Let's bring some of these shady characters into the light! For this list, we’ll be looking at scary movie antagonists who’ve yet to get their day in the sun. Keep in mind, there will be some spoilers.
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00:00 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the Top 20 Underrated Horror
00:12 Movie Villains.
00:13 "That's not a knife.
00:14 This is a knife."
00:15 For this list, we'll be looking at scary movie antagonists who've yet to get their
00:23 day in the sun.
00:25 As such, we'll be excluding characters who were underrated for some time, but are now
00:30 appropriately appreciated, like Art the Clown.
00:34 Keep in mind, there will be some spoilers.
00:36 Who do you want to see make a bloody comeback?
00:40 Let us know in the comments below.
00:55 20.
00:56 Krampus
00:57 Krampus.
00:59 With just two films, director Michael Doherty has already made an indelible mark on cult
01:04 horror, so much so that we may feature another of his villains.
01:09 But what better way to kick off this list than with this yuletide demon?
01:13 Granted, Krampus gets his toy-like underlings to do his bidding for most of the runtime,
01:19 but once the hooved beast makes an appearance, he does not disappoint.
01:33 Even with a PG-13 rating, Krampus manages to make us shiver in our stockings, fully
01:39 committed to being good, else we face his wrath.
01:43 But even then, we may not be safe.
01:54 19.
02:00 The Strangers
02:01 The Strangers franchise.
02:03 A group of villains who keep things terrifyingly mysterious, this trio of masked killers start
02:09 off small by knocking on the door of a suburban home.
02:15 Slowly but surely, a campaign of harassment and torment begins, starting out with moving
02:20 household objects around before ramping up to stalking, torture, and murder.
02:32 From behind emotionless masks, the trio seems almost unmoved by the pain and suffering they
02:37 cause their victims, which is in many ways even scarier than if they seem to enjoy it.
02:43 One thing's for sure, if you hear a knock at your door late at night, just leave it
02:48 be.
02:49 Trust us, you're better off.
02:55 18.
02:59 Angela Baker - Sleepaway Camp franchise
03:07 We perhaps know this unruly camper best for that out-of-left-field twist at the end of
03:12 the first movie, but that's not where her mark on horror history ends.
03:17 Wherever you fall on that plot development, you may be surprised to know that Angela and
03:21 the series took on a campier tone in subsequent sequels, pun intended.
03:27 Indeed, Pamela Springsteen's version of the character assumed a livelier role as she gleefully
03:32 took to dispatching naughty campers.
03:43 It may not be highbrow horror, but it serves as a more playful alternative to Friday the
03:48 13th.
03:50 And if you prefer Phyllisa Rose as the OG Angela, the 2008 sequel has you covered.
03:56 17.
03:57 Mark Lewis - Peeping Tom
04:10 Premiering two months before Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, Michael Powell's Peeping Tom also
04:15 delves into the mind of a timid yet dangerous killer, yet often gets overlooked as a progenitor
04:21 of the slasher subgenre.
04:23 And right at the centre of it is a well-rounded villain in Mark Lewis.
04:40 A victim of a cruel and unfeeling upbringing, Mark is an aspiring filmmaker who's become
04:45 a little too taken with capturing fear on camera.
04:49 And we think you can guess where it goes from there.
05:04 Played to perfection by Carl Boone, Mark is the ideal sympathetic yet horrifically flawed
05:10 villain to make the story dynamic and unpredictable.
05:15 And God help you if you catch his eye.
05:18 16.
05:19 Matt Cordell - Maniac Cop
05:25 Matt Cordell checks a lot of boxes of your prototypical 80s slasher.
05:30 He's hulking, he's undead, and he's a hell of a time at parties.
05:45 Before life, Cordell was a well-intentioned, if somewhat violent NYPD cop.
05:50 But when he was falsely imprisoned for police brutality and basically killed, he came back
05:56 way, way more violent.
06:08 Obviously the tone of Maniac Cop would be more than a little different now, but for
06:12 the era, Matt Cordell certainly got the job done.
06:16 This was due in large part to actor Robert Zadar's unmatched physicality as he oozed
06:22 screen presence whenever Cordell was taking names.
06:26 We'd be interested to see what the franchise could look like today.
06:30 15.
06:32 Man - Hush
06:39 A good, if archetypal horror movie baddie thrown into an interesting and unique situation,
06:44 this crossbow-wielding killer finds himself with a deaf-mute woman as his latest intended
06:50 victim.
06:51 When this nameless killer comes to an isolated cabin to add another entry into what we can
06:56 only assume is an ongoing rampage, he finds the supposedly helpless woman he's targeted
07:02 is more than a match.
07:04 The villain largely paints inside the lines when it comes to horror movie antagonists,
07:09 with a spooky mask and a thirst for blood.
07:17 What really elevates him above the crowd is the fresh spin on the slasher formula found
07:23 in his movie.
07:26 14.
07:28 The Creep - Creep Franchise
07:33 Whether you want to call him Joseph, Bill, or Aaron, we may never even learn his real
07:38 name.
07:39 The eponymous creep from these movies certainly lives up to the title.
07:49 He may seem unassuming at first, but that's just part of his game.
07:54 Rather than go after his victims right away, the creep will befriend them through some
07:58 elaborate ruse before straining their tolerance of him to the absolute limit.
08:02 And that's when he strikes.
08:05 Whereas other horror villains get by on grisly kills, the creep thrives in the buildup of
08:10 tension, always trying to keep people guessing.
08:13 Oh, and as long as we're talking about alternate identities, Peach Fuzz is as terrifying as
08:20 they get.
08:21 "Are you gonna let me go?
08:27 Why are you doing this to me?
08:32 Are you just trying to scare me?
08:35 Or...?"
08:36 13.
08:37 John Ryder - The Hitcher Franchise
08:41 While we may love a villain with an interesting or even sympathetic backstory and motivation,
08:46 there's just something about a baddie who remains a mystery that keeps us on edge.
08:53 A mysterious hitchhiker who attacks and kills the people who make the grave mistake of trying
09:02 to pick him up.
09:04 This character is a total question mark.
09:07 The only thing we know for sure about him is his love of murder and mayhem.
09:12 Why he's doing this is anyone's guess, and that element of mystery, combined with a truly
09:18 chilling performance by Rutger Hauer in the original film, makes watching him as tense
09:24 a horror experience as you could ever hope for.
09:35 12.
09:45 The Stepfather - The Stepfather Franchise
09:48 The stepfather, like most horror franchises, went the way of the dodo, the original remains
10:04 a hidden gem.
10:06 This is largely thanks to the committed performance from Terry O'Quinn, long before he was best
10:11 known for Lost.
10:30 An alluringly dangerous personality, Jerry, or whatever his real name is, makes a habit
10:35 of marrying into families under different identities.
10:38 But he gives stepfathers everywhere a bad name by murdering his nearest and dearest
10:44 when they fall short of his immaculate expectations.
10:52 Another killer who can't suppress his violent tendencies, Jerry isn't someone you want to
10:56 let into your life.
10:58 He'll be smiling one minute, then beating you to death the next.
11:02 11.
11:03 Lola Stone - The Loved Ones
11:05 Some people really bring out their worst selves when they can't get their way.
11:10 An underseen Australian horror masterpiece, The Loved Ones follows a teenager named Brent.
11:16 After Brent turns down Lola's invitation to prom, he finds himself forcefully attending
11:21 her own twisted version of the event.
11:28 Expertly played by Robin McLeavy, Lola is uber unnerving in all her mannerisms.
11:44 Whether she's feigning love for her "date" or going full psycho, she commands every scene
11:51 she's in.
11:52 She's a terrible girl and don't even get us started on her creepy relationship with her
11:56 dad.
12:09 Lots of horror movie villains come and go, but Lola is one that will stay with you.
12:15 10.
12:16 The Creeper - Jeepers Creepers Franchise
12:28 While the actual quality of the franchise is spotty at best, and that's to say nothing
12:33 of creator Victor Salva's reputation, there's no denying that the actual Creeper is one
12:39 of horror's most inventive conceptions.
12:42 A creature that hunts for 23 days every 23rd spring, the Creeper may resemble a man, but
12:49 don't let that fool you.
12:51 It's actually a scaly humanoid being that takes to absorbing certain organs from its
12:56 victims, and the way it determines which organs it needs is fear.
13:08 Highly athletic, and with oodles of surprises, the Creeper really can't be stopped once it
13:18 has its sights set on you.
13:20 Now let's just hope we get an installment worthy of its attributes.
13:25 9.
13:26 The Collector - The Collector Franchise
13:37 The first Collector came out at the height of the Saw craze, so seeing as it also featured
13:42 a killer with a penchant for traps, it was difficult to not compare the two.
13:46 Which is appropriate, since the former was originally intended to be a prequel to the
13:50 latter.
13:51 But we'd argue that The Collector still brings something unique to the table.
14:06 Perhaps the most unsettling part about The Collector is that we know hardly anything
14:10 about him.
14:11 You know, other than the fact that he scopes out his victims before turning their homes
14:15 into death traps.
14:16 Again, this is another series that doesn't quite live up to its villain, but we're sure
14:21 The Collector has a solid outing in him yet.
14:24 8.
14:25 The Miner - My Bloody Valentine Franchise
14:32 You can get a long way with the right look.
14:35 The killer from this 1981 slasher and its 2009 remake might not be the most interesting
14:40 slasher on the scene, as his identity tends to vary even in the continuity of singular
14:45 films.
14:46 However, his gas mask, miner's helmet, and deadly pickaxe gives him a unique and unsettling
14:52 look among horror movie villains, and that iconic visage makes him memorable and frightening.
14:58 Plus, it's fairly obvious that his preferred stalking ground in the first one, the town
15:03 of Valentine Bluffs, is in Canada.
15:06 And how many Canadian slashers can you think of?
15:09 At least he'll kill you politely.
15:14 7.
15:17 Pumpkinhead - Pumpkinhead Franchise
15:24 You'd think the directorial debut of special effects legend Stan Winston would have some
15:30 excellent feature design.
15:32 And in the case of Pumpkinhead, you'd be right.
15:43 While Winston himself passed off design duties to other people, it can't be denied that the
15:48 finished product is absolutely marvellous.
15:51 A demonic spirit of vengeance, Pumpkinhead is regularly summoned to kill those who have
15:55 done grave injustice.
15:57 But buyer beware.
15:59 They say that when you seek vengeance, dig two graves, which is commonly the case with
16:04 Pumpkinhead.
16:05 Beyond its striking visual aesthetics, Pumpkinhead also brings with it a fascinating rule set
16:10 that each film builds a foundation on.
16:13 But no, it doesn't resemble a pumpkin as much as you'd think.
16:22 6.
16:26 Mick Taylor - Wolf Creek Franchise Does Wolf Creek being inspired by true events
16:31 put Mick Taylor in a whole other category?
16:33 Maybe.
16:34 But we'd argue that his characterisation transcends true crime.
16:54 A rugged and ruthless outdoorsman, Mick Taylor scours the Outback in search of tourists to
17:00 torment, making us reconsider any travel plans we might have.
17:03 But what makes him so memorable is his disarming personality.
17:07 He'll start out as friendly as a quokka, with his potential victims.
17:12 And even when he moves on to torture, he remains his chipper and animated disposition.
17:24 Actor John Jarrett does a tremendous job bringing Mick to life, and we just wish we could see
17:30 more of the little bugger.
17:32 5.
17:33 The Tall Man - Phantasm Franchise There's perhaps no franchise more entrenched
17:42 in cult horror than the Phantasm movies.
17:45 And there's likewise no villain more associated with cult horror than the Tall Man.
17:58 While this elderly mortician may look unassuming, if entirely unsettling, he actually bears
18:03 with him a sinister mean streak.
18:05 Not only that, but this transdimensional traveller boasts a slew of impressive abilities, from
18:11 super strength to telekinesis.
18:14 From 1979 all the way to 2016, actor Angus Scrimm played the Tall Man across five films,
18:22 cementing a legacy in the genre.
18:24 And for doing so with such assuredness and aplomb, we salute him.
18:35 4.
18:44 Leslie Vernon - Behind the Mask, The Rise of Leslie Vernon
18:53 We all have dreams and ambitions.
18:55 Some want to travel the world and see exotic places.
18:58 Some of us want to find true love.
19:00 Some of us want to murder people in creative and symbolic ways.
19:04 Actually, that last one is mostly this aspiring slasher who hopes to one day join the ranks
19:09 of Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, and Michael Myers.
19:14 A surprisingly chatty masked killer, this deadly antagonist has a documentary crew follow
19:19 him around in order to showcase his dedication to becoming the very best slasher he can.
19:29 We can't fault his dedication.
19:31 We just wish he took up a hobby that's a little less...stabby.
19:39 3.
19:41 Victor Crowley - Hatchet Franchise In many ways a throwback to classic slasher
19:46 villains like Jason Voorhees, this undead killer is even portrayed by Kane Hodder, who
19:52 portrayed Jason himself in a number of films.
20:00 Somewhere in between being a zombie and a ghost, the primary antagonist of the Hatchet
20:05 series is the vengeful spirit of a deformed boy who was killed in a horrible accident,
20:10 and now brutally butchers anyone foolish enough to stray into his swampy home.
20:20 With a razor-sharp hatchet as his primary weapon, this baddie is archetypal slasher
20:25 movie magic - big, mean, and more than happy to dispatch anyone he can get his hands on
20:31 in as brutal a fashion as possible.
20:38 2.
20:41 Billy - Black Christmas Franchise The reason we always get a slight case of unease
20:54 before picking up an unexpected phone call, this deranged killer likes to spend his time
20:59 making obscene calls to his local sorority house.
21:04 But unbeknownst to his soon-to-be victims in the sorority, he's calling from inside
21:14 the house itself.
21:16 Very little is known about this enigmatic killer, and his true identity and even his
21:20 face are never shown in the original film.
21:23 His origins, motivations, or why he calls all his victims "Agnes" are only ever hinted
21:29 at.
21:30 Honestly, we're not entirely sure we want to know what's going on in his head, though
21:33 the 2006 remake certainly filled us in in that regard.
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22:03 1.
22:04 Sam - Trick or Treat Children in creepy burlap sack masks are
22:09 creepy enough, but children in creepy burlap sack masks who turn out to be murderous pumpkin-headed
22:15 enforcers of the Halloween spirit are even scarier.
22:24 Just one of the many antagonists of this 2007 anthology film, this pint-sized terror seems
22:29 to be some sort of demon or spirit who punishes anyone who doesn't follow Halloween traditions.
22:36 And by "punish", we mean "brutally murder with candy".
22:39 Sure, these people tend to be rotten apples, but we think murder of any variety qualifies
22:45 him as a true blue villain.
22:47 With a great look and a killer movie under his belt, we definitely want to see more of
22:52 this villain.
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