Top 10 Immortal Horror Movie Villains

“Conjuring” franchise (2013-) While Annabelle is a creepy-looking doll on the outside, it’s what’s on the inside that truly makes her a terror. She’s possessed by a vengeful demon, known as Malthus, who is absolutely devilish, both in appearance and temperament. With its horns, vicious teeth and claws, and glowering eyes, the soul-stealing Malthus is a terrible and terrifying presence who will stop at nothing to get its way. Even worse, Malthus is able to shape-shift and turn invisible, giving it even more opportunities to menace its victims and find new ones. And you thought Chucky was bad enough.

“Ju-On” franchise (2000-) Domestic strife led to the creation of one of the scariest horror villains of the 2000s. In both the original Japanese series and American remake, Kayako Saeki's jealous husband kills his wife and their son, believing that Kayako had an affair with their son's teacher. Kayako does not rest in peace, killing her husband, who, along with her and their son, soon haunts their home and anyone who dares step inside. Known in supernatural terms as an "onryō," or "vengeful spirit," the black-haired and pale Kayako has multiple means for tormenting victims. This goes as far as being able to use her hair as a stabbing weapon. Can you imagine all the lives that would’ve been saved through some marriage counseling?

#8: Candyman

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Horror Villain Origins: The Candyman

“Candyman” franchise (1992-) We want to be careful about saying his name too many times, because we don’t want to end up like any of his victims. At first glance, Candyman looks like nothing more than a handsome, well-dressed man, but looks can be deceiving. And by the time you see the blood-stained hook where his right hand should be, it might be too late. What makes him such a great villain is his complexity. Murdered for his involvement in an interracial relationship, Candyman thrives off creating fear and belief in him. And with Tony Todd’s fearsome yet seductive voice, it’s hard to blame anyone for falling under his spell. We’re avoiding mirrors for a while after watching any of these movies.

“The Ring” franchise (1998-) For years, videotapes were associated with entertainment. But the “Ring” series gave them a much more sinister aura. Like Kayako Saeki, Sadako - or Samara in the American remake - is an onryō, seeking revenge for her brutal death. This leads to the creation of a videotape that kills viewers a week later. While the backstories vary across the different iterations, this character is consistently frightening, and her childlike appearance only makes her more unsettling. Possessing otherworldly powers in both life and the afterlife, she’s a force that feels inescapable. Avoiding her is one thing; stopping her completely is quite another.

#6: Death

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Top 10 Movie Fates Worse Than Death

“Final Destination” franchise (2000-) How can a villain be so simple yet so complex? So familiar yet so mysterious? In the "Final Destination" franchise, characters’ intuitions let them escape Death, only to find it come back for them with a vengeance. Although Death never manifests in a physical form, say as a guy in a black cloak with a scythe, its efforts do not go unnoticed. To stave off Death, his subjects can become desperate, going as far as committing murder. There’s no way to avoid the wrath of this villain, even in real life. But the fates of these characters are a special kind of disturbing.

#5: Jason Voorhees

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Freddy Vs Jason

“Friday the 13th” franchise (1981-) We were a lot less excited to go camping after learning about Jason Voorhees. The primary antagonist of the “Friday the 13th” series, Jason can be identified by his signature machete and hockey mask, which covers up his even-more frightening face. As a child, Jason drowned at Camp Crystal Lake thanks to some inattentive counselors. He continues to haunt the campgrounds, exacting revenge for the death of his beloved mother. The longer the series continues, the stronger Jason seems to become. Even when it seems like he's all but done for, Jason finds a way back. He even becomes a cyborg in one installment. We only have one plan for encountering Jason: run as fast as we possibly can.

#4: Michael Myers

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Michael Myers Vs Leatherface

“Halloween” franchise (1978-) Arguably the granddaddy of modern slasher villains, Michael Myers has plenty of tricks but not many treats up his sleeve. Committed to a psychiatric hospital at six years old after brutally murdering his sister, Michael escapes and returns to spread terror throughout his hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois, and beyond. By the end of the first movie, it’s clear that Myers is something far scarier than just a knife-wielding maniac. Seemingly impervious to bullets, burning, and bludgeoning, Michael Myers has come to represent the unstoppable force that is evil. And like many real-life killers, there’s no telling exactly why Myers is the way he is.

#3: Pinhead

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Interview with Doug Bradley a.k.a Hellraiser's Pinhead

“Hellraiser” franchise (1987-) Creator Clive Barker has gone on the record as disliking the fan-adopted name for this horror icon. But “Pinhead” is a much catchier name than “The Hell Priest” or “Lead Cenobite,” right? A World War I veteran who joins the extra-dimensional Cenobites, Pinhead's intelligent and stoic characterization separates him from the mindless killing machines that populated 80s horror. Pinhead's evil becomes more pronounced as the series continues, and his humanity becomes a more distant memory. While he's easier to reason with than someone like Jason Voorhees, Pinhead knows how to make his victims seriously hurt, often with a good set of chains. Whatever you want to call him, he’s not someone to be messed with.

#2: Dracula

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The Origins of Dracula

“Dracula” franchise (1931-) Count Dracula has been portrayed on-screen more than 200 times, in straight-up horror, comedies, live-action, animation, and different languages. At this point, fiction’s most famous vampire feels as iconic as Santa Claus. But his legacy doesn’t take away how frightening he is at the core. Bela Lugosi's portrayal of the Count in the 1931 film may be the most definitive. But other great actors who have captured Dracula and his seductive charms include Christopher Lee and Gary Oldman. While Dracula is easier to kill than some of the other villains on this list, he’s still someone we would never hope to encounter.

#1: Freddy Krueger

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Freddy Krueger vs Pennywise

“A Nightmare on Elm Street” franchise (1984-) The Springwood Slasher made us afraid to fall asleep. Freddy Krueger was a terror to the children of Springwood, Ohio, whose vengeful parents burned him to death after he avoided punishment. And the scarred and metal-clawed Krueger soon came back as the scariest man to ever wear a striped sweater and fedora. When his victims fall asleep, Freddy comes out to play, with plenty of one-liners to go with his elaborate kills. Primarily played by Robert Englund with gleeful malevolence, Freddy can have devastating effects on the real world as well as the dream one, and his shapeshifting abilities make him even scarier. We hope you’re not watching this right before bed.