Okay, so the list is a purely personal one and the criteria of selection is based on what genuinely freaked me out or impressed me, in terms of completely bad ass, sinister behavior. After compiling the list, I noticed that I didn't think of any female candidates in the category. There are many, but the list, as I said, is based on my reaction to 'evil' and it seems I react more to overt, violent and physical shades of evil than the more subtle, deeper but equally deadly emotional/psychotic variety which most of the women in movies seem to display - Kathy Bates in Misery, Faye Dunaway in Mommy Dearest, Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction, Louise Fletcher in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and so on. Not that there aren't any physically violent, gory femme-fatales in mainstream cinema, many such women appear in action/thriller movies, especially in the Asian cannon. But in compiling a top ten list, I had to prioritize. Oh, by the way, the list is in no particular order of 'evil'ness.
So here goes..
1. The Joker
He finds humor in suffering and mayhem, doesn't want anything material and hates everyone and everything. The prospect of death doesn't even give him pause and his message to the world is simply that "Everything burns.."
Extremely intelligent and unpredictable..
2. Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Certifiable genius, an accomplished psychiatrist and an extremely dangerous psychopathic, cannibalistic serial killer with an unknown body count.
3. Anton Chigurh
Calm, deadly and ever so menacing in his movements, deliberate speech and the coldness in his eyes - an assassin who relishes his work.
4. Michael Myers
The physically imposing, unstoppable killing machine that escapes from the darkest of asylums to pursue his baby sister, the sole survivor of his massacre of his family as a child. Pure animalistic psychopath, driven simply by the need to kill and hides his perceived ugliness in a generic Halloween mask revealing only his soul less eyes..
5. Col. Hans Landa
The highly intelligent, soft spoken, articulate Nazi 'Jew Hunter' whose eyes hint at the malevolence and darkness that lies beneath. Piercing but polite conversationalist who slides effortlessly from chit chat to menace to explosions of violence and then returns, smiling, to his charming self.
6. Idi Amin
The real life, brutal Ugandan dictator whose volatile temper, bloodthirsty savagery and paranoid personality formed a dangerous mixture resulting in the horrifying torture and murder of many - those who oppose him and those closest to him.
7. Amon Goeth
The ancient, demonic entity that possesses a young girl, transforming her into a hideous, foul mouthed, powerful and just creepy being who emotionally, physically and spiritually tortures and kills those who come in contact with her.
9. The Devil
Need I even say anything.. Charming, seductive, master manipulator and all powerful bad guy who will take your hand and walk you in to the darkness, laughing and cracking jokes the whole way.
10. Gabbar Singh
The eccentric, sadistic and brutal outlaw bandit who became an iconic villain in Indian movie history.
There are so many honorable mentions that I'm having trouble deciding..but Denzel Washington in Training Day, Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones, Jack Nicholson in The Departed, Hopkins again in Fracture and Red 2, Ian Mckellan in Apt Pupil, are a few that come to mind right now.. Yeah, I know it's a strange selection but then I have specific tastes when it comes to evil..
Gimme a few suggestions of your own..
P.S. Jason Vorhees and Freddy Krueger - you guys make me smile too.. ;)
So here goes..
1. The Joker
 |
| Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008) |
He finds humor in suffering and mayhem, doesn't want anything material and hates everyone and everything. The prospect of death doesn't even give him pause and his message to the world is simply that "Everything burns.."
Extremely intelligent and unpredictable..
2. Dr. Hannibal Lecter
 |
| Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs (1991) |
Certifiable genius, an accomplished psychiatrist and an extremely dangerous psychopathic, cannibalistic serial killer with an unknown body count.
3. Anton Chigurh
 |
| Javier Bardem in No Country for Old Men (2007) |
Calm, deadly and ever so menacing in his movements, deliberate speech and the coldness in his eyes - an assassin who relishes his work.
4. Michael Myers
 |
| Halloween Franchise |
The physically imposing, unstoppable killing machine that escapes from the darkest of asylums to pursue his baby sister, the sole survivor of his massacre of his family as a child. Pure animalistic psychopath, driven simply by the need to kill and hides his perceived ugliness in a generic Halloween mask revealing only his soul less eyes..
5. Col. Hans Landa
 |
| Christoph Waltz in Inglourious Basterds (2009) |
The highly intelligent, soft spoken, articulate Nazi 'Jew Hunter' whose eyes hint at the malevolence and darkness that lies beneath. Piercing but polite conversationalist who slides effortlessly from chit chat to menace to explosions of violence and then returns, smiling, to his charming self.
6. Idi Amin
 |
| Forrest Whitaker in The Last King of Scotland (2006) |
The real life, brutal Ugandan dictator whose volatile temper, bloodthirsty savagery and paranoid personality formed a dangerous mixture resulting in the horrifying torture and murder of many - those who oppose him and those closest to him.
7. Amon Goeth
 |
| Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List (1993) |
Another real life fiend, a cowardly but sadistic Nazi Commandant of a Polish labor camp who kills and tortures the prisoners for work and pleasure - even to alleviate boredom. An example of the atrocities that can occur when evil obtains undeserved power over the helpless.
8. Pazuzu - the demon
 |
| Linda Blair in The Exorcist (1973) |
The ancient, demonic entity that possesses a young girl, transforming her into a hideous, foul mouthed, powerful and just creepy being who emotionally, physically and spiritually tortures and kills those who come in contact with her.
9. The Devil
 |
| Al Pacino in The Devil's Advocate (1997) |
Need I even say anything.. Charming, seductive, master manipulator and all powerful bad guy who will take your hand and walk you in to the darkness, laughing and cracking jokes the whole way.
10. Gabbar Singh
 |
| Amjad Khan in Sholay (1975) |
The eccentric, sadistic and brutal outlaw bandit who became an iconic villain in Indian movie history.
There are so many honorable mentions that I'm having trouble deciding..but Denzel Washington in Training Day, Stanley Tucci in The Lovely Bones, Jack Nicholson in The Departed, Hopkins again in Fracture and Red 2, Ian Mckellan in Apt Pupil, are a few that come to mind right now.. Yeah, I know it's a strange selection but then I have specific tastes when it comes to evil..
Gimme a few suggestions of your own..
P.S. Jason Vorhees and Freddy Krueger - you guys make me smile too.. ;)
No comments:
Post a Comment