6 Horror Movies With Criminally Underrated Villains

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While the horror genre is celebrated for its iconic villains, where characters like Ghostface Killers or Michael Myers reign supreme, a legion of terrifying horror bad guys remain in the shadows. While franchises like Halloween dominate the genre, a wealth of outstanding slasher characters have gone unnoticed, waiting for their moment in the spotlight.

Despite the challenges of low budgets, stiff competition, or the occasional misstep, these 6 overlooked villains have the potential to stand alongside all-time favorite horror icons.

6 PHOTOS

6. The Strangers (2008) —The Trio

Inspired by the infamous Manson Family murders, The Strangers features a trio of killers who remain shrouded in mystery even after the credits roll. Unlike typical villains, their motivations, personalities, and identities are deliberately unclear, heightening the fear they inflict on an unsuspecting couple.

The stoic behavior behind the emotionless masks adds an extra layer of terror as the strangers progress from harmless knocking to stalking, torture, and murder. Despite elevating the home invasion subgenre, The Trio's unsettling impact and harrowing ordeal are often underestimated.

5. The Collector (2009) — The Collector

Emerging from the Saw era, the original Collector movie introduced a trap-loving killer with a foam latex mask with eye and mouth holes held together by strings. Despite unique traits and an enigmatic nature, the Collector's potential in the franchise is underexplored, perhaps because the film was originally planned as a prequel to Saw.

The series portrays a twisted killer who turns houses into death traps, using the survivors as bait for subsequent victims. Although the story does not fully realize the villain's potential, the Collector's unique methods and mysterious nature leave room for growth and a possible third installment.

4. The Creep (2014) — Creep

In this found-footage horror gem, the title character, whether known as Josef, Bill, Aaron, or simply Creep, is the baffling figure who lives up to his title with unsettling accuracy. Unlike typical horror villains, the Creep befriends his victims under the guise of asking them to document a day in his life.

The character's alternate identity, Peachfuzz, adds an extra layer of terror to the narrative as it takes center stage, turning an ordinary day into a trip of madness and solidifying the Creep's place among the most underrated horror villains.

3. My Bloody Valentine 3D (2009) — Tom Hanniger

In the 2009 remake of 1981's My Bloody Valentine, Jensen Ackles stars as Tom Hanniger, who, after surviving an attack by an original Miner, Harry Warden, struggles with mental disorders that lead him to adopt mining equipment for a deadly rampage. Initially portrayed as friendly, the traumatic experience and a stint in a mental institution create a split personality that resembles Warden.

Unaware of this alter ego, Tom imagines Miner during violent acts and armed with a pickaxe, gas mask, and miner's helmet, carves a path of terror through the mining town, leaving a trail of mutilation and heart-stopping suspense, and emerging as a criminally underrated villain along with his original predecessor.

2. Jeepers Creepers (2001) — The Creeper

The Creeper, a winged, flesh-eating creature that awakens every 23 years to feed on human flesh, stands out as a unique and underrated horror creation. Hunted for twenty-three days every twenty-third spring, this creature may initially appear human, but it is a scaly humanoid with a penchant for absorbing specific organs from its victims, driven by fear.

His highly athletic nature and surprising abilities make him an unstoppable force once he has his sights set on a target. His rusting truck, which roams the highways, is the reason why, after so many years, drivers are still haunted by the fear of an ancient evil.

1. Hush (2016) — The Man in the Mask

Mike Flanagan's terrifying killer, who enjoys tormenting his disabled victim, is a chilling and convincing villain without any supernatural elements. Despite his departure from traditional slasher villain categories, this insane human stands out as a frightening addition appreciated by horror fans.

Armed with a crossbow, he targets a deaf-mute woman in a remote cabin and faces a formidable opponent in Kate Siegel and her stunning performance. While the Man in the Mask embodies typical horror movie antagonist traits, the unique twist on the slasher formula in his film sets him apart from his peers.