June 6, 201411 yr Author Thanks for the votes guys, rather glad how this has turned out considering the quite slow start :D I'll leave this open over the weekend (cos BJSC/other rate I have to do) so anyone else can vote, results will come Monday night hopefully all in one go. Have added everything up and there is indeed quite a few surprises so far to say the least which could all change! (and that's not just me sounding like a pundit, honest)
June 8, 201411 yr 06.0 Begbie (Trainspotting) 05.0 The Child Catcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) 10.0 Cruella De Vil (101 Dalmations) 06.0 Darth Vader (Star Wars) 08.0 Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare on Elm Street) 04.0 Jack Torrance (The Shining) 10.0 The Joker (The Dark Knight) 01.0 Lord Voldemort (Harry Potter) 10.0 Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty) 05.0 Michael Myers (Halloween) 07.0 Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest) 07.0 Pazuzu/Regan MacNeil (The Exorcist) 11.0 The Queen (Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs) 02.0 Scar (The Lion King) 00.0 The Shark (Jaws) 09.0 The Wicked Witch of the West (The Wizard of Oz)
June 9, 201411 yr Author 30. The Shark (Jaws) (5.10) http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100218181702/villains/images/4/40/JawsDM0108_468x347.jpg Portrayed by: An unconvincing shark model "You're gonna need a bigger boat" So yeah I can see in a sense how he isn't really a 'villain' and more just a hungry shark who can't really help his actions, and when you actually see the shark, it looks pretty naff. But ignoring that, in the first film at least, he was undeniably the source of fear for many. With the clever camera angles and constant mystery surrounding his appearance, you have an unseen merciless, terrifying enemy (well, ignoring the rest of the franchise for a minute) and an example of how a villain can be in the simplest of things (more on that later). He was the only non human character to feature in the 'AFI 100 Years...100 Heroes & Villains' list, plus I'd be damned if there was a great white shark that was as vicious towards humans as that in real life :P 29. Biff Tannen (Back To The Future) (5.19) http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/15/BiffTannenBackToTheFuture1985.jpg Portrayed by: Thomas F. Wilson "Why don't you make like a tree and get out of here?" Poor old Biff didn't get any decent marks one 11 and one 9.5 aside, probably the least effective villain if we're basing on fear as he is essentially just your everyday school bully, but his constant personas in future time and relations really emphasise him as one of life's true bast*rds. Living off bullying and making people's lives miserable and willing to resort to violence or the worst deeds when he doesn't get what he wants, he's not someone you'd like to meet. Edited June 10, 201411 yr by Chez Wombat
June 9, 201411 yr Author 28. Mr Potter (It's A Wonderful Life) (6.1) http://assets.forexlive.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/potter.png Portrayed by: Lionel Barrymore "You're worth more dead than alive" Now HE really is quite the bast*rd. Normal, yes, I'm sure high up in business you come across people like him regularly, but he is perfect example of the stone heartedness which comes from power and money. Not a single moral thought for anyone that isn't important to him, shown by him and dastardly in his tactics, stopping at nothing to close down Bailey Building & Loan, both through luring George Bailey through a better job and then cruelly stealing money from them to get them into legal trouble. And the worst thing is, he's never even punished for it. A heart of pure stone. 27. Man (Bambi) (6.20) http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/mike-licht-deer-bambi-targeted-235x300.jpg "Why did we all run?" Similar story to the shark really, not much of a character, but personally, I must admit in terms of fear alone, he was one of the scariest villains I've ever seen. Part of the fear comes not just from he's disturbing this beautiful forest utopia, but also from the fact that it is someone all too familiar to ourselves who we personally don't see as evil, but seen from a different perspective and through that scene, is seen in a whole new light. Having him off screen only serves to increase this tension. Indeed, this 'villain' caused one of the most heartbreaking scenes in Disney cinema, and raised the issue of hunting and animal conservation significantly. Edited June 10, 201411 yr by Chez Wombat
June 9, 201411 yr Author 26. Bill Cutting (Gangs of New York) (6.28) http://cdn.mos.totalfilm.com/images/b/bill-cutting.jpg Portrayed by: Daniel Day Lewis "He was the only man I ever killed worth remembering." Daniel Day Lewis is always worth watching let alone for his sheer devotion to his roles, he can play both a fierce hero and a villain. In this case, his character inspired by the real life Bill The Butcher, is a fiercely ruthless nationalist mob leader opposed to any Irish immigrants that dare cross him, ruling the harsh streets of early America. His 'cutting' surname is, to put it lightly, rather apt and that glass eye he constantly taps with his knife throughout the film just makes him scarier. 25. Begbie (Trainspotting) (6.38) http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130904190912/villains/images/2/27/Francis_Begbie.jpg Portrayed by: Robert Carlyle "Begbie didn't do drugs either. He just did people." Rather like Biff in the sense it's just a normal day person really, but this isn't just a bully, Begbie's a full on sociopath. When he goes out, he goes looking for trouble by any means, be that a fight in the bar, a dodgy deal or armed robbery. He's the sort of person you wouldn't just want to avoid, but avoid even looking or speaking too, would never end well. Edited June 10, 201411 yr by Chez Wombat
June 9, 201411 yr Author Getting the low finishers out of the way: 24. Norman Bates (Psycho) (6.875) http://static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/11111/111116692/3216120-8632415438-norma.png Originally Portrayed by: Anthony Perkins "We all go a little mad sometimes" A quite shockingly low position here for one of the most recognisable and infamous villains perhaps ever. Though you wouldn't necessarily think that from talking to him, he comes across as a mild mannered, slightly socially awkward but likeable person, until his, lets say, motherly instincts takes over (no spoilers). Maybe that's what hindered him, but even when he's not 'under the influence' per se, he's still quite freaky...the stuffed birds, a bizarre attachment to his mother than separates him from any other human contact. Hitchcock's iconic flick made you think twice about that strange man down the hallway, or about taking a shower. 23. Pazuzu/Regan MacNeill (The Exorcist) (6.92) http://www4.pictures.zimbio.com/mp/gKo2iRNmNpol.jpg Portrayed by: Linda Blair (voice: Mercedes McCambridge) "Keep away. The sow is mine." Another iconic, terrifying film and villain to go with - poor little Regan (is that how you spell her name? So annoying) of course can't help that she's been possessed by a demon, but she was still listed amongst AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains list and her iconic image terrified many around the world and also served as a benchmark for the 'possessed child' evil. So much so that people often forget that she is really as far away from a villain as you can get, the actual culprit? The unseen demon, Pazuzu. 22. Michael Myers (Halloween) (7.0) http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eHkTwd4aRic/SfCQBDvxqMI/AAAAAAAAM9s/GKdc3yYvHsE/s320/Michael_Myers_1978.jpg Originally Portrayed by: Nick Castle (& Will Sanden as a child) "I met this six-year-old child, with this blank, pale, emotionless face, and the blackest eyes... the devil's eyes. I spent eight years trying to reach him, and then another seven trying to keep him locked up because I realized that what was living behind that boy's eyes was purely and simply... evil." There are many quite terrifying slasher villains, but sometimes too much muahahaing and talking can take away from their fear. Less is more and with Michael Myers, that's clearer than ever. With just a knife and a mask, he stalks unsuspecting teenagers and truly lets his weapon do the talking. Merciless and crucially, terrifyingly enigmatic (let's just forget that fucking awful remake that ruined that) and straight out terrifying, of all the slasher villains, he's probably the one that would scare me most in a dark alley. 21. Hans Gruber (Die Hard) (7.04) http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120506183326/diehard/images/thumb/1/13/Hans_Gruber.png/250px-Hans_Gruber.png Portrayed by: Alan Rickman "Who says we were terrorists?" When you're Alan Rickman, you're born to play a villain with a voice like that, and that's been shown in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves and Harry Potter. This perhaps remains his most iconic role as lead gangster ruining everyone's Christmas in, well, the worst possible way for sure. His cold, calculating and organised (yet still rather polite on the surface) demeanor proves almost the perfect counterpart to Willis' wily off duty police sergeant, John McClane, and proves more than a match for him in any case. Edited June 10, 201411 yr by Chez Wombat
June 9, 201411 yr Oh my at that trio of Norman, Regan and Michael. SHOCKED that the former two are so low - i thought they were winner contenders when i saw the initial list :o Regan is the single most terrifying entity i have seen on screen and Michael is fantastic too but i can see why he's low as he's not the most animated of characters as calculated as he may be.
June 9, 201411 yr Author 20. Anton Chigurh (No Country For Old Men) (7.16) http://www.xefer.com/image/chigurh.jpg Portrayed by: Javier Bardem "What's the most you ever lost in a coin toss?" Far too low, but considering only 6/14 voters knew who he was, he didn't fare that badly. Just one look at him doesn't give you the best impression, but watching the film (srsly do it people) makes that even worse. An ordinary hitman on the surface. He will not stop until he finds who he's looking for, and he always finds them eventually through one way or another. He will kill as and when it suits him but he does often offer his victims a coin toss sometimes to decide their fate, and if their lucky, he will stick to his word, which adds a complex feel to this enigmatic yet darkly wonderful character. 19. Scar (The Lion King) (7.25) http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gRkFREsmQ4M/T4iRb1LV_bI/AAAAAAAAAAc/TILJbT72JH0/s1600/scar%202.jpg Originally Voiced by: Jeremy Irons "Well, as far as brains go, I got the lion's share." Well, is that scene not enough for you? Even outside of that, Scar is the animalian representation of a calculating, tyrannical dictator. Cunning and adept at hiding his deception, he knows exactly what he's doing and what he wants and even his own family are merely targets to be eliminated if they get in his way. Edited June 10, 201411 yr by Chez Wombat
June 9, 201411 yr Author 18. Amon Goeth (Schindler's List) (7.5) http://www.executedtoday.com/images/Amon_Goeth_Ralph_Fiennes.jpg Portrayed by: Ralph Fiennes "You're giving them hope. You shouldn't do that. *That's* cruel!" I'm shamefully yet to see this film, so I'm relying a bit on wikipedia for this commentary, but this fictional portrayal of the real life SS commander of Kraków-Płaszów concentration camp brought to life the true horror (if we didn't already know it) in those camps but also of the man himself. A man so strongly prejudiced against Jews that he would go above and beyond the rules to make them suffer. A truly heartless man like this is not out of the ordinary for film villains but is made all the more terrifying (and frequently listed amongst the best villains ever) by the fact that this was actually a real person. Ralph Fiennes is of course still to come with another, quite different, type of villain he portrayed. 17. The Child Catcher (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) (7.59) http://www.virginmedia.com/images/childcatcher-431x300.jpg Portrayed by: Robert Helpmann "There are children here somewhere. I can smell them." If that NAME doesn't creep you out enough, I don't know what will. Of course the film itself, being a nice musical and all, was a bit too universal to cover the dodgy connotations of that name and portrayed him more as a slightly more cartoony villain that simply imprisoned them, but he's nonetheless a devious sort and any child thief makes for a pretty scary villain. Edited June 10, 201411 yr by Chez Wombat
June 9, 201411 yr Anton Chigurh was ridiculous for me. This film was very bad too. "The Atonement" was totally robbed by this abomination. Shame!
June 9, 201411 yr Author 16. John Doe (Se7en) (7.6) http://www.starpulse.com/news/media/john_doe.jpg Portrayed by: Kevin Spacey "Become vengeance...Become wrath" A psychopathic killer with just a little more to him than your average one. In the film, he plots his kills in accordance with the seven deadly sins, whilst that may give the impression of a religious nut, but his final act is just so cold and worked out that even though he may be gone in the end, he got exactly what he wanted (again I'll refrain from spoilers), even before this, he proves more than a match for the two chasing detectives. This character was made all the more real by a spellbinding performance from Kevin Spacey, and when you're in a film with Morgan Freeman & Brad Pitt, that's quite an achievement. 15. Alex DeLarge (A Clockwork Orange) (7.61) http://i500.listal.com/image/1191294/500full.jpg Portrayed by: Malcolm McDowell "I was cured all right!" On the one hand, this sociopathic youth shows the true lows of any society, if the clip in the first post isn't enough then just watch the whole film, but is it the ever cold society he lives in that both destroys him slowly by pleasure and punishment? An ever debateable question (you'd be tough pressed not feeling a bit for him by the midpoint of the film though), Alex's enigmatic role is portrayed wonderfully in the film and a sociopath with a soul, and is one of the most renowned screen characters. Edited June 10, 201411 yr by Chez Wombat
June 9, 201411 yr Thought Scar might have been higher tbh :o Especially with him killing his own brother! The Child Catcher seems to be in the right place. He's very villainous in his actions but he's too distant from the rest of the film.
June 9, 201411 yr Author 14. Maleficent (Sleeping Beauty) (7.79) http://wpcontent.answcdn.com/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7e/Malefica.jpg/305px-Malefica.jpg Originally voiced by: Eleanor Audley "A forest of thorns shall be his tomb" Cursing a baby just because you're not invited to her christening? Seems a bit extreme no. (I'm a bit tired now) 13. Jack Torrance (The Shining) (7.88) Portrayed by: Jack Nicholson "Wendy, let me explain something to you. Whenever you come in here and interrupt me, you're breaking my concentration. You're distracting me. And it will then take me time to get back to where I was. You understand?" Slightly strange to think that if Kubrick had been a bit more faithful to King's novel, he may not have been seen as a villain as the book makes it clear, it is the fault of the evil spirits in the house that possess him. Not necessarily so in the film or definitely not as important; Jack Nicholson's portrayal of him as a man close to the edge and tiring of his family. When the evil comes, he seems to enjoy it and never goes back. It may not be faithful to the book's focus on supernatural horror, but Nicholson's portrayal is never less than horrifying and a perfect representation of the true worst that can come from isolation and madness. Edited June 10, 201411 yr by Chez Wombat
June 9, 201411 yr Author Last two for tonight, sorry for the slight rush. -x- 12. The Queen (Snow White & The Seven Dwarfs) (7.96) http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120523122104/snowwhiteandthehuntsman/images/5/58/Queen-1937.jpg Originally Voiced by: Lucille La Verne "Lips red as blood, hair black as night, bring me your heart, my dear, dear Snow White." Perhaps seeming slightly cliched by means of today, but it's worth remembering that many Disney villains after her were formed from her archetype. Truly representing the worst of vanity and pure evil, and using many modern cliches of today's villains, the Queen remains an effective villain whenever you watch her. 11. Nurse Ratched (One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest) (8) (less 9.5's) http://cdn.pjmedia.com/lifestyle/files/2012/07/scoop_17121_6382.jpg Portrayed by: Louise Fletcher "The best we can do is go on with our daily routine" In a heartbreaking three way tie for 9th, 10th and 11th, Nurse Ratched just misses out on the top 10. A mental asylum in film is often the home of the villain in the form of a patient rather than staff, but in this case, it's the other way round. Seeming like a fair but firm nurse, she is anything but, strictly promoting her routine above all else, looking down on the patients and using them and her position to her advantage and essentially - preventing them from living freely. The exact portrait of a small scale dictator, she's one nurse that won't always make you better (though a slightly worse one is still to come). Edited June 10, 201411 yr by Chez Wombat
June 9, 201411 yr Author The top 10 will be presented tomorrow evening, they are: Annie Wilkes Cruella De Vil Darth Vader Dracula Freddy Krueger Hannibal Lecter HAL 9000 The Joker Lord Voldemort The Wicked Witch of the West feel free to predict until then~
June 9, 201411 yr Anton Chigurh about where i expected him to be but he's my favourite on the list. Slightly ridiculous yes, but so entertaining and compelling. Ratched be ratchet too and probably worthy of a top 10 place over a few of those that got it instead.
June 10, 201411 yr All my faves outside the top 10 - there's a shocker. As long as the damn Joker doesn't win.
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