Some of the best horror movie villains are easy to understand and predict. Freddy Krueger kills people while they're sleeping, Samara Morgan murders those who have watched a videotape seven days later, and Ghostface is always connected to Sidney Prescott. But what about those killers who can't be figured out so easily?
Whether these characters are generally shocking or they seem to kill with no rhyme or reason, there are many horror villains who keep people on their toes, no matter how many movies they appear in.
Michael Myers (Halloween Franchise, 1978-)
It's Corey Cunningham is a controversial Halloween Ends character, as fans thought that the final movie in David Gordon Green's trilogy would be all about Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) and Michael Myers. But it's actually Corey's inclusion that makes the slasher franchise's villain Michael Myers feel so hard to predict.
Before this 2022 movie, Michael always looked and acted the same. He never talked and never took of his famous mask and was pure evil, which is why he has killed so many people. In this film, he doesn't kill Corey and the two team up, which is a strange choice that fans are still debating. Corey also steals Michael's mask and Michael lets him do it and doesn't get mad. This is definitely not the Michael Myers from Halloween that horror fans know.
Annie Wilkes (Misery, 1990)
Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) is a unique choice for a horror villain as she's a huge fan of Paul Sheldon (James Caan). While there are many films that focus on unhinged fans, this was one of the first if not the earliest one, and it's terrifying for celebrities to think about a fan stalking and kidnapping them in this way.
Some Stephen King fans think Misery is the best adaptation of the popular author's work and Annie is such a stand-out character. While Annie harms Paul from the moment that she's introduced, it's not clear if she will ever let him get away or if he will be able to win against her. Annie is so wild and intense that it's hard to predict what she will do next. Annie also feels like an unexpected killer as she looks and dresses like she is much more wholesome and innocent than she is.
Death (Final Destination, 1998-)
Since Death itself is the villain of the franchise, which is smart and memorable, the death scenes in Final Destination are strong. The characters who are meant to die have no idea that Death is still coming for them and the theme of the movies is that they can't escape this fact.
Even though fans of the franchise are aware that these characters won't be able to survive, each death scene is still shocking, a testament to how clever these movies are. Death is waiting in the wings for these characters, whether that means that something heavy will fall on them, a tanning bed afternoon will go horribly wrong, or they will get into a strange accident that no one thought would ever happen.
Chucky (Child's Play Franchise, 1988-)
Chucky is one of the smartest horror movie villains and one of the most unpredictable as well. The reason why Chucky endures is because it's still hard to believe that an adorable doll with rosy cheeks and a cute outfit could be this ruthless.
The complicated Child's Play franchise lore explains that serial killer Charles Lee Ray puts his soul into a Good Guy doll, a bold, unique, and unexpected choice. Whether thinking about the movie or TV version of Chucky, he can kill people at any moment and often does, and he even has surprising moments of emotion and empathy, like when he speaks about his child. It's also hard to guess how the Chucky of the SyFy TV series will act, especially now that, in season 2, there are so many versions hanging around the main characters.
Pearl (X & Pearl, 2022)
Ti West's X prequel Pearl allows audiences to learn more about how Mia Goth's character becomes a killer. It's tough to imagine that a young adult who wants to be an actor would go on a killing spree one day and then continue on like that for several decades, which is why she is so unforgettable.
Whether watching Pearl when she's young or older, she always feels like a unique villain and a huge surprise. Pearl does whatever she wants and no one who stays at the farm that she and Howard (Stephen Ure) own thinks that their days are numbered. Both movies are some of the best 2020s horror movies because of this well-written and sinister character who audiences also empathize with and understand.