, we are treated to a display of emotional power, strength, and terrifying fury that audiences are sure to remember for years to come.
Black Phillip - “The Witch” (2015)
In 1630, in New England, the family was driven out of the village and forced to live alone in the wilderness. Soon, strange incidents occur in the family, tensions rise, and suspicions arise that something supernatural may be involved.
Rising author Robert Eggers came out brilliant with its directorial debut, a slow-paced masterpiece of psychological horror, immediately establishing its own brand of vivid imagery. One of the most memorable images in the film is that of the family’s black-haired goat, whom the children nicknamed Black Philip after the demonic figure in the nursery rhyme. As the film progresses, the creature lives up to its name, especially in a chilling off-screen moment at the film’s climax where it is implied that Black Phillip has revealed his true sinister form.
Essence - “It Follows” (2014)
When teenage couple JayMike Monroe) and Hugh (Jake Weary) sleep together for the first time, Jay learns that she has now contracted a contagious curse from Hugh. She soon learns that the people around her are possessed and trying to kill her, and that the only way to get rid of the curse is to pass it on to another person.
Horror history has shown us that things not shown in films of this genre are often more terrible than anything we see on the screen. And while the antagonist Should embodies multiple physical hosts, his true form is never revealed. Vanity delves into the fundamental human fear that danger can come from anywhere, and taking away the ability to trust another person is a more effective way than any other to get under the skin of viewers.
Tied - “We” (2019)
Adelaide Wilson (ur.Lupita Nyong’o) reluctantly agrees to go to her hometown on the coast when her husband and children insist, despite the childhood trauma she endured there. The unsettling feeling that haunts her only intensifies when a strange family arrives at their house, dressed in red jumpsuits and looking like every member of the Wilson family.
Jordan Peel The second outing as a director is bigger and bolder than his first in every way, one of which is a more vicious villainous family that opposes our protagonist this time around. However, depending on the interpretation of the film’s ending, it could be argued that either of Nyong’o’s characters, Adelaide, or her “attached” Red counterpart, could be considered the film’s villain. This complexity is reflected in Mustache’s dense themes that hold the film and its central antagonists together in the modern horror canon.
Source: Collider
