While many films make it easy for usto despise the villain, over the years thehorror genrehas had a way of turning its antagonists into fan favorites. With their rich backstories, antihero demeanors, and creative ways of killing their victims, fans have gravitated to iconic figures they seem to love even more than the protagonists these characters torture. Here are just 10 slasher horror movie villains that we’ve come to adore, with some old classics, and fresh faces making the list.
WhenHellraiserfirst hit the big screen in 1987, no one knew what to expect from first-time director Clive Barker. Sure, he had directed a couple of short films, and wrote the source material, but a feature film? That’s a daunting task. Audiences' concerns were quickly assuaged when Pinhead made his grandiose appearance, and as leader of the Cenobites, he’s gone on to become one of the horror genre’s biggest icons.
First portrayed by Doug Bradley, there wasn’t a lot to dislike about Pinhead. He had a punk rock look, a casual yet firm demeanor, and just oozed confidence. He immediately became a fan favorite, and considering the film’sreal villains were Frank and Julia, we wanted to see them get their comeuppance from the cool human-turned-demon. In later films, Pinhead’s backstory was expanded upon, giving fans an even greater appreciation for the Cenobite. As such, there have been 11 films in theHellraiserfranchise, with Jamie Clayton recently taking up the mantle as the series' first female incarnation of Pinhead, much to the delight of audiences everywhere.
Leatherface - The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
In 1974, Tobe Hooper’sThe Texas Chain Saw Massacrewas unleashed on an unsuspecting public, and the horror genre has never been the same since. Its simple story about a group of people stalked by a maniacal killer and his sadistic family has become one of the genre’s biggest tropes, and gave way to the legend that is Leatherface.
Portrayed by the late Gunnar Hansen, Leatherface was a hulking, imposing figure that wore the faces of his victims and wielded a chainsaw. Yet it was that air of mystery surrounding him that made viewers want to know more. Why did he have baby teeth? Why couldn’t he talk? What’s the deal with the chainsaw? All those questions would be answered in later films, but it was his first appearance in the original classic that made him an instant hit with horror fans. Considering his victims didn’t have much substance to them, it was easy to root for Leatherface, who has since gone on to be an icon loved the world over.
Related:Every Texas Chainsaw Massacre Movie, Ranked
Jigsaw - Saw (2004)
The best villains are those who see themselves as the hero, and in theSawfranchise, it’s hard to argue with John Kramer, known affectionately to horror fans everywhere as Jigsaw.
Seriously, what’s not to like about a man that takes the worst society has to offer, and plays a few games meant toreignite their zest for life? Maybe he could be a little nicer about it, but where’s the fun in that? By dishing out his own brand of vigilante justice, Kramer shows us what’s really important in this world, and teaches us to live each day to the fullest. Something he learned on his own after a failed suicide attempt. While his methods might be a little unconventional, it’s easy to cheer for a guy who sticks it to a health insurance executive that denies people’s claims for coverage.
Candyman - Candyman (1992)
As the victim of a hate crime, Daniel Robitaille was killed in the late 19th century after it was discovered he’d been having an intimate relationship with a rich, white man’s daughter. Since he was black, and the son of a slave, white folk didn’t take too kindly to things like that back then. Sadly, some things never change, but that’s besides the point. Robitaille’s death birthed the urban legend ofCandyman, and in 1992 a new horror icon was born.
With his trademark bees, and hook for a hand, Candyman has appeared in just four films thus far, but thanks to Tony Todd portraying the titular character, horror fans everywhere have come to sympathize with the beloved legend that was created by Clive Barker. Much like Bloody Mary, all you have to do is look in the mirror and chant his name five times, and carnage will ensue. Those who disbelieve will be quickly dispatched, bringing more credence to the supposed myth that is Candyman.
Michael Myers - Halloween (1978)
If creating a slasher icon was as easy as defacing a William Shatner mask, everyone would be doing it, but as chilling as Michael Myers' appearance is, that’s not the only reason we love him.
First introduced in director John Carpenter’s 1978 quintessential horror film,Halloween, Michael Myers was a troubled child that took a knife to his sister, got locked up in an asylum, and escaped 15 years later to terrorize the residents of Haddonfield, Illinois. Though his chief victim, Laurie Strode, was later ret-conned to be his other sister, his motivations remain unknown, and that’s what makes Michael Myers so terrifying. He is pure evil, with the blackest eyes… the devil’s eyes, and despite all the family drama added into the later films, fans love seeing how he’ll come up with creative ways to kill his victims. His slow, methodical walk has become as legendary as his coveralls, and has gone to become somewhat of a trope itself. Though seemingly killed off for good after 13 films, don’t be surprised if we see him pop up againto continue the mythology started 45 years ago.
Chucky - Child’s Play (1988)
What’s to love about a doll with red hair and overalls? Not much, but when you possess it with the spirit of a serial killer, and it springs to life cracking wise while wielding a knife, it turns out there’s a lot to like. Just ask any horror fan, and they’ll tell you why Chucky is such an endearing character.
Hitting the big screen in the 1988 slasher,Child’s Play, Chucky was voiced by the incomparable Brad Dourif. Standing a little over two-feet tall, the doll was brought home by a widowed mother just trying to please her son, Andy, at Christmas. Unbeknownst to her, serial killer Charles Lee Ray transferred his soul into Chucky thanks to a little voodoo magic, and is waiting for the right time to strike. After he kills a babysitter, all the evidence points to Andy, who insists the doll is alive, and is the real culprit. With a mouth as dirty as any sailor, Chucky is the kind of villain that hides in plain sight. With six films under his belt,and a successful television series, he’s become one of the horror genre’s most memorable characters, and thanks to the voice talents of Dourif, is loved by fans. After all, he is a good guy. It says so right on the box.
Norman Bates - Psycho (1960)
Many of us know what it’s like to live with an overbearing mother that’s emotionally abusive. It’s part of the reason that therapy is a billion-dollar industry, but why pay someone to sit on their couch and talk about your problems for an hour, when you can just suppress all those feelings until you become the thing you hate the most?
For those of us that came from broken homes, we can sympathize with Norman Bates, the main character in Alfred Hitchcock’s classic,Psycho. He may be a little unconventional, but he’s just a guy trying to please his mother, and who can’t relate to that? ThoughPsychomade Bates a household name, it wasPsycho 2where audiences really began to emotionally connect with him. He was trying so hard to be the best version of himself, but society just wouldn’t let him, and by the end of the film all bets were off as Norman returned to his old self, becoming a horror legend whose famous quote, “We all go a little mad sometimes,” is still uttered to this day.
Related:Psycho: Why Paramount Tried to Kill Their Most Iconic Film
Jason Voorhees - Friday the 13th Part 2 (1981)
Seemingly drowning as a child in 1957 while the camp counselors assigned to watch him were off making love, Jason Voorhees was thought to be dead. In 1980, his mother extracted a measure of revenge by going on a killing spree at Camp Crystal Lake, before being beheaded. A year later, it wasFriday the 13th Part 2where we realized that Jason was alive and well, and witnessed his mother’s murder.
What followed was the birth of a cultural icon who has been delighting slasher fans ever since. When Jason received his trademark hockey mask in 1982, his appearance became synonymous with horror, and now there’s nothing we love more than seeing the creative ways in which Jason can kill off a bunch of dimwitted teenagers. Whether it’s knocking off someone’s head with a stiff right hook, or skewering together two lovers in the thralls of passion with a spear, the methods Voorhees uses are as essential to his legend as his mask is. Couple all that with Harry Manfredini’s famous ‘ki ki ki, ma ma ma’ sound effect, and you have all the ingredients that make up a true, American treasure.
Art the Clown - Terrifier (2016)
Let’s face it, creating a horror icon isn’t easy. Many have tried over the years, but for one reason or another the characters have fallen flat, and failed to enter into the subconscious of the genre. Such is not the case with Damien Leone’s 2016 low-budget slasher,Terrifier, which introduced audiences to the new kid on the block, Art the Clown.
First appearing in 2013 in the horror anthology movie,All Hallow’s Eve, Art the Clown hit it big with his own film that really gave audiences a chance to see what this demented ghoul was all about. Did he have the goods to stack up to the likes of Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers? The answer was a resounding, “Yes!” Silent, funny, and extremely deadly, Art the Clown knows how to make good use of his bag of tricks, which includes a hacksaw, a scalpel, a hammer, and even a gun. He isn’t afraid to get his feet dirty, either, stomping the head of one of his victims into a bloody mess.Terrifier 2only furthered the mythology of Art the Clown in 2022,and withTerrifier 3recently being announced, we can only hope that we’ll get to learn more about what makes our favorite maniacal clown tick.
Freddy Krueger - A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
Despite the fact that he was a serial killer of children, perhaps no other horror icon is as loved the world over as Freddy Kruger. Portrayed by Robert Englund inA Nightmare on Elm Streetin 1984, and its seven sequels, Freddy has become a pop culture phenomenon that has gone beyond the films, and into mainstream consciousness.
Books, dolls, clothing, video games, and posters all feature the image of the horribly burned character, and fans collect them with pride, displaying their wares for everyone to see. Whether it’s his cheesy one-liners, the way he’s able to enter our dreams, his highly dangerous bladed leather glove, or the fact that Englund so vividly brought Krueger to life, Freddy is as iconic as the Statue of Liberty. Despite the 2010 remake being a critical failure, fans are still eager to see where the franchise will go next, continuing the legacy of the famed Elm Street butcher.
