The evolution of horror villains has allowed monsters, villains, and antagonists to haunt our dreams. We started off with the Universal villains like Frankenstein and Dracula. Then, the slashers like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Chucky arrived before passing the baton to Ghostface and Jigsaw. Now that we’re in the modern era of horror, the legacy has continued, as new villains have reached iconic status.
Since 2010, we’ve had our fair share of exceptional horror films. As new players enter the scene as brilliant genre creators, their ability to explore new ways to terrify us has proven that horror is in a new renaissance. And it’s all thanks to the villains who have graced our screens. From psycho biddies to demonic dolls, the newest lot of iconic horror villains have already made their mark on cinematic history. This list will explore some of our favorites from 2010 and beyond. To be considered iconic, they need to have made an impact on us. Maybe it’s becoming the go-to Halloween costume of the year or launching an entire franchise. Regardless, these villains are destined to scare you.
15
The Tethered
‘Us’
If you’re like me and discovered Jordan Peele during his debut on MAD TV, you might have been shocked when he veered into the world of psychological horror. But we should all be thankful that he did! As his follow-up to Get Out, Peele delivered the terrifying Us. In this story, Adelaide Wilson (Lupita Nyong’o) and her family are attacked by a group of menacing doppelgängers known as the Tethered. As viewers learn, they are a group of underground clones that formed a cult run by Red, Adelaide’s double. Having the same skills as their counterparts, the thing that sets them apart from their real-world selves is that their abilities are amplified, making them stronger, faster, and able to endure more damage.
With a diet of raw rabbits, these creepy beings are literally tethered to their surface counterparts, setting out on a mission to kill them to free themselves and reclaim what was stolen from them. Peele’s masterful twist ending with the identity of who is Red and who is Adelaide is brilliant, making the story even more terrifying. Though the premise is surreal, Peele’s ability to find a way to ground the tethered in reality by making us wonder if we have our own tethered out there makes them everything we love about a juicy antagonist.
14
Black Phillip
‘The Witch’
Not all villains must take human form! In fact, one of the most terrifying creatures of the modern era of horror is a goat. Thanks to Robert Eggers‘ The Witch, the folk horror film took audiences to a Puritanical farm in which evil forces torment a family until they turn on one another. The true entity of evil, Black Phillip, is the mortal form of Satan himself. As goats were associated with witchcraft and Satan in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, Eggers’ usage of a goat to portray the devil was a brilliantly haunting decision.
What makes him a perfect villain is his ability to literally hide in plain sight. By entering the lives of William (Ralph Ineson) and his family, he becomes an unsuspecting presence. The twins become increasingly fond of him. Why would anyone believe it’s the goat that is causing chaos when there’s a witch down the path? Black Philip’s ability to drive the family to despair through madness is a mark of true terror. By the time that Black Philip’s true nature is revealed, it’s too late. He’s come for what he needs and has taken Thomasin (Anya Taylor-Joy) down a path of witchcraft. Eggers’ film, which happened to be his directorial debut, is a truly understated entry into modern horror. Despite its 2015 release, fans are going back to observe the wonders he created.
13
Esther
‘Orphan’
Gone are the days in which we believed that cute kids like little orphan Annie were meant to serve as a reminder that the sun will come out tomorrow. Instead, Esther came around and shattered our ideals of perception being reality. The main antagonist of Orphan and Orphan: First Kill, Esther, is presumed to be a 9-year-old Russian girl joining a foster family. In reality, she is a 33-year-old mentally unstable Estonian woman named Leena Klammer with a hypopituitary disorder that makes her appear younger than she is. Using that as a method of manipulation, the con artist goes on a murder spree, becoming a violent serial killer. Played perfectly by Isabelle Fuhrman, Esther is a villain who almost got away with it all.
What makes Esther a brilliant villain is the methods of manipulation. Her acting prowess to successfully pull the wool over the eyes of the adults is masterful. Of course, she has a flaw, and that flaw is sexual desires. Nevertheless, her ability to act like a child is the perfect con for her crimes. With more than a dozen known victims, Esther is a legendary villain. The only reason she falls lower on this list is, Where does she go next? Thankfully, Fuhrman has expressed interest in continuing to play Esther in “inbetweenquels.” But this is horror. The genre always leaves the door open for spirits to haunt!
12
The Mother
‘Barbarian’
Zach Cregger is a brilliant mind in the horror realm. For his solo writing and directorial debut, Cregger took audiences on an excruciating wild ride. Barbarian is an unexpected journey about a woman who discovers the rental home she reserved has been double-booked, but there’s a secret within the dwelling. You enter the film fully believing that typecasting is fully a thing and that Bill Skarsgård is present to be the baddie of the picture. And then Cregger shatters that all to pieces and introduces you to the monstrous creature known as The Mother. Horror mothers are a classic trope in horror films, but this one is unlike any other. Portrayed in the film by Matthew Patrick Davis, she is a deranged and deformed woman who is the result of decades of incest and rape at the hands of Frank (Richard Brake), a serial rapist and pedophile.
The Mother is a terrifying monster simply based on presence. Her ability to torment through strength, tearing people limb from limb or splitting a head completely in half, makes her a tremendous villain. We witness the birth of this monster through her experience. She serves as a deeper picture of the emotional and psychological turmoil that physical abuse has on an individual. As the embodiment of terror and tragedy, The Mother is the best surprise Barbarian has to offer. We know she’s lurking in the darkness, which makes her brilliantly terrifying.
11
Laura
‘Bring Her Back’
There is something about a psycho biddy that is so alluring. Arriving on the scene a bit sooner than Aunt Gladys was Laura from the Philippous’ Bring Her Back. A grieving mother going to great lengths in hopes of bringing her daughter back to life, Sally Hawkins‘ Laura is a deceitful villain who truly believes in her mission, and anyone who gets in her way is destined to die. After agreeing to foster Andy (Billy Barratt) and Piper (Sora Wong) following their father’s death, she uses emotional and psychological abuse to drive a wedge between them. But, as that happens, it’s soon discovered that the former counselor had kidnapped a missing boy named Connor Bird (Jonah Wren Phillips) to serve as the host for Cathy’s soul. Using a dark occult ritual, Laura is convinced she has the power to bring her daughter back.
What makes Laura a terror is the fact that she’s another human villain rooted in reality. There are certainly extremes to her actions and crimes, but she epitomizes the dark corners the mind might go to during grief. Her escalation leads to murder, but in the end, she gets caught, getting what she deserved. As the ultimate gaslighter in a time when gaslighting is a vindictive action, Laura’s rise into the modern horror hall of fame is a reflection of the evolution of where a villain can go.
10
The Babadook
‘The Babadook’
Since we’re exploring films from the past 15 years, the growing list of iconic horror villains proves that the genre is in a resurgence. But if we’re being honest with ourselves, the modern horror icon began with this legend right here: The Babadook. When the Australian supernatural horror film debuted in 2014, it took the world by storm, going viral because of the titular character. The Babadook film follows Amelia Vanek (Essie Davis), a widowed single mother who, with her son, Samuel (Noah Wiseman), must confront a mysterious humanoid monster in their home. The film relies heavily on actual horror rather than cheap jump scares. Having the ability to scare through aura, the titular monster succeeds in its mission.
The film hits home as a tale about grief in which The Babadook becomes the symbol of trauma. To some, those emotions are the true monster of the story, but the physical embodiment of The Babadook leaves us Babashook. Now, we certainly cannot discuss this film without discussing the pop culture that the monster influenced. A major factor in The Babadook’s popularity is its connection to the LGBTQ+ community. LGBTQ+ people have long been considered monsters by society and felt seen in the outsider stories the horror genre featured, and The Babadook managed to become a beacon of unlikely representation.
9
Abigail
‘Abigail’
If there’s one thing we’ve learned about modern horror flicks, it’s that you should never underestimate a sweet and innocent little girl. Another entry in the “looks may be deceiving” playbook comes in the form of Abigail, the titular main character in the film Abigail. The film follows a motley crew of hired criminals who set out to kidnap the ballerina, the daughter of a powerful underworld crime boss. The joke’s on them, though, as Abigail is a bloodthirsty vampire! Abigail has superhuman strength, with super speed, regeneration skills, levitation, the ability to grant powers, and so much more. Essentially, if you drop Abigail into the MCU, the heroes are doomed.
Alisha Weir does a remarkable job making Abigail a true horror icon. The little lady is one of the best vampires in recent memory for being everything you expected and then some. Just the image of Weir’s face covered in blood is what’s made Abigail so brilliant as a character. The film, which is unafraid to lean into spurts of comedy, allows Abigail to do the same. The character has an innate ability to have the upper hand through power and wit. It’s a joy to watch Abigail succeed in her nasty deeds.
8
Rose the Hat
‘Doctor Sleep’
When we discuss the all-time list of notorious and iconic horror villains, Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) from The Shining most certainly makes the cut. Who knew that Stephen King was capable of formulating another sinister villain into this universe? Played by the exceptional Rebecca Ferguson, Rose the Hat serves as the primary antagonist in Doctor Sleep. Lifted from King’s 2013 novel, the film brings an adult Danny Torrance (Ewan McGregor) into the spotlight as he battles the steam-seeking psychic vampire who hunts for children to feed off of, attempting to save Abra Stone (Kyliegh Curran) from Rose’s clutches. As the authoritarian leader of the nomadic tribe, Rose the Hat’s ability to telepathically locate her prey makes her a formidable opponent.
What makes Ferguson’s performance so wicked is her dry demeanor that blends into the world with ease. There’s a sexual aura to Rose the Hat that brings us into a world of temptation to seek more. She is a hero to her people, but a monster to the rest. Thanks to Mike Flanagan’s vision and Ferguson’s performance, Rose the Hat doesn’t blend into the horror conversation. She’s disarmingly terrifying with just enough of an edge to not undercut her subtly. It’s utterly intoxicating watching how she nearly becomes victorious in the end.
7
The Grabber
‘The Black Phone’
Oftentimes, our favorite villains aren’t portrayed by high-profile names, but other times, you have Ethan Hawke bring a brilliant, seasoned performance to the screen in The Black Phone. As an utterly deplorable kidnapper menacing the small Colorado town, the serial child abductor and killer is a menace. Donning a haunting transferable mask, The Grabber inflicts psychological torture on his victims until they fall prey to him. Perhaps unaware of the depth of The Grabber, Finney (Mason Thames) is able to defeat him by the end of the first film, yet his spirit remains for a sequel. The method of his torture is inspired by many notorious serial killers, and his meticulous methods are truly only discovered because of a young girl’s premonitions and visions.
Many of our villains here are not of humankind, and that’s what makes The Grabber terrifying. Maintaining a human form without extraordinary powers brings the reality of his crimes. You hear warnings from parents about not talking to strangers with vans, and yet it’s his modus operandi. We know a bit about The Grabber beyond his name, Albert Shaw, his brother, and the abuse they both faced at the hands of their father. We know his affinity for magic. This leaves the door wide open for a prequel origin story. How did he fall down the path of kidnapping? Were the boys in the first film the first victims? Has he committed similar crimes elsewhere beyond the second film? The Black Phone 2 is destined to succeed, meaning more of The Grabber is inevitable. We deserve the origin of the mask! If the actor is willing to go to hell with The Grabber, give the people what they deserve!
6
Longlegs
‘Longlegs’
Let’s get it out of the way from the top: Nicolas Cage‘s body of work is truly a fascinating journey. He’s literally played every type of character, but in the later part of his career, he’s dived deep into gritty, experimental, and daring parts. So when he joined Osgood Perkins‘ Longlegs, it truly shattered expectations. Perkins, the son of Anthony Perkins, the man who brought life to Norman Bates, has become a major player in the horror world, and the character of Longlegs has solidified his placement. The image of the monster that Cage plays is one that you cannot get out of your head. With much controversy tied to potential transphobia attached to the character, the appearance of Longlegs is one of extremely pale skin, knotty grey hair, and a lumpy and puffy face as a result of botched plastic surgeries. When he opens his mouth, it sounds like something is possessing him.
He’s a creepy and odd individual with a sick, twisted devotion to the devil. He preys on young girls born on the 14th of a given month, causing familicide within six days of their birthday. After making a deal with the devil, he becomes a toy maker to serve as a beacon for murder. Longlegs, known as Dale Kobble, is a true monster. With comparisons to Buffalo Bill from The Silence of the Lambs, he’s made his mark as a terror of the modern horror genre.
