As the horror genre has developed over time, many characters have become inarguable icons. From public-domain classics like Dracula and Frankenstein, to newer creations like Jason Voorhees and Freddy Krueger,well-liked horror villains have tended to stand the test of time and become memorable mainstays of cinema, with a unique aspect of horror films being their tendency to launch franchise’s off the impact and popularity of their villains more so than their protagonists.
While the modern era of horror is less focused on cementing specific villains in popular consciousness and overall less franchise-heavy, some villains are already on their way to iconic status. In some cases, the internet has claimed them for memes; other times, the film simply did so well with horror fans that its villain became a mainstay by default. Regardless of how they earned their stripes, these characters have made an instant impact on fans and are destined to become true icons alongside some of the genre’s greatest-ever figures.
‘Malignant’ (2021)
While many horror fans wished thatMalignanthad been a scarier movie throughout, few viewers would deny that its antagonist was magnificently twisted.Coming from genre maestroJames Wan, the film primarily follows Madison Mitchell (Annabelle Wallis), an abused young woman whose terrible visions of brutal killings turn out to be real, leading her to try to help the victims before it’s too late.
The film’s shocking twist reveals that the killer is actually her… in a way. With no memory of her childhood, it is revealed that Gabriel was her parasitic twin who was surgically removed from the back of her head, but his consciousness remained dormant inside her mind.The grotesque physical reveal as Gabriel emerges from the back of Madison’s skullmade for a striking villain who will not soon be forgotten.
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14The Entity
‘It Follows’ (2014)
Shape-shifting monsters in horror tend to lead to fantastic suspense, rising paranoia, and a thematically-charged punch of what it is we fear, however, a transforming antagonist does sometimes come at the cost of there not being a singular image of evil for audiences to connect with.It Followsimpressively managed to have its cake and eat it too, with “the Entity” one of themost terrifying figures of 2010s horror.
The film follows Jay (Maika Monroe), a young woman who is hunted by a malevolent entity after a sexual encounter with her new boyfriend.Having seen what the entity is capable of in the film’s opening sequence, audiences know that the mysterious villain is bad news.While it takes on many forms in its pursuit of Jay, few viewers will ever forget the heart-stopping fright when the towering figure of the tall man (Mike Lanier) emerges from the darkness of the hallway.
It Follows
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13The Tethered
‘Us’ (2019)
After bursting onto the scene withGet Outin 2016,Jordan Peelefollowed up his hit horror satire with the chilling home invasion sci-fi,Us. The psychological horror film follows a vacationing family as they are attacked by a band of sadistic dopplegängers who are part of a larger force of lookalikes launching a devastating assault after being stranded in underground tunnels for years.
The sheervisualterror of the ‘tethered’ alonewas enough to make them one of the most striking movie villains audiences had seen in years. The sinister, twisted smiles, the unnatural movements, the murderous rage, and the many questions which surround them all contributed to forming a villainous entity that will lose none of its visceral impact in the decades to come.
Adelaide Wilson and her family are attacked by mysterious figures dressed in red. Upon closer inspection, the Wilsons realize that the intruders are exact lookalikes of them.
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12Pennywise
‘It’ (2017)
Given the instant hit success ofItandIt: Chapter Two, an argument could be mounted that the evil,shape-shifting clown known as “It"or Pennywise (Bill Skarsgård) has already become a horror icon. The actor’s arresting physical performance as the predatory monster was as cynical and twisted as it was sublime, working perfectly as the horrific centerpiece of the film.
With the character’s unsettling physicality, as well as its terrifying appearance and his eagerness to prey on young children, the dancing clown became a hit pop-culture figure. WhilePennywise’s immediate impact is plain to see, it will be interesting to see if the shape-shifting clown can experience not only the longevity and popularity of other horror movie icons like Jason Voorhees, Freddy Krueger, and Michael Myers, but also the ingrained cultural impact those characters continue to have.
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11The Plague
‘Hobo with a Shotgun’ (2011)
In the instant-cult classic Canuxploitation movieHobo with a Shotgundirected byJason Eisener, The Plague are villains tasked with capturing the titular Hobo (Rutger Hauer) late in the movie. It is eventually revealed that they are immortal and have been responsible for numerous deaths and assassinations throughout history, such as Joan of Arc and Abraham Lincoln.
In a movie full of completely absurd characters, The Plague manage to somehow stick out as particularly over-the-top.With their memorable designs and their out-there concept, The Plague immediately cemented themselves in audiences' mindsand, while they haven’t been seen since - at least not beyond a reference in the video gameFar Cry 3: Blood Dragon(which was made with involvement from Eisener andPower Glove, the film’s composers) - fans have been clamoring for a Plague spinoff for over a decade.
Hobo with a Shotgun
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10Black Phillip
‘The Witch’ (2015)
A stunning feature film debut from directorRobert Eggers,The Witchran at an agonizingly slow pace as it teased the presence of evil while following a family’s gradual demise at the hands of witchcraft in 1630s New England. Amid the surreal, sickening suspense, Black Philip – a sinister goat – emerges as the embodiment of evil as he is revealed to be the personification of Satan.
While Black Phillip’s presence inthe A24 horror movieis relatively brief, it is extremely memorable.Black Phillip was almost immediately claimed for memes by audiences, developing an inexorable association with goats as a whole.It’s unlikely that Eggers' film will see a franchise blooming out of it, but regardless, Black Phillip is well on his way to becoming one of the most unique yet brilliant horror icons.
9Psycho Goreman
‘PG: Psycho Goreman’ (2020)
While many of horror’s greatest icons have been not only terrifying but strangely amusing as well, the titular figure ofPG: Psycho Goreman(also known simply asPsycho Goreman) took things up a notch and then some.A twisted splatter comedy, the film follows the aptly-named galactic conqueror as he finds himself trapped on Earth and bound to two bratty siblings who force the tyrant to obey their commands even as his re-emergence sees a litany of old enemies trek across the cosmos to fight him.
Between the physicalityMatthew Ninaberbrings to the role, the hilariously over-the-top voice performance ofSteven Vlahos, and the character’s amusing interactions with the children,Psycho Goreman makes himself immediately a joy to watch. The cheesy late-night movie is well on its way to becoming a cult horror classic with its gory sensitivities, its entertaining premise, and its truly unforgettable main character.
Psycho Goreman
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8Demogorgon
‘Stranger Things’ (2016 - )
InStranger Things, the Demogorgon is a creature from the parallel dimension of the Upside Down which terrorized the kids of Hawkins in the show’s first season. With its imposing figure, its vicious attacks, and the fact that it was at the center of the haunting mystery being unraveled, the Demogorgon beats out even the season four antagonist Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) as themost iconic villain fromStranger Things.
Over the years sinceStranger Things' first season, it has become one of the most iconic and heavily merchandised elementsof the series, including a (now-unavailable) appearance in the horror-inspired video gameDead by Daylight. In a series full of memorable antagonists, the Demogorgon is the most likely to stand the test of time.
Stranger Things
7Annabelle
‘The Conjuring’ Franchise (2013 - )
Stemming from the popularity of 2013’s haunted house/possession horrorThe Conjuring, the “Conjuringverse” has launched as an extended franchise of horror films rife with many of the scariest movie monsters audiences have seen this century. While the Nun (Bonnie Aarons) was a supremely terrifying villain,it has been Annabelle who has gradually come to define the franchise, with the possessed doll an unnerving presence throughout the films.
While Annabelle was introduced in the franchise’s debut film, it wasn’t until the following year that the doll got its own film inAnnabelle, and even then it wasn’t until 2017’sAnnabelle: Creationthat it made the transition from a creepy-looking plaything to a menacing embodiment of evil.Eerie dolls have always had a place in horror, with many of them becoming icons of the genre, and it is almost certain that Annabelle will be included in the conversation going forward.
The Conjuring
‘V/H/S/94’ (2021)
WhileV/H/S/94flew under the mainstream radar, the anthology found-footage horror film has become something of a cult horror hit, largely thanks to the shockingly disturbing and mentally scarring image of Raatma. The character appears inthe “Storm Drain” segment of the film, documenting a reporter and her cameraman exploring a local legend in Westerville, Ohio concerning a rumored Rat Man lurking in the sewers.
The investigative duo get more than they bargained for when they enter the sewers to look for themselves, being captured by a tribe of cultists who worship “Raatma” (Thiago Dos Santos) as a God.With incredible practical effects lending to the striking and sickening visuals, Raatma ensured “Storm Drain” was by far the most terrifying chapter in the film, and his terrifying appearance has lingered on the mind of many horror lovers who saw the film.
