Top 5 Contemporary Horror Villains
Cat Martin
Given the current spooky season, it seems like the perfect time to make a shortlist of my own for the best contemporary horror movie antagonists. The qualities that I observed in each one were those that made them linger in my mind long after seeing them. So, without any further introduction, here’s my personal ranking:
SPOILER WARNING FOR ALL FILMS FEATURED
5. The Mirror from Oculus (2013)
The idea of an object being able to manipulate your experiences and turn you into an unwitting puppet for its own murderous intent is disturbing enough without delving into the reflection of societal oppressions that the mirror represents in this film.
4. The Cult from Hereditary (2018)
If you’ve already seen this year’s horror movie hit Hereditary, you already know why it earned a spot on this list. We come to believe, because of the surreal ending, that the cult (who worship a demon prince) have predicted and used the events through the entire film to achieve their goal. Is there anything more unsettling than a conspiracy that turns out to be true?
3. Kevin from We Need To Talk About Kevin (2011)
In a post-Columbine environment, its contentious at best to even attempt to write the kind of person Kevin represents. However, he is not played out as a sympathetic figure, instead as someone who is manipulative and ultimately violent. The sheer malice that you can feel from Kevin (played by Ezra Millar) is enough to give anyone nightmares.
2. Pennywise from It (2017)
Although the original It is iconic in every way, the 2017 version provides an even more unsettling image of It, also known as Pennywise. Bill Skarsgård’s performance as the creature is at some points manic, while at others provokes a lurking sense of dread within the viewer.
Mr. Babadook from The Babadook (2014)
As one of the most critically acclaimed horror films of 2014, it would’ve been near criminal to disregard the chilling effect of The Babadook on everyone who saw it. The character of Mr. Babadook is wholly terrifying, so eerily similar to my own childhood nightmare creatures that he earned top spot on my list beyond any doubt.
