Top 10 Craziest Things Done By Movie Psychopaths

Primal Fear (1996)

Aaron Stampler appears to be a disturbed defendant that Martin Vail tries to prove innocent. By the end of the film, the tables turn in a disturbing and shocking way. Stamplers split personality is actually part of a ploy to get away with a violent crime. Edward Nortons compelling performance helps to string the audience along, making it seem like Stampler cant distinguish between two distinct identities. The final reveal gives away the fact that its all been a diabolical scheme. Its even crazier to imagine that the criminal succeeds, taunting his attorney in the chilling conclusion.

American Psycho (2000)

Not only is Patrick Bateman a serial killer, hes also obsessed with music. His twisted mind cant separate the two in this infamous scene from American Psycho. As the anti-hero prepares to kill Paul Allen, he cant help but talk about Huey Lewis and the News. Its all the more insane that Bateman does this while prepping for a murder. The film uses dark humor to examine the main characters psyche, showing that hes full of strange contradictions. Christian Bales zany energy helps this sequence walk the line between horrifying and hilarious. Youll probably never think about Lewis music the same way again.

The Night of the Hunter (1955)

Robert Mitchums Harry Powell calls himself a preacher, but hes also a killer thatll do anything for a familys money. He plays up his phony relationship with religion by delivering sermons such as this one. Tattooing these two words on his knuckles, Powell uses the terms to preach a lesson that he doesnt seem to follow. Its especially terrifying coming from the deep voice of Mitchum in one of his finest roles. While presenting his idea to other people, the villain uses this imagery to scare them. This character detail sends this already-creepy guy into a much crazier territory.

The Menu (2022)

Chef Julian Slowik feeds a group of people at his island restaurant, but little do the customers understand whats in store for them. The whole idea behind this event is to seek revenge on the people that ruined his love for cooking. Taking drastic measures, Slowik escalates the tension throughout the evening until a killer dessert course. The chef succeeds in showing the guests how crazy hes become. His plan includes taking down himself and his staff members, as well as all the guests but one in a dinner service scene that cant be forgotten. Its an elaborate and absurd plot from a culinary artist who just cant take it anymore.

The Invisible Man (2020)

After being tormented by an invisible enemy, Cecilia Kass meets her sister Emily to tell her whats happening. Their meeting seems safe until the unseen villain slices the latters throat. Its a disturbing scene that shows just how far the antagonist will go to ruin the heros life. Not only does she lose her sister, Kass also gets put into a psychiatric hospital. The Invisible Man takes the concept of gaslighting to a violent extreme in this moment. While some horror movies like to use cliches, this one shows us a new twist with an evil force that doesnt quit.

The Dark Knight (2008)

With chaos in Gotham, two ferries carry convicts and ordinary citizens away from the city. The Joker uses this as an opportunity to test the passengers views on morality. Both ferries are given a detonator and told to blow up the other to survive, putting each side in a terrible position. Its yet another cruel test from the supervillain thats nothing short of tense. While there isnt an explosion, the sequence sets up just how many people the crazed clown couldve harmed. His decision once again underscores why hes one of the most iconic comic-book villains.

Gone Girl (2014)

When Amy Dunne disappears, she leaves behind evidence pointing to her husband Nick. His world turns upside down again when she returns and intimidates him into raising a kid with her. The audience might imagine that the antagonist will receive her comeuppance, but she ends up winning and keeping her spouse under her thumb. The evil wife also ends up getting away with all kinds of crimes as the film comes to a close. While Nick is far from a perfect guy, Amys plan and the eerie conclusion seem fresh out of a supervillain textbook.

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Dr. Hannibal Lecter is always one step ahead of everyone, even when he seems to be safe behind bars. His daring escape involves killing guards and disguising himself in order to leave. Lecter then does the grossest thing possible by wearing another mans face. Even as a serial killer, this villain seems to cross several lines by creating this human mask. He misdirects the authorities so well that he gets carted out and put into his own escape vehicle. The sequence plays out like clockwork, showing people how far hell go to come out on top.

No Country for Old Men (2007)

When he isnt getting into shootouts, Anton Chigurh takes a strange approach to dispatch with victims. He uses a coin flip to decide whether or not some people live or die. His misguided take on philosophy strikes fear into everyone, creating a villain thats nothing short of menacing. Early on, Chigurh hounds a gas station attendant with questions until a lucky toss saves the latter mans life. Javier Bardems Oscar-winning performance commands this scene, later subjecting the wife of a man he was chasing to the coin toss situation. No Country for Old Men doesnt give you all the answers about this hitmans methods, but it does give you room to imagine all the other times hes used this method.

Seven (1995)

After leading detectives on a long investigation, John Doe turns himself in and sets up his final act. The serial killer is inspired by the seven deadly sins and saves his worst idea for last. When a box is delivered, David Mills and William Somerset discover one of the craziest twists in thriller history. The package contains the head of Mills wife and prompts the distraught husband to fight back. Its all part of Does awful plan, with the antagonist winning the day after ruining another persons life. The terrifying surprise prompts one more death and reveals the villains evil genius.

Did we forget another crazy decision from a movie psychopath? Let us know in the comments below.