With Hallowe'en approaching, we thought we'd run down some of our all-time favourite on-screen serial killers. Have a look!
10. MICHAEL MYERS (Hallowe'en)
No, not the god-awful Rob Zombie remake. We're talking about the John Carpenter original with a teeny-bopper Jamie Lee Curtis. What made Michael Myers so terrifying wasn't his huge presence, the fact that he seemingly couldn't be killed or even Jamie Lee Curtis's scream face. It was the sound design. If anybody's watched the original Hallowe'en, they'll know the scene where you see through Michael Myers' eyes and all you hear is that weird, laboured breathing. It's kind of like Darth Vader from Star Wars, in a way. Except, you know, Myers kills people. Well, actually, Darth Vader kills people too... man, he should be on this list.
9. FREDDY KRUGER (A Nightmare On Elm Street)
Although we toyed with the idea of having non-supernatural serial killers on the list, leaving Freddy Kruger off the list just wouldn't be fair. Like Hallowe'en, Freddy Kruger has been treated to an unsuccessful and unsatisfying remake that, in a way, cheapens the original. The original series of Freddy Kruger films may have been cheesy as hell, but they were entertaining and nobody could do that voice like Robert Englund. True story - as a child, this writer was absolutely shit-terrified of Freddy Kruger. My brother and sister used to scratch the door in my bedroom to freak me out. Thanks a lot, Jennifer and Andrew.
8. JACK THE RIPPER (From Hell)
From Hell is a pretty crap film that could have been amazing. You've got an interesting story - one of the leading theories on Jack The Ripper's identity - and a pretty decent cast. Ian Holm plays an ageing physician who is helping Johnny Depp solve the Ripper murders. The way in which the murders occur - they're dissected and body parts are removed - means that the killer is trained in medicine. Holm, as it turns out, is the Ripper and there's a really cool scene where he admits it. His eyes turn all gooey and black and his whole voice and body frame changes in subtle ways. It's a crap film, sure, but Ian Holm makes it passable.
7. JOHN DOE (Se7en)
There are few roles that can't be separated from those who play them. You can't imagine anyone but Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. You can't imagine anyone but Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winfield in Pulp Fiction. For Kevin Spacey to agree to this role, given that it's a reasonably small role in the grand scheme of things, shows the quality of the writing and the film itself. He knew it was going to be a small enough part but he went with anyway. Spacey completely embodies that creepy, emotionally-detached vibe that makes Se7en one of David Fincher's greatest films.
6. THE XENOMORPH (Alien)
When you think of Alien, you think of it being a sci-fi film, right? Wrong. Alien is actually a haunted house horror film dressed up as a sci-fi film. Think about it. They're locked in. They're being picked off, one by one. They can't see what's hunting them until it's way too late. That's right. Alien is actually a haunted house film. Trivia time! The Alien wasn't actually an animatronic robot thing, there was a seven-foot Nigerian design student who wore the costume. Here's another one - the design of the ship where they find the eggs was based on a woman's nether-regions. In fact, some have even theorised that the entire film is about male rape. Yeah, dark shit.
5. ANTON CHIGURH (No Country For Old Men)
We've said before that we're huge fans of No Country For Old Men and most of that is because of Javier Bardem. The Spanish actor completely alters his entire body to fit into the role of ruthless assassin Anton Chigurh. His flattened accent, his near-robotic walk and those flat, lifeless eyes of his all make for a character that is genuinely unsettling. Call it. Friendo.
4. NORMAN BATES (Psycho)
You can't have a list about serial killers without mentioning Norman Bates. Psycho pretty much kickstarted the serial killer genre in horror films and made them, in a weird way, relatable. Bates is shy yet charming and completely disarms when you first see him on screen. There's nothing overt to suggest that he's a psychotic killer who dresses up as a woman when he does his thing. And that's what makes Psycho - and Norman Bates - so terrifying. He could be anyone. REEE-REEE-REEE-REEE!
3. JACK TORRANCE (The Shining)
What made The Shining so scary was that you see the progression from somewhat-angry Jack Nicholson to full-on, axe-wielding insane Jack Nicholson. That's where the horror comes from in The Shining. That the killer isn't trying to get into the house, he's already in there with you. Nicholson's performance as Jack Torrance is iconic and yet, strangely, he didn't win an Oscar for it. If you've got an hour and a half and you're really into conspiracy theories, watch the documentary 'Room 237' - it's all about the symbolism and meaning behind The Shining.
2. PATRICK BATEMAN (American Psycho)
"You like Huey Lewis and The News?" Christian Bale's performance as Patrick Bateman would have been the role that defined him, had it not been for a certain comic-book character. Gleefully violent and instantly quotable, Bateman is a walking satire of 1980's excess and self-loathing. Bret Easton Ellis, the author of the book on which the film is based, said that Bateman was only a few steps removed from most New York stockbrokers. Not only that, Christian Bale said that he based his performance on an interview he saw with Tom Cruise. All smiles, laughing and charm - but with absolutely nothing behind the eyes.
1. HANNIBAL LECTER (Silence Of The Lambs)
As mentioned previously, there's no way you can imagine anyone but Anthony Hopkins in the role of Hannibal Lecter. He so perfectly embodies it that it's become iconic. Hopkins researched and prepared thoroughly for the role by watching videotapes of real-life serial killer Charles Manson and confining himself to a small room, not unlike the cell he's seen in for most of the film. The character itself is fascinating, as well. If anybody's been watching the TV series of Hannibal, you'll know the backstory and motivation is explained in great detail. If you haven't, get on it because it's really worth a watch. Hopkins looks like a spider in a cage, all stillness until it's time to pounce.
