Top 10 Horror Movie Villains – Revealed!
Top 10 Horror Movie Villains Unmasked Time to take it off! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 10 Horror Movie Villains Unmasked. For this list, we'll be ranking the most dramatic and effective shifts in appearance for actors and their respective horror movie villains. We're omitting Linda Blair's demon-possessed Regan MacNeil from "The Exorcist", since we also see her real face throughout the film.
#10: Bill Skarsgard “It” (2017)
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Just as Tim Curry traumatized a generation of kids in 1990 with his turn as the horrific Pennywise the Clown, so too did Bill Skarsgard for the 2017 adaptation of Stephen King's classic story. Skarsgard's handsome Scandinavian features are barely recognizable behind the creepy clown makeup and costume, and the actor plays up the character with a malevolence largely missing from the 1990 version. If Curry's Pennywise was more traditional in its “good clown gone bad aesthetic,” then Skarsgard's takes the separation of “actor from role” even further by totally losing himself in Pennywise's over-the-top, soul-eating evil.
#9: Daveigh Chase “The Ring” (2002)
One could argue that this American adaptation of a fan favorite Japanese horror film . . . hasn't aged particularly well. Still, young Daveigh Chase's portrayal of the vengeful ghost Samara remains one of the most iconic horror images of the early 2000s. The scene where Samara emerges from the TV screen and her cursed video tape was parodied to death at the time, yet Chase sells it with remarkable poise and genuine chills. Dripping wet, with a menacing crawl and effective makeup, it's a complete 180 visual when compared to Daveigh's everyday look . . . which thankfully doesn't involve murdering people with a VHS chain letter.
#8: Tom Fitzpatrick “Insidious” Franchise (2010-)
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The “Insidious” franchise is known for its eye-catching visuals and memorable musical score, both of which go hand-in-hand with two of the series' lead villains. For starters, “Insidious” composer Joseph Bishara is the man responsible for playing the series' iconic Lipstick-Face Demon, while Tom Fitzpatrick took over the role of Parker Crane, a.k.a. The Bride in Black, for the franchise's second and third installments. Fitzpatrick is barely recognizable underneath an elaborately laced gown and veil, while his face is similarly decked out in an impressive, creepy makeup job that still gives us the chills.
#7: Doug Bradley “Hellraiser” Franchise (1987-2011)
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Speaking of horror franchises, the "Hellraiser" series is one which has continued, for better or worse, right on to the modern day. It's the franchise's lead Cenobite, Pinhead, played by Doug Bradley, which serves as its most recognizable character. The esteemed British thespian portrayed the stately S&M demon for a total of eight films before departing in 2011. Bradley always seemed to approach Pinhead with a seriousness and respect that elevated the character above other, more basic or animalistic villains. There's an intelligence there matched only by Pinhead's penchant for pain and bloodletting, while Bradley's striking face and booming, authoritative voice make him the one and only Pinhead for his legions of fans.
#6: Robert Englund “A Nightmare on Elm Street” Franchise (1984-94)
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Doug Bradley isn't the only horror actor closely associated with his role. For fans of the “Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise, there is only one man who can portray the dream-demon child murderer Freddy Krueger: Robert Englund. The native Californian actually boasts a large and varied resume to his credit, working in everything from comedy and drama to underground hits like "Eaten Alive" and "Galaxy of Terror." Still, it's those horrible burn scars, striped sweater and iconic, razor-fingered glove that’s endeared Englund to the "Nightmare" faithful. Often overlooked is his compelling body language, which draws on influences from classic westerns to portray Freddy almost like some sort of supernatural gunslinger. Don't. Fall. Asleep.
#5: Nick Castle and Tony Moran “Halloween” Franchise (1978-2018)
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To be honest, there isn't just ONE actor who can be considered the one and only Michael Myers. John Carpenter's iconic boogeyman has been portrayed by a number of people over the years, with no less than five taking up the mantle in the first film alone. It was Nick Castle and Tony Moran who might be the most closely associated with the role, despite the latter's claim to fame only being the unmasking scene at the film's climax. Castle plays Myers throughout most of "Halloween's" run time however, shifting to production designer Tommy Lee Wallace, stuntman James Winburn and producer Debra Hill for other shots. Nick would eventually return to the Myers' mask in 2018, adopting the role for a brief cameo.
#4: Gunnar Hansen “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974)
Leatherface is another horror icon who's been portrayed by a number of actors over the years, but this time there's only one name we really need to discuss: Gunnar Hansen. This isn't taking anything away from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre's" solid first two sequels, but it's Hansen's body language which brings Leatherface to life in Tobe Hooper's initial masterpiece. Hansen reportedly studied children at a hospital for the developmentally disabled in order to research the role of an abused, chainsaw- and hammer-wielding psychopath. Hansen may have come across as menacing on screen, but the feedback from those who knew and worked with him is that Gunnar was one of the nicest, most genuine guys around.
#3: Bonnie Aarons “The Nun” (2018)
Today's horror movie trailers generally aren't cut from the same sort of restrained cloth as they were in the 70s and 80s. That said, it can be difficult for a trailer to generate the sort of buzz earned by "The Nun" in 2018, which was thanks largely to the work of Bonnie Aarons as the titular character. This offshoot from the "Conjuring" universe featured Aarons in some striking and memorable makeup, while her performance in the role felt believable enough to earn praise even from diehard fans of the franchise. This wasn't the first time Aarons had given her all for a role, as she delivered a similarly menacing performance in the non-horror film "Mulholland Dr." as a frightening, back alley bum.
#2: Bolaji Badejo “Alien” (1979)
Many actors on this list are closely associated with a franchise and its cinematic legacy. That wasn't the case with Nigerian performer Bolaji Badejo, who only has one screen credit to his name: that of the titular Xenomorph in Ridley Scott's “Alien.” Badejo was discovered in London by Scott's crew while studying there for a degree in graphic design, and immediately cast in the role due to his towering six-foot ten-inch frame. Badejo's height was imperative for capturing the Xenomorph's menacing gait and stance, yet the actor never again returned to the role. Instead, Badejo lived out his life back home running an art gallery, until he sadly succumbed to sickle cell anemia in 1992. Before we name our number one pick, here are a few honorable mentions! Jonathan Breck “Jeepers Creepers” Franchise (2001-) Nicholas Vince “Nightbreed” (1990) Kane Hodder “Friday the 13th” Franchise (1988-2001) Delphine Chanèac “Splice” (2009) Dane Farwell and Brian Avery “Scream” Franchise (1996-)
#1: Doug Jones “Pan's Labyrinth” (2006)
Directors often have a troupe of actors around them with whom they collaborate on many projects. Doug Jones certainly seems to fit into that category when it comes to the filmography of Guillermo Del Toro, serving as something of a good luck charm for the acclaimed director. Jones has provided his talent for physical acting and transformations in films such as "Hellboy" and "The Shape of Water," but it was his performances as both The Faun and Pale Man in "Pan's Labyrinth" which earned him the most critical acclaim. It's frankly incredible how much Jones brings to these characters with his body language and graceful movements, saying as much with a single hand gesture as other actors could deliver in an entire monologue.
