John Ryder The Hitcher (1986)
The Psycho: A man of few words, John Ryder (Rutger Hauer) is a hitchhiker who makes life a misery for anybody stupid enough to pick him up from the roadside.
Creepiest Act : “I want you to stop me.”
Ryder calmly explains to Jim Halsey (C. Thomas Howell) that he’s just killed the occupants of a stranded car – and intends on repeating the pattern with Jim…
Travis Bickle Taxi Driver (1976)
The Psycho: An insomnia-suffering ex-Marine, Bickle works as a New York cab driver by night – a job that sees his mind slowly unravelling.
Creepiest Act: Bickle attempts to woo political volunteer Betsy (Cybill Shepherd) by taking her to the movies.
They go to see a porno…
Damien The Omen (1976)
The Psycho: The adopted son of Robert Thorn (Gregory Peck) and Katherine (Lee Remick).
Damien (Harvey Spencer Stephens) is the creepiest of all movie kids – just look at those eyes.
Creepiest Act: Damien attends the funeral of his parents, then peers directly into the camera to offer us a chilling smile.
Frank Booth Blue Velvet (1986)
The Psycho: A fan of dry-humping and sadomasochism, Frank Booth (Dennis Hopper) has the worst potty-mouth you’ve ever heard.
He also has a habit of sucking on a mystery gas.
Creepiest Act: Another psycho with a very misguided seduction technique, we'd argue that Frank's very first scene is his creepiest, but to be fair, there's a lot of competition.
Patrick Martha Marcy May Marlene (2012)
The Psycho: The leader of a cult in the Catskill Mountains, Patrick (John Hawkes) is softly spoken and amenable, but that hides his true savage nature as a brainwasher and rapist.
Creepiest Act: Patrick rapes Martha (Elizabeth Olsen).
After the event, another member of the cult tells Martha how lucky she is – a chilling example of Patrick’s brainwashing in action.
Dr Heiter The Human Centipede (First Sequence) (2009)
The Psycho: A manic surgeon (not the kind of surgeon you really want operating on you), Dr. Josef Heiter (Dieter Laser) has a dream – he wants to create a human centipede.
Which turns out to be just as gross as it sounds.
Creepiest Act: Creepy-funny, really, as Dr Heiter gleefully purrs “Feed her! Feed her!”
Colonel Hans Landa Inglourious Basterds (2009)
The Psycho: Known as the ‘Jew Hunter’, Landa’s cool cucumber exterior belies a volcanic interior that’s as bloodthirsty as any vampire.
Creepiest Act: At the film’s opening, Landa orders his soldiers to shoot through the floor of a dairy farmer’s home.
Why? A Jewish family is being concealed there…
It's the fact he does it with such a cheery air that really gives us the wiggins.
Max Cady Cape Fear (1991)
The Psycho: An illiterate rapist convicted for his crimes, Max Cady (Robert De Niro) discovers that his defence attorney screwed him over – and vows to get revenge.
Creepiest Act: There’s a moment with a bed and handcuffs that we won’t go into because it’s that horrible…
Marie Switchblade Romance (2003)
The Psycho: In the POV-warped world of Switchblade Romance , Marie (Cécile de France) and her friend Alex (Maïwenn) are victims of a terrifying man known only as The Killer.
SPOILERS In fact, Marie is the murderer – and a total psycho.
Creepiest Act: Revealed as the psycho that she truly is, Marie professes her love for Alex and kisses her – only to have a crowbar shoved into her chest.
John Bunting Snowtown (2011)
The Psycho: A homophobic bully who otherwise seems like a decent fellow, John (Daniel Henshall) spends his spare time murdering gay people, paedophiles, and pretty much anyone he feels like.
Creepiest Act: The horrific moment when John and his protégé Jamie (Lucas Pittaway) strap a victim to a bath, then force him to record a voicemail message that makes it seems like he’s leaving town.
Then they kill him.
