10 Iconic Horror Movie Serial Killers
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VOICE OVER: Kirsten Ria Squibb
WRITTEN BY: George Pacheco
The calls are coming from inside the house! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for those mortal serial killers that haunted our dreams in horror movies. Beware! Heavy SPOILERS lie ahead! Our countdown includes characters from movies the "Saw" franchise, “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer”, "American Psycho" and more!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for those mortal serial killers that haunted our dreams in horror movies. Beware! Heavy SPOILERS lie ahead! Do you prefer mortal horror villains over supernatural enemies? Let us know in the comments!
The disturbing modus operandi of Mark Lewis in “Peeping Tom” was seriously ahead of its time for 1960. Indeed, the film was released around the same time as Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” yet this film from director Michael Powell received much more censorship and negative criticism. Lewis takes his voyeuristic tendencies beyond the pale in this film, murdering young women and filming the moments of their deaths. This killer’s ultimate endgame is to construct the ultimate snuff film compilation, with the execution (pun intended) of “Peeping Tom” doing a scary good job of influencing the slasher movie genre.
The influence of Dario Argento upon Italy’s giallo cycle of stylish murder mysteries cannot be overstated. Argento’s filmography also retains a number of memorable killers, from Martha Manganiello in “Deep Red” to Inspector Santini in “Opera.” “Tenebrae” from 1982 is even more blood thirsty, while also containing double the killers. It’s the stalking and slashing of Christiano Berti that pushes crime author Peter Neal over the edge in the film, resulting in a frenzy of blood. “Tenebrae” is a ridiculously stylish film, yet the motivations of repressed memories turn Neal’s murder spree in the second half into the realm of the psycho-sexual.
Horror cinema received a new icon when Mia Goth’s Pearl Douglas hit the screen in 2022’s “X.” That said, it was probably that film’s narrative prequel, “Pearl,” that further fleshed out the obsessive motivations of this character. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we think, or want, and it’s this realization that ultimately pushes a young Pearl past the brink of madness. Fast forward to the events of “X,” and the character has become murderously resentful of the life she wasn’t allowed. The arrival of an adult film crew to her house only serves to underline Douglas’ bitterness towards the younger generation’s sexual freedom, reawakening the now-old woman’s murderous desires.
Fans of this neo-classic horror franchise likely have their own personal favorite villain who’s worn the cowl of Ghostface. That said, there’s just something special about the original serial killers from 1996’s “Scream.” The reveal of both Billy Loomis and Stu Macher as the villains wasn’t the first time a slasher movie had multiple killers, but it DID do a great job at reinvigorating this trope. The meta-movie commentary of “Scream” also wasn’t a totally original idea, with films such as 1991’s “There’s Nothing Out There” predating Kevin Williamson’s script. That said, Loomis and Macher’s realistic motivations and amoral glee helped cement Ghostface as a slasher baddie for the ages.
Here’s a question: does it matter that the ending of “American Psycho” heavily implies that the murders committed by Patrick Bateman are all imaginary? We don’t think so, at least not when it comes to the final execution of director Mary Harron’s film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ “American Psycho.” The slaying set pieces of the film more than lend “American Psycho” its well-deserved reputation as a cult classic. Meanwhile, Bateman’s profoundly troubled mind and disturbed psyche makes him an incredibly compelling antagonist. The character’s final, confused monologue, where Bateman admits that he wishes his pain to be inflicted upon others, is among 2000s horror’s most iconic moments.
Some true crime adaptations have been accused of glamorizing their subjects to the point where these antagonists become too sympathetic. This is thankfully not the case with 1986’s “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” Director John McNaughton and co-screenwriter Richard Fire craft a narrative that remembers to frame its central characters of Henry and Otis in the worst possible light. Leads Michael Rooker and Tom Towles base their performances upon the real-life serial murderers Henry Lee Lucas and Otis Toole. As a result, “Henry” is grimy and unrepentantly realistic in its nihilism. The 16mm film stock retains a graininess that adds to the gruesome behavior at play, an air of discomfort that is omnipresent around the pair’s crimes.
The legend of Leatherface may loom large over the world of horror, but let’s not forget that this member of the Sawyer Family isn’t a supernatural entity. Nope, Leatherface is a man, and a horror icon whose creation was inspired by the crimes of another real-life killer, Ed Gein. The “Texas Chain Saw Massacre” franchise has played around with Leatherface’s origin stories over the years, sometimes portraying him in a more sympathetic light. This Sawyer sibling’s mental disabilities often make it easy for other family members to order him around, but make no mistake: Leatherface has committed more than his fair share of intentional killings.
Just as the “Scream” franchise debuted a new horror icon, Ghostface, for the nineties, so too did “Saw” introduce John Kramer, a.k.a. Jigsaw to fans in the early millennium. Tobin Bell brings with him a cunning malevolence as he portrays a serial killer with a penchant for elaborate traps. Jigsaw seeks to exploit the personal flaws and foibles of his victims, although his traps are not impossible to escape. That said, the endgame to Jigsaw’s riddles is almost always at the expense of his victims, via their mutilation or demise. This killer seeks to uncover, in his words, “the survival instinct” that Jigsaw feels is missing; an appreciation for life at the doorstep of death.
It speaks volumes to the likeability of Anthony Perkins that his character of Norman Bates is seen, by some at least, in a sympathetic light. The mental anguish and torment that drives Bates to murder is actually better fleshed out in the excellent and underrated “Psycho” sequels, where Perkins’ inner conflict is truly allowed to shine. “Psycho II” and “III” showcase a Bates who vacillates between attempting to live a normal life, yet is always driven back to murder by the voice of “Mother” in his head. Furthermore, many of the murders in “Psycho II” aren’t even committed by Bates, although the franchise always comes back around in displaying Perkins’ unhinged detachment from reality.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
It doesn’t really matter which excellent portrayal of Hannibal Lecter fans choose, they all provide an excellent look into a psychotic mind. This disgraced psychiatrist was first portrayed by Brian Cox in 1986’s “Manhunter,” while Mads Mikkelsen popularized Lecter on the small screen with “Hannibal.” For many, however, it’s Sir Anthony Hopkins that’s provided horror fans with their definitive Hannibal, a sharply intelligent serial killer with a taste for human flesh. Hopkins plays Lecter as bloodthirsty, but restrained, able to premeditate his crimes until the moment is right. This allows Hannibal Lecter to always retain an ace up his sleeve when it comes to escaping the law at every turn.
#10: Mark Lewis
“Peeping Tom” (1960)The disturbing modus operandi of Mark Lewis in “Peeping Tom” was seriously ahead of its time for 1960. Indeed, the film was released around the same time as Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho,” yet this film from director Michael Powell received much more censorship and negative criticism. Lewis takes his voyeuristic tendencies beyond the pale in this film, murdering young women and filming the moments of their deaths. This killer’s ultimate endgame is to construct the ultimate snuff film compilation, with the execution (pun intended) of “Peeping Tom” doing a scary good job of influencing the slasher movie genre.
#9: Christiano Berti & Peter Neal
“Tenebrae” (1982)The influence of Dario Argento upon Italy’s giallo cycle of stylish murder mysteries cannot be overstated. Argento’s filmography also retains a number of memorable killers, from Martha Manganiello in “Deep Red” to Inspector Santini in “Opera.” “Tenebrae” from 1982 is even more blood thirsty, while also containing double the killers. It’s the stalking and slashing of Christiano Berti that pushes crime author Peter Neal over the edge in the film, resulting in a frenzy of blood. “Tenebrae” is a ridiculously stylish film, yet the motivations of repressed memories turn Neal’s murder spree in the second half into the realm of the psycho-sexual.
#8: Pearl Douglas
“X” franchise (2022-)Horror cinema received a new icon when Mia Goth’s Pearl Douglas hit the screen in 2022’s “X.” That said, it was probably that film’s narrative prequel, “Pearl,” that further fleshed out the obsessive motivations of this character. Life doesn’t always turn out the way we think, or want, and it’s this realization that ultimately pushes a young Pearl past the brink of madness. Fast forward to the events of “X,” and the character has become murderously resentful of the life she wasn’t allowed. The arrival of an adult film crew to her house only serves to underline Douglas’ bitterness towards the younger generation’s sexual freedom, reawakening the now-old woman’s murderous desires.
#7: Billy Loomis & Stu Macher
“Scream” (1996)Fans of this neo-classic horror franchise likely have their own personal favorite villain who’s worn the cowl of Ghostface. That said, there’s just something special about the original serial killers from 1996’s “Scream.” The reveal of both Billy Loomis and Stu Macher as the villains wasn’t the first time a slasher movie had multiple killers, but it DID do a great job at reinvigorating this trope. The meta-movie commentary of “Scream” also wasn’t a totally original idea, with films such as 1991’s “There’s Nothing Out There” predating Kevin Williamson’s script. That said, Loomis and Macher’s realistic motivations and amoral glee helped cement Ghostface as a slasher baddie for the ages.
#6: Patrick Bateman
“American Psycho” (2000)Here’s a question: does it matter that the ending of “American Psycho” heavily implies that the murders committed by Patrick Bateman are all imaginary? We don’t think so, at least not when it comes to the final execution of director Mary Harron’s film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ “American Psycho.” The slaying set pieces of the film more than lend “American Psycho” its well-deserved reputation as a cult classic. Meanwhile, Bateman’s profoundly troubled mind and disturbed psyche makes him an incredibly compelling antagonist. The character’s final, confused monologue, where Bateman admits that he wishes his pain to be inflicted upon others, is among 2000s horror’s most iconic moments.
#5: Henry & Otis
“Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” (1986)Some true crime adaptations have been accused of glamorizing their subjects to the point where these antagonists become too sympathetic. This is thankfully not the case with 1986’s “Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.” Director John McNaughton and co-screenwriter Richard Fire craft a narrative that remembers to frame its central characters of Henry and Otis in the worst possible light. Leads Michael Rooker and Tom Towles base their performances upon the real-life serial murderers Henry Lee Lucas and Otis Toole. As a result, “Henry” is grimy and unrepentantly realistic in its nihilism. The 16mm film stock retains a graininess that adds to the gruesome behavior at play, an air of discomfort that is omnipresent around the pair’s crimes.
#4: Leatherface
“The Texas Chain Saw Massacre” franchise (1974)The legend of Leatherface may loom large over the world of horror, but let’s not forget that this member of the Sawyer Family isn’t a supernatural entity. Nope, Leatherface is a man, and a horror icon whose creation was inspired by the crimes of another real-life killer, Ed Gein. The “Texas Chain Saw Massacre” franchise has played around with Leatherface’s origin stories over the years, sometimes portraying him in a more sympathetic light. This Sawyer sibling’s mental disabilities often make it easy for other family members to order him around, but make no mistake: Leatherface has committed more than his fair share of intentional killings.
#3: John Kramer [aka Jigsaw]
“Saw” franchise” (2004-)Just as the “Scream” franchise debuted a new horror icon, Ghostface, for the nineties, so too did “Saw” introduce John Kramer, a.k.a. Jigsaw to fans in the early millennium. Tobin Bell brings with him a cunning malevolence as he portrays a serial killer with a penchant for elaborate traps. Jigsaw seeks to exploit the personal flaws and foibles of his victims, although his traps are not impossible to escape. That said, the endgame to Jigsaw’s riddles is almost always at the expense of his victims, via their mutilation or demise. This killer seeks to uncover, in his words, “the survival instinct” that Jigsaw feels is missing; an appreciation for life at the doorstep of death.
#2: Norman Bates
“Psycho” franchise (1960-)It speaks volumes to the likeability of Anthony Perkins that his character of Norman Bates is seen, by some at least, in a sympathetic light. The mental anguish and torment that drives Bates to murder is actually better fleshed out in the excellent and underrated “Psycho” sequels, where Perkins’ inner conflict is truly allowed to shine. “Psycho II” and “III” showcase a Bates who vacillates between attempting to live a normal life, yet is always driven back to murder by the voice of “Mother” in his head. Furthermore, many of the murders in “Psycho II” aren’t even committed by Bates, although the franchise always comes back around in displaying Perkins’ unhinged detachment from reality.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
John Ryder, “The Hitcher” (1986)
Rutger Hauer Brings Complete MenaceMick Taylor, “Wolf Creek” (2005)
Stalk-and-Slash in the OutbackJack, “The House That Jack Built” (2018)
A Twelve Year Trip Into HellBilly, “Black Christmas” (1974)
Unseen, Unknown & Still Out There#1: Hannibal Lecter
“Hannibal Lecter” franchise (1986-)It doesn’t really matter which excellent portrayal of Hannibal Lecter fans choose, they all provide an excellent look into a psychotic mind. This disgraced psychiatrist was first portrayed by Brian Cox in 1986’s “Manhunter,” while Mads Mikkelsen popularized Lecter on the small screen with “Hannibal.” For many, however, it’s Sir Anthony Hopkins that’s provided horror fans with their definitive Hannibal, a sharply intelligent serial killer with a taste for human flesh. Hopkins plays Lecter as bloodthirsty, but restrained, able to premeditate his crimes until the moment is right. This allows Hannibal Lecter to always retain an ace up his sleeve when it comes to escaping the law at every turn.
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