One of the greatest things about film villains is that they come in all shapes, sizes, and disguises. Unlike heroes who are often one-dimensional personalities, possessed only by the need to do good, villains have all kinds of reasons for wreaking havoc.
We’ve chosen a selection of villains that each have a menace that’s totally unique to them. So, whether you like a shrieking slasher, a tittering tyrant, or any other alliterative form of villain, there’ll be one that tickles your pickle on this list.
Pearl – Mia Goth
First on our list is the titular character from Ti West’s film, Pearl. Released just last year, this slasher horror is the perfect blend of arthouse and horror. It’s often unusual for the protagonist of a story to be the villain but Mia Goth delivers an excellent performance, enabling us to cheer her on in her quest for stardom, whilst also being horrified at her actions along the way.
Pearl is a girl who’s stuck on the farm looking after her ill father, but dreaming of a life in the movies. When a dance competition try-out arrives at the local church, Pearl does everything she can to make sure she’s chosen. It’s a horrible mess throughout, but Mia Goth does such an excellent job of portraying the warped mind of Pearl that we couldn’t look away for a second.
Poker Night – Beau Mirchoff
Gambling is one of those activities that often inspires, if not at least full movies, critical scenes in feature films. While we’re yet to see any movies being released based on top online casinos — although, with the way the digital age is progressing that may come about in the not too distant future — poker games are often used in pivotal moments. In Poker Night, renamed Joker for its UK release, we see a maniacal Beau Mirchoff conduct a nightmarish game of this card classic.
This film sees a policeman playing for his life against Beau Mirchoff and his twisted idea of fun. It’s a classic psychological thriller and Beau Mirchoff won’t fail to give absolutely anybody the creeps.
The Joker – Heath Ledger
Another Joker, but this time in the form of Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight. There have been so many iterations of the Joker over the years and everybody has their favorite. For us, it’s Heath Ledger; he manages to deliver a giggle that’s at once childlike and terrifying.
Ledger’s performance of the iconic villain brings a sensitivity to the Joker that helps him feel human, before shredding that humanity with his diabolical actions. Many would say that there’s nothing scarier than an emotionless killer, but we’d argue that someone who knows the wrong they’re doing, but does it anyway (with a giggle) is far more terrifying.
Hannibal Lecter – Anthony Hopkins
Finally, has there ever been a countdown that hasn’t included celebrated actor Anthony Hopkins‘ portrayal of Hannibal Lecter? His classic performance as a psychopath has gone down in history as one of the most bone-chilling bits of film in the world.
If you’ve not watched The Silence of the Lambs before then we implore you to. It tells the story of Clarice, an FBI agent, who tries to befriend a former psychiatrist and serial killer Hannibal Lecter, in order to save the life of more female victims.