10 Underrated Horror Movie Killers Who Deserve As Much Attention As Freddy, Jason & Michael Myers

There are many underrated horror movie killers that fly under the radar. These overlooked killers are some of the craziest, most vile killers on screen. While a horror icon like Michael Myers might have one of the highest kill counts in a movie, there are some killers that favor the quality over the quantity of their kills. Damien from The Omenspecifically targets those who go against his demonic agenda and is able to kill them without looking like he is responsible.

While some audiences will always favor Jason, Freddy, and Michael Myers, there’s always space for new psychotic killers. Some newer horror movie killers are gaining the attention of horror fans and should be on everybody’s radar for the new wave of fan-favorite murderers. From killer children to crazed chefs with cult followings, even the greatest villains in horror movies could take a few lessons from some of these underrated killers.

10 Mary Shaw

Dead Silence (2007)

Dead Silence is an underrated horror movie about a man who returns home after his wife is murdered and starts to learn more about Mary Shaw, a ventriloquist who was murdered after she was suspected of being involved in a missing child’s case. The townsfolk cut out her tongue and buried her with her dolls. Assuming that was the end of her tale, she came back and took revenge on those who wronged her. Dead Silence is a frightening tale with one of the best female horror movie villains.

Like other horror icon origin stories, her motive is revenge, and her vindictive killing style makes her a woman who shouldn't be messed with.

Mary Shaw is a visually frightening, haunting presence. Like most great horror killers, including Freddy Kruger, she even has her own haunting poem. Even though she’s a supernatural entity, she’s able to take people's lives and leave behind a huge trail of bloodshed — by removing their tongues from their mouths.Like other horror icon origin stories, her motive is revenge, and her vindictive killing style makes her a woman who shouldn't be messed with.

9 Rhoda Penmark

The Bad Seed (1956)

The original The Bad Seed was released in 1956 and there have been three movies with The Bad Seed title. The premise of The Bad Seed is about a villainous child killer. The 1956 version is a black-and-white horror movie about a mom who suspects that her seemingly perfect daughter, Rhoda, is responsible for the death of her schoolmate, and she just might be a sociopathic killer.

Outwardly, Rhoda presents as a kind, innocent child. The Bad Seed is mysterious and dark as it preserves Rhoda’s innocence while adding in her subtle dark intentions between her and her victims. She’s an amazing horror villain and killer because this sweet young girl is pure chaos. She’s not only able to trick those around her, but she’s able to tell a convincing lie while believing it herself.

8 Bughuul

Sinister (2012)

Bughuul is from the Sinister movies and is one of the scariest horror killers. Sinister was released in 2012 and is a horror movie with some great scares. After a family moves into a house with a dark past, Ellison, played by Ethan Hawke, discovers a collection of murder snuff films and decides to use it as inspiration for his new book. The more he watches the murder tapes, the more supernatural activity happens around the family. Little do they know, they are being haunted by Bughuul, the evil entity responsible for the murders of the families.

Bughuul is one of the most heinous killers because of his dark motives. Bughuul thrives on the torture of families by manipulating the children and convincing them to murder their own families, and then claiming the child’s soul for himself. All the families from the snuff films are murdered in the most vile ways, and it's filmed to traumatize Bughuul's next set of victims.

7 Damien

The Omen (1976)

Damien is the ultimate child killer and is probablythe reason some parents are scared of their own children. The Omen, released in 1976, is about a family raising a child who is the Antichrist, and he starts to wreak havoc on their lives. Damien, played by Harvey Stephens, at just five years old, became one of the creepiest kids in a movie and terrified audiences worldwide.

Damien is one of the best horror killers because he gives his potential victims a “look,” and with that look alone, their deadly fates are sealed.

Just like Rhoda from The Bad Seed, Damien presents himself as an innocent child. Without needing to say anything, his ulterior motives are hidden, and when people start dying, it’s hard to believe a young child could be capable of violent deaths. Damien is one of the best horror killers because he gives his potential victims a “look,” and with that look alone, their deadly fates are sealed. There aren't any horror killers that are able to kill their victims with just a look into their eyes.

6 Martin Lomax

The Human Centipede 2 (Full Sequence) (2011)

The first installment of The Human Centipede was released in 2009, and audiences probably thought the madman behind the experiment, Dr. Heiter would be the ultimate horror villain. However, the villain and killer in The Human Centipede 2 Full Sequence is way more grotesque and evil than the original. Martin Lomax, a disturbed and lonely man, is inspired by the human centipede experiment and decides to recreate his own version of it.

Tom Six, director of The Human Centipede 2 Full Sequence, stated that the black-and-white version of the movie made it look grittier and helped contribute to Martin's dark story.

Martin is one of the craziest horror killers because of his sadistic behavior. He tortures people without any remorse. On top of the demented experiment that he performs on the group of people, he takes it a step too far. While the group is conjoined in the human centipede experiment, he injects laxatives inside them because he believes the experiment needs to be taken to the next level. Martin is a grotesque horror killer that would even have Freddy Krueger grossed out.

5 Chef Slowik

Released in 2022, The Menu is an entertaining horror comedy movie about a group of people who travel to an upscale restaurant on an island where they are served lavish dishes by an eccentric chef. Chef Slowik, played by Ralph Fiennes, is obsessed with his dishes and his craft. His team of employees serve the guests while obeying his odd commands without question.

Chef Slowik is a great villain and killer because he has a team of loyal followers that are willing to risk anythingand everything for him and his belief system. He's disappointed with the wealthy class for their excessiveness, and he believes they deserve to die. His cult employee followers are committed to the cause and set up the entire performance for the guests' deaths and their own. He's one of the few killers with such loyal followers, and he’s able to kill so many people in one fell swoop.

4 Howard Howe

Tusk (2014)

Released in 2014, Tusk is about a man’s odd obsession with walruses. Interviewer Wallace, played by Justin Long, ends up trapped by a crazed man, Howard Howe, played by Michael Parks. Tusk is an over-the-top body horror movie where Wallace undergoes an extreme transformation. Horror movies about disturbed individuals and their dark desires always make the best horror killers because of their absurdist minds.

Tusk is a horror movie so disturbing that it should only be watched once. Howard Howe is a great horror killer, and even though his killings aren't presented on screen, he was capturing and murdering people for many years prior to meeting Wallace. People can only imagine what he's done to his other victims and his gruesome mutilations. Just like Martin from The Human Centipede 2, these maniacs favor physical torment and torture, making them some of the craziest killers.

3 The Djinn

Wishmaster (1997)

Wishmaster, released in 1997, is the first movie in the four movie series. It's about an evil Djinn, played by Andrew Divoff, who grants wishes to those who free him but plans to take their souls. The Wishmaster movies are underrated and overlooked, and it's one of the best horror movie franchises with an evil, demonic entity that centers around popular folklore.

Greg Nicotero worked on special makeup-effects makeup for the TV series The Walking Dead, Day of the Dead (1985), and many other horror projects. He contributed to Wishmaster's demented look and was credited for the Special Makeup Effects.

The Djinn in Wishmaster is one of the best supernatural evil movie killers becausehe takes someone's wish and turns it into their worst nightmare. Similar to The Leprechaun movie series, where the leprechaun presents himself as a charismatic entity, the Djinn does the same and is able to manipulate his victims and make them believe his intentions are pure.

2 Dr. Decker

Nightbreed (1990)

Nightbreed, released in 1990, is a fantasy horror movie. It's about a young man, Aaron Boone, played by Craig Sheffer, who is framed by his psychiatrist, Dr. Decker, played by David Cronenberg, for the murders committed by Dr. Decker. When Boone is murdered by the police, he's brought back to life by Nightbreed, a group of monsters who he teams up with Boone to take down Dr. Decker.

He presents himself as a figure who could be trusted, but he's pure evil.

Decker is a serial killer who wears a disturbing mask, and serial killers who wear masks in movies are always frightening. He presents himself as a figure who can be trusted, but he's pure evil. In his conversation with Boone, he convinces him that his reality isn't what it seems. Even though Boone is presented as a mentally ill person, the real mentally disturbed one is Decker. On top of his manipulative behavior, he's also a crazed serial killer who has murdered families.

1 Victor Crowley

Victor Crowley (2017)

A mangled Victor Crowley in Hatchet III — hatchet iii victor crowley

Victor Crowley, released in 2017, is the sequel to Hatchet III and the fourth movie in the Hatchet horror franchise. It's a supernatural slasher movie about Victor Crowley's resurrection and his killing spree. The Hatchet movies have simple storylines and are filled with excessive bloodshed, much like the Friday the 13th movie series about a supernatural serial killer who is resurrected over and over again.

Victor definitely isn't a handsome serial killer, as he is an overpowering, large, monstrous-looking man who is hellbent on murdering. He's one of the most underrated horror movie villains that could probably fit into the same category as some of the most popular killers in movies. He's a powerful killer with insanely creative kills. Based on his over-the-top strength and scary appearance, he's one of the most barbaric killers in horror.

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