The best horror film character/villian?

[Reno]

I was considering Argento with The Three Mothers, but they largely pull strings behind the scenes. When each of them makes an appearance at the end of their film (Suspiria, Inferno, Mother of Tears) it's ludicrous every time. The concept of them is intriguing, the three old girls themselves not so much.

 

[D'wards]

Reno do you listen to podcasts?

 

[Reno]

Reno do you listen to podcasts?

I do.

 

[D'wards]

I do.

I've listened to about half of these so far - excellent interviews by people who know their horror onions

Eli Roth’s History of Horror: Uncut

ELI ROTH'S HISTORY OF HORROR: UNCUT brings together the masters of horror - including Stephen King, Greg Nicotero, Rob Zombie, Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, Tippi Hedren and Tony Todd - to explore the genre’s biggest themes and reveal the inspirations and struggles behind its past and...

pca.st

The Tony Todd was is very good. He is a huge fan of Romero and asked him if he had written the character of Ben in Night of the Living Dead as a black man. George said no, he had just written him as a man and it just so happened that Duane Jones auditioned and was the best actor he saw so cast him.
Tony Todd said he found this inspiring.
Proper colourblind casting long before it became a hashtag

 

[purves grundy]

Draclea

 

[Reno]

I've listened to about half of these so far - excellent interviews by people who know their horror onions

Eli Roth’s History of Horror: Uncut

ELI ROTH'S HISTORY OF HORROR: UNCUT brings together the masters of horror - including Stephen King, Greg Nicotero, Rob Zombie, Quentin Tarantino, Edgar Wright, Tippi Hedren and Tony Todd - to explore the genre’s biggest themes and reveal the inspirations and struggles behind its past and...

pca.st

The Tony Todd was is very good. He is a huge fan of Romero and asked him if he had written the character of Ben in Night of the Living Dead as a black man. George said no, he had just written him as a man and it just so happened that Duane Jones auditioned and was the best actor he saw so cast him.
Tony Todd said he found this inspiring.
Proper colourblind casting long before it became a hashtag

Thanks, I don't know that one, I'll check it out. I know that Romero story though, always the first anecdote to drop when it comes to Night of the Living Dead.

 

[Reno]

Draclea

Who is she ?

 

[purves grundy]

Who is she ?

Standard children’s pronunciation of Dracula

 

[Knotted]

Nathan from Acolytes of Horror makes a case for Annie Wilkes

 

[Reno]

Nathan from Acolytes of Horror makes a case for Annie Wilkes

She's a great villain and Kathy Bates gives a fantastic performance. In the book she's far more of a monster, she's mostly described from the protagonists POV and feels more abstract. She's also far more cruel, so when she gets her comeuppance, in the book it feels deserved. In the film I was shocked when she gets killed because Kathy Bates humanises her. It's understandable that he would do that to her in his situation but you still watch a woman with mental health issues getting her head smashed in in the end and to me it wasn't a triumphant catharsis.

 

[scifisam]

I voted for Damian out of the options, because those movies genuinely scared me as a kid. A Nightmare on Elm Street didn't scare me - loved Freddy, but wasn't actually scared by him.

But Annie Wilkes definitely wins for human horror villains. She feels like someone you might have met down the shops - or on urban! - and mostly seemed normal and nice, if a little intense. That movie has dated very well.

The Terminator in the first film also gave an actual terrible nightmare. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead.

 

[purves grundy]

I enjoyed The Omen films but to me Damien was never really much of a character - it was the deaths, ‘encounters with evil’ that made them so ace.

If we’re having Annie Wilkes then how about, in more recent years, Mick Taylor?

 

[Reno]

I enjoyed The Omen films but to me Damien was never really much of a character - it was the deaths, ‘encounters with evil’ that made them so ace.

If we’re having Annie Wilkes then how about, in more recent years, Mick Taylor?

That's a good one (it should be added, he's from the Wolf Creek films and tv series.)

 

[Lurdan]

Henry in 'Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer' comes to mind. However the poll options suggest 'horror franchises' and I would have chosen 'Frankenstein'.

Unfortunately 'MAJOR POLL FAIL' : we only have options for "Frankenstein ('s monster)" and for the "The Bride (of Frankenstein)". But there's a whole strand of Frankenstein films in which it's the creator not the creation who is the real villain/'Frankenstein monster'. I'd go with 'Frankenstein' because of those multiple possibilities.

 

[Reno]

Henry in 'Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer' comes to mind. However the poll options suggest 'horror franchises' and I would have chosen 'Frankenstein'.

Unfortunately 'MAJOR POLL FAIL' : we only have options for "Frankenstein ('s monster)" and for the "The Bride (of Frankenstein)". But there's a whole strand of Frankenstein films in which it's the creator not the creation who is the real villain/'Frankenstein monster'. I'd go with 'Frankenstein' because of those multiple possibilities.

True, in the Hammer Frankenstein series, Peter Cushing's Baron Frankenstein is the ongoing villain, who creates a new monster in every installment. I only see the poll as a starting point for a more general discussion.

 

[scifisam]

I always think it's justified to call the monster Frankenstein. In the book (not sure about all the many movies) Victor Frankenstein refers to the monster as his son, and he's called father in return. That would mean the monster's name, if he had one, would be Frankenstein.

 

[Saul Goodman]

That would mean the monster's name, if he had one, would be Frankenstein.

It'd certainly work better than Albert.

 

[Reno]

The creature himself wanted to be called Adam. Frankenstein idealistically thinks he will be like a son, but eventually refers to him in less flattering terms once the creature goes rogue.

 

[weltweit]

Fu Manchu.

Always used to terrify me anyhow ..

 

[The Octagon]

The Terminator in the first film also gave an actual terrible nightmare. It can't be reasoned with. It doesn't feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead.

+1 for this.

 

[freakydave]

Dracula as played by Christopher Lee would be high on my list, not so much when played by others. Bela Lugosi's Dracula hasn't dated very well.

The Gary Oldman Dracula is very good. I recently watched it as an adult and the film is all over the shop, but the portrayal of Dracula is amazing. I read the book after that film so it was in my head, but they really got that version of Dracula down

 

[scifisam]

The creature himself wanted to be called Adam. Frankenstein idealistically thinks he will be like a son, but eventually refers to him in less flattering terms once the creature goes rogue.

That would be his first name. Adam Frankenstein. Has a ring to it.

Regardless, when people are being all haha, you're stupid! to people referring to the monster as Frankenstein, there are good grounds to argue that, in fact, they're the ones who don't know the text all that well.

 

[Reno]

The Gary Oldman Dracula is very good. I recently watched it as an adult and the film is all over the shop, but the portrayal of Dracula is amazing. I read the book after that film so it was in my head, but they really got that version of Dracula down

Not much of a fan of the film or the performance. Great costumes though.

 

[MrSki]

I am not a big horror fan but voted for Damian only on the grounds that I used to be mates with Jonnie Scott Taylor. Long after he had given up acting and was a lorry driver. Had a lovely doggo too. Lost touch when he married a Kiwi & moved to Oz. I think that film fucked him up a bit.

 

[Reno]

Damien (poll fail)

 

[krtek a houby]

Damien (poll fail)

The devil's in the detail?

 

[MrSki]

Damien (poll fail)

I thought that but thought my memory was playing tricks.

 

[goldenecitrone]

 

[freakydave]

Not much of a fan of the film or the performance. Great costumes though.

Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder really ruin it. They just look constantly look apologetic for being cast in such an ambitious film. I totally understand why people don't like Gary Oldman when he camps it up as a villain, it's not good on an intelligent level, I just find it really fun, like The Fast Show or something, I won't defend it, but I like it

 

[AverageJoe]

It says "character/villain" in the title, so may I add two from the same film?

Grandpa and Michael Emerson from The Lost Boys.

Grandpa is the gentle loving elderly relative that we all relate to until we find out he's the big bad.

And Michael is the older brother of one of the films main characters which elicits one of the best lines in film history.... "Look at your reflection in the mirror. You're a creature of the night Michael, just like out of a comic book! You're a vampire Michael! My own brother, a goddamn, shit-sucking vampire. You wait 'till mom finds out, buddy!"

And we all know there's a load more amazing lines in it. I might watch it again now. (also has a top soundtrack)