I recently read a “Top 10 Best Villains” post by NC blogger and romance author Sonja Foust that made me start thinking about the bad guys I love to hate. Here’s my own ordered version of the list, with a few notes and “Dishonorable Mentions” at the end. I hope you’ll add your villains to the comments, too.
1. Count Dracula, from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel
Definitely my worst villain of all time. I discovered the novel at a young age and was in horrified thrall to vampires. I lost MANY nights of sleep over this, and it was years, years I say, before I began to get over my delicious and unwelcome terror.
The thing about the Count — and you KNEW it was coming — was that he got Lucy and Mina! I was so upset about that. Mina was a wimp (a redshirt from the beginning), but I had hopes for Lucy. Forget garlic, get yourself a throat-cutting kukri and a Bowie knife for the heart work. Even then, I worry.
2. The Child Catcher, played by Robert Helpmann in the 1968 movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
This terrifying creature had a HOOK and a net and a cage and moved around in broad daylight! What on earth was this horrible bit doing in an otherwise cheery-wonderful film (he wasn’t in the book, interestingly)? I had actually forgotten about the creepy Child Catcher until I had kids of my own and rented this as a family film one night. It caught me completely unawares and I had to stop the movie, I was so upset. Augh! This character was also supposedly the “inspiration” for Marilyn Manson’s 1995 release Smells Like Children. Yikes.
3. Bluebeard, from the 1697 French fairy tale by Charles Perrault
Technically the most ancient of my villainous panoply (“villainous panoply,” did you like that?), this murderous aristocrat first showed up on my horizon in a (most treasured) book of fairy tales I received as a gift as a 6 year old. I was so horrified by this particular character that I marked the story and for years I carefully avoided opening the book to that page. The story is thought to be based on the life of a 15th century self-confessed serial killer. Perfect for the kiddies!
4. Wicked Witch of the West, played by Margaret Hamilton in the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz
The first female villain to appear in my nightmares, this witch was even more frightening to me than the wicked queen from Snow White, the Snow Queen from the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, and Disney’s Cruella de Vil all rolled into one.
5. Freddy Krueger, played by Robert Englund in the 1984 movie A Nightmare on Elm Street
6. Sweeney Todd, from the 1846 series The String of Pearls
I first encountered Sweeny Todd in theater class in junior high school. We didn’t do the play, but we studied it. I was shocked that such a character would find its way to the stage. Seemed a bit bloody to me. Btw, the original Demon Barber of Fleet Street was NOT a tragic figure, but was rotten from the beginning.
7. Buffalo Bill aka Jame Gumb, played by Ted Levine in 1991 film Silence of the Lambs
Hannibal Lector was awful, but Buffalo Bill and his pit in the basement was the real terror for me.
8. Frank Booth, played by Dennis Hopper in the 1986 movie Blue Velvet
Saw this film in college and have regretted it ever since. Whew.
9. Dr. Christian Szell, played by Laurence Olivier in the 1976 movie Marathon Man
Going to the dentist was never the same.
10. Rhoda Penmark, age 8, from the book The Bad Seed by William March
Wicked, wicked child. I heard they made this into a movie. I’m glad I didn’t see it.
11. Damien Thorn, from the book The Omen by David Seltzer
Another wicked, wicked child.
12. The Grand Inquisitor, from Dostoevsky’s novel The Brothers Karamazov
Having been raised in the church, this story rang so horribly true that I could barely think of anything else for weeks after I read it.
13. Jack Torrance, played by Jack Nicholson in the movie The Shining.
I had read the novel long before I saw the film, and I have to admit that Jack Nicholson did the character justice.
14. Annie Wilkes, from Stephen King’s book Misery
I never saw Kathy Bates’ portrayal of Annie Wilkes, but I can imagine. And no matter how horrifying you thought the movie was, I’m here to tell you that I bet the book was far worse. I thought it would NEVER be over! I swear I’ll never be anyone’s “Number One Fan.” Aaaaah!
15. Alex Forrest, played by Glen Close in the 1987 movie Fatal Attraction
Bunny boiler!
16. Miss Havisham, from Charles Dickens’ novel Great Expectations
In the vein of Miss Hannigan, the orphanage matron in (Little Orphan) Annie, and Fagin from Dickens’ Oliver Twist. What is it with people being mean to orphans?
17-19. Non-human villians:
Jaws, as well as the Alien and Ash (Bilbo Baggins!! What a creepy android) from the Alien film(s).
Dishonorable Mentions
Norman Bates (Psycho), the Borg (Star Trek), and Audrey Jr., the man-eating plant (Little Shop of Horrors).
I didn’t see The Dark Knight, A Clockwork Orange, or Schindler’s List, so those notable villains don’t appear here. And sorry, Darth Vader never made my list. Not scary.
And finally, I LOVED the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man (Ghostbusters). And I love Ray Stantz’s silly little brain for thinking him up.
Don’t forget to leave your villains in the comments!!
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