50 Creepiest Movie Psychopaths

Features
By published

Stay out of their way…

Mountain Men Wrong Turn (2003)

Mr Brooks Mr Brooks (2007)

The Psycho: Tormented by his violence-hungry id, Mr Brooks (Kevin Costner) is a businessman by day and serial killer (The Thumbprint Killer) by night.

His bloodthirsty habit, though, is disrupted when somebody starts blackmailing him.

Creepiest Act: What makes him most creepy is his pernickety method, which includes cleaning a crime scene he’s created and leaving thumbprints of victims behind.

Mickey & Mallory Knox Natural Born Killers (1994)

The Psychos: Loved-up married couple Mickey Knox (Woody Harrelson) and Mallory (Juliette Lewis) spread chaos far and wide – they can’t even stop at a roadside café without spilling a little blood.

Creepiest Act: Despite being in love, the duo have no qualms about shagging – and killing – other people.

Like the moment when Mallory’s having sex with a mechanic (Balthazar Getty), only to brutally off him…

Mick Taylor Wolf Creek (2005)

The Psycho: Living out in an old mining site, Mick Taylor (John Jarratt) tricks a trio of travellers into coming back to his place.

Once there, he turns their lives into a living nightmare.

Creepiest Act: Mick tortures and abuses Liz – all of it overheard by Kirsty.

All the more terrifying because we don’t see, only hear, it.

Freddy Krueger A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

The Psycho: A child-killer who was burned alive by the parents of the children he snatched.

He’s now a dream demon who kills teenagers by turning their dreams against them.

Creepiest Act: Killing Tina – all we see is her being wrenched through the air above her bed.

That said, the stretchy-arm thing that he does in the alleyway beforehand is also pretty chilling.

Jigsaw Saw (2004)

The Psycho: Aka John Kramer, a man obsessed with pushing people to their limits in deadly games.

If you die, it’s because you didn’t try hard enough to live…

Creepiest Act: Pick any one of his numerous murders, which range from jaw-snappingly brutal to needle-jabbingly horrible.

Amon Goeth Schindlers List (1993)

The Psycho: A sneering SS officer who’s a staunch Nazi, but not above taking bribes.

Goeth (Ralph Fiennes) has a short temper, a cold manner and is equally ice-blooded when it comes to murdering Jews.

Creepiest Act: Aside from being a Nazi?

Ichi Ichi The Killer (2001)

The Psycho: Transforming from a yella-bellied coward, Ichi (Nao Omori) is turned into an assassin by Jijii (Shinya Tsukamoto).

Now a killer, Ichi takes pleasure in offing people – literally, because he’s sexually aroused by his unspeakable acts.

Creepiest Act: That escalating bloodbath of an ending…

Otis The Devils Rejects (2005)

The Psycho: A member of the murderous Firefly family, Otis (Bill Moseley) is easily the sneakiest of the serial killer brood – and the most unforgivably brutal.

Creepiest Act: Otis carves off the face of a member of the Banjo and Sullivan singing group.

Then gives it to one of the band members to wear…

Seymour Parrish One Hour Photo (2002)

The Psycho: A depressed photo technician who feels isolated and alone, Parrish’s (Robin Williams) only attachment to the real world is the people he sees in the photos he develops at SavMart.

Creepiest Act: Obsessed with the Yorkin family, who he’s developed photos for for years, Parrish keeps his own set of their snaps, which he pins to a wall at home…

Joshua Winning

Josh Winning has worn a lot of hats over the years. Contributing Editor at Total Film, writer for SFX, and senior film writer at the Radio Times. Josh has also penned a novel about mysteries and monsters, is the co-host of a movie podcast, and has a library of pretty phenomenal stories from visiting some of the biggest TV and film sets in the world. He would also like you to know that he "lives for cat videos..." Don't we all, Josh. Don't we all.