The Best (And Worst) Villains

 Sometimes there are great villains. Villains from literature and movies that make our hair stand on end and make us want to hide under the covers. Villains that excel at villainry. Then there are those villains that make you cringe every time they’re on page or screen. Villains that are either bad at being evil or they’re so annoying they make you want to clean your house, wash the dishes or basically anything else but spend one more minute of time with them.

Our Favorite Villains

Fred Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street series

Freddy Krueger is my favorite villain. He has been pretty much since the first time I watched the Nightmare on Elm Street original movie. Charismatic, gleefully evil, and more than a little corny he’s a character you can’t help but love (and be a little terrified of because, c’mon, someone who can reach you at your most vulnerable). – Lilyn

The Ferryman from Ghost Ship

I loved Ferriman (The Ferryman) in Ghost Ship. He had an awesome personality. Very doofy and kind of a dolt. Until the flashback scene. He looks absolutely murderous ad cold. He’s patient and implacable. Scary stuff. – GracieKat

Frank Booth from Blue Velvet

A terrifyingly convincing and bizarre psychopath whose selfish brand of evil seemed very ’80s at the time but still resonates today. – Olly

Michael Myers from Halloween series

Honestly – I enjoy the character development that Rob Zombie provides for Michael in his first remake of Halloween. I also simply just enjoy him. – Tracy

Jeremiah Sand in Mandy

 Jeremiah Sand in Mandy. I’m still raving about this film! This is a character I love to despise. He’s so delusional and despicable, and Linus Roache portrayed him so perfectly. I can’t shake his character from my head. He brings out the rage inside of me. – Frankie

(For my non-horror choice it would be Landa from Inglorious Basterds)

Villains That Are the Worst (Literally)

Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series

For my most hated villain I have to go with Dolores Umbridge. The toad has no redeeming qualities, no charisma and no dimension to her. She’s a flat sort of evil and that’s just no fun at all. – Lilyn

Leatherface from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre series

I know, I know. Leatherface is a very scary looking villain and all but he has no oomph. He’s just a big, flat, non-verbal brute. I don’t need a villain that can sling vocabulary words like a pro but keep in mind that this is a villain who throws a tizzy fit and chainsaws his own leg. Not a very effective bad guy in my book. – GracieKat

Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs (book and movie series)

Lecter as played as Brian Cox in Manhunter was interesting as he was in the first two books. But Anthony Perkins’ over-the-top portrayal turned the character into a grotesque joke. What’s more I find the shift from villain to anti-hero to be offensive, frankly. – Olly

Randall Flagg in The Stand mini-series

Randall Flagg as portrayed in The Stand TV movie adaptation. Yawn. – Tracy

Michael Myers from Halloween series

Michael Myers is on of my worst. He’s flat and bores me to death. – Frankie

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So those are our top (and bottom) villains on our list. Tell us who you love and who you hate and who you love to hate down below in the comments!