Top 10 Cinematic Psychopaths
Published on February 9, 2008 - 96 Comments
If you say you’re a horror movie fan, that’s not really giving a lot of information. There are so many different types of horror movies and sub-genres of horror movies that two big fans of horror movies may like completely different films. While zombies, vampires, and werewolves all have their place, one of the most intriguing type of horror movie villains are psychopaths.
Human, yet incredibly evil, psychopaths are able to pass themselves off as another normal human being, yet how can you know that person standing next to you in an elevator is evil incarnate? While there are literally dozens and dozens of great psychopath movies, here is my list of the top ten movie psychopaths, based on charisma of the character, and scariness (so even though Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” is a classic, you won’t see it on this list).
10. Highwaymen 2003
This movie stars Jim Caviezel as the protagonist, Rennie Cray, a husband whose wife was murdered by Fargo, a serial killer who gets kicks murdering women with his 1972 Cadillac El Dorado. Most of Fargo’s body are prosthetics, but he managed to make his car like an extension of his body, and he travels around the country murdering women, and leaving clues to taunt Rennie as he tries to follow him from town to town. Fargo is cruel and taunting, and he picks his victims out and hunts them down. While the movie is an iffy B movie, Fargo is a great modern psychopath.
9. The Good Son 1993
Macaulay Culkin as Henry Evans proves that you don’t have to be an adult to be psychotic. Something about having a boy that young with no regard for human life whatsoever is creepy beyond belief. How often can a movie show a child smile, and you become chilled to the bone?
8. Silence of the Lambs 1991
Hannibal Lecter is one of the most infamous and bone chilling psychopaths to ever grace the big screen. Even more amazing is how long Lecter stays in your nightmares and gives you chills, considering in the movie “Silence of the Lambs,” this cultured, eloquent, and articulate cannibal and serial killer only has 17 minutes of total screen time.
7. Peeping Tom 1960
You have to hit the vaults to find this classic treasure. This movie was so disturbing that Director Michael Powell’s career never recovered after he directed this extremely controversial film. This film features the psychopath as the main character, as insane voyeur Carl Boehm films his female victims’ dying gasps as he impales them with a sharpened camera tripod. Even 50 years later this film is still scene as a ground breaking film in psychological horror.
6. The Night of the Hunter 1955
Movie psychopaths don’t come much more terrifying than the one portrayed by Robert Mitchum. He plays “The Reverend” Harry Powell, a religious fanatic who is on a crusade to rid the entire world of what he calls “perfume smellin’ things.” Reverend Powell is a twisted and murderous misogynist well known because of the switchblade he conceals in his pocket (take a guess at what he uses that for) and he has the words “Love” and “Hate” etched on his knuckles. Mitchum’s portrayal of this psychopath will stay with you long after the movie is over.
5. American Psycho 2000
Kudos to actor Christian Bale, who adopted a perfect American accent and a male model’s physique to play the part of white collar psychopath Patrick Bateman – a Wall Street hot shot by day who spends his spare time as a blood thirsty butcher in this gory cinematic gem. The scene where Bateman uses an axe to hack apart a rival piece by piece while dancing to Huey Lewis’s “Hip To Be Square” is well deserving of its infamy.
4. The Shining 1980
Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance, writer turned mad man. “Here’s Johnny!” “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy…” One of the most convincing movie psychos of all time, that big insane grin and evil eyed look is so well known it’s part of main stream cinema history.
3. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 1986
What is so frightening about this film is how mundane the act of violent murders are to the psychopaths in this film. It’s just normal, like picking up the mail, or shopping for some groceries. This film starts with a blue collar type of guy teaching a friend how to murder without getting caught. This is loosely based on a real life story of a serial killer, and Michael Rooker’s portrayal is unsettling because he seems like such a common man. After watching this movie, even you’re most normal of neighbors can seem threatening, if you’re the paranoid type.
2. No Country for Old Men 2007
Javier Bardem as sociopath Anton Chigurh is nothing short of evil personified in this film. Anton Chigurh almost took the top spot on this list, but one man barely held him off. Ice water doesn’t even begin to explain what runs through this psychopath’s veins, and the inventive weapon, refusal to stop, and the strange code of honor (heads or tails to see if you live or die—Friend-O) makes him even more terrifying. This is one of the best and most interesting psychopaths ever, which is appropriate since this is one of the best movies to come out in years.
1. Cape Fear 1991
Robert de Niro’s character, convicted rapist Max Cady, goes to prison. His defense attorney had a document that could have gotten him acquitted because the rape victim, a 16 year old girl, was promiscuous, but knowing what his client was like, he hid the document. In prison, Cady learned to read and vowed revenge. After 14 years in prison he tracks down the lawyer, starting by killing people related to the family. The scene involving a bed and hand cuffs is one of the most disturbing in the history of psycho movies, and Max Cady is too insane, too vengeful to bump out of #1, even if it was close.
Any honorable mentions list could include dozens of psychos, but this list is the top ten movie psychos of all time, and each film will deliver the chills and psychological horror that you yearn for.
Contributor: Shane Dayton
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1. Alextenn - February 9th, 2008 at 10:32 am
This is a good list, but what about Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates) in Misery?
Classic psycho bitch.
2. dr.blockk - February 9th, 2008 at 10:35 am
javier bardem is great in #2. good movie too
3. kristo - February 9th, 2008 at 10:35 am
to me american psycho cemented my belief in anything christian Bale does. I will watch a movie if I hear he is in it. My favorite part is where he seems generally perplexed on how to get the cat into the atm machine. psycho gold!
4. eimbrog - February 9th, 2008 at 10:37 am
Great list….based on the new Dark Knight trailer Heath Ledgers portrayal of the Joker should become a classic movie psycho!!!
5. crimsonchrissi - February 9th, 2008 at 10:44 am
Oh Yes! Kathy Bates in Misery!! You dirty bird!
6. AdoraBelle - February 9th, 2008 at 10:45 am
#6 just explained something in the rocky horror picture show, eddie has love and hate etched on his knuckles and its probably a reference to this movie. and this just makes me a huge dork for noticing that.
7. jfrater - February 9th, 2008 at 10:49 am
crimsonchrissi: the dirtybird comment is one of the best in the movie! And when she catches him just out of bed and says “your color is very hectic!” love it.
8. Conni - February 9th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Anything with Hannibal in it! And I think Zigsaw is a pretty bad dude, too. Lol @ crimson…dirty bird indeed! =)
9. islanderbst - February 9th, 2008 at 11:02 am
i didnt buy in to american psycho at all-seemed pretentious
could add:
gary oldman as stansfield in ‘leon’ (the professional)
matt damon in ‘talented mr. ripley’
10. dantheman - February 9th, 2008 at 11:04 am
I’m not going to lie. Whenever i watch American Psycho i laugh so hard as does my girlfriend. i dont know but i guess its because he is so crazy its funny. from the ” do you want some f*cking potato pancakes” to the atm saying to feed the cat. Anyone else have this reaction?
11. Juggz - February 9th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I definately agree with Kristo, after American Psycho and the awesome job Christian Bale did in it I became a big fan, and in my opinion he can do no wrong in a movie. The guy is a great actor.
12. jfrater - February 9th, 2008 at 11:19 am
Juggz: it was the first time I had seen Bale in a movie too - I was blown away and I will now watch anything he is in knowing it will be top quality! I pick a lot of my movie choices by the actors.
13. jfrater - February 9th, 2008 at 11:20 am
dantheman: I think I would be a little worried about that….
14. eimbrog - February 9th, 2008 at 11:26 am
I’m pretty sure American Pshyco was meant to be taken lightly…more of a dark,(and graphic)comedy, or satire. The fact that he kills people while listening to Phil Collins and Huey Luis is a riot in itself.
15. GingerLee - February 9th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Amon Geoth from Schindler’s List has to be around here somewhere. Holy shit when he’s taunting the Jewish maid it made me shudder.
And when Scorcese played the psycho passenger in Taxi Driver, it’s one of the creepiest scenes in movie history. Though come to think of it Scorcese has directed some other great pyschos: Travis Bickle, Tommy DiVito, Frank Costello, Nicky Santoro, and Bill the Butcher.
16. chris - February 9th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Come on, where is the original psycho? Sure it might not be as scary, but Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) as a cross-dressing murderer sounds pretty crazy to me.
17. JT - February 9th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I have Peeping Tom on DVD. Didn’t think it was very good. The main character wasn’t very convinving as a psychopath at all, although his method of killing was great.
18. SocialButterfly - February 9th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I really enjoyed Kevin Costner as Mr. Brooks. Easily one of the creepiest most psychotic roles out there…
19. Andrea Carlena Beauman - February 9th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I vote yes to Kathy Bates! Scared me away from old women for about a month.
-Andrea Carlena Beauman. (Still waiting quietly for that list)
20. ProgRapture - February 9th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
Great list, but I still get annoyed when ‘Stanley Kubrick’s’ The Shining has no reference whatsoever to Stephen King, the man who wrote the story that the movie is based off of. If anyone was good at creating psychopaths, it was Stephen King.
21. Miss Destiny - February 9th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
I LOVE American Psycho, I’m glad to see it on the list!
I think Hannibal should be number one, he scares me!
22. erin - February 9th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Where are the female psychos? This list should have been named Top 10 Male Cinematic Psychopaths. What about Single White Female, Carrie, Kathy Bates in Misery, Charlize Theron in Monster…
23. amanda - February 9th, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Why are all of these psychos men? There are some pretty scary female psychos in movies. Jessica Walter in Play Misty for Me scared me to death. It was how she could be so normal and sweet one minute and the next she’s hacking a maid to bits with shears. Creepy!
24. islanderbst - February 9th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
there have many a lot of great women psychopaths
glenn close in fatal attraction
juliette lewis natural born killers
drew barrymore poison ivy
has anyone seen hard candy with ellen page of juno? wanted to see it
25. Sabaku No Gaara - February 9th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
Where is Jigsaw from the Saw? It’s not fait. I find Jigsaw the greatest psycho ever :/
26. erin - February 9th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Oh yeah Juliette Lewis was crazy psycho in Natural Born Killers. I saw Hard Candy. Definitely creepy. Ellen Page is from Halifax like me wahoo.
27. gaston monescu - February 9th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
no country for old men…
has my vote for best movie psycho.
holy shit!
28. goof_ball - February 9th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Good List!
I love Silence of the Lambs. I’d be cool if they made a remake.
29. islanderbst - February 9th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
ben kinglsey in ’sexy beast’ freakin intense!
30. Shane - February 9th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Hand hits forehead, man I can’t believe I forgot Kathy Bates. You guys absolutely got me on that one! Thanks for all the comments. Most of the other movies brought up just missed the cut–it’s actually pretty hard to get a top 20 list of psychos. Thanks again, glad ya’ll enjoyed!
31. Andrea Carlena Beauman - February 9th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Amanda is right, Jessica Walter scared me silly! She was very convincing as a crazy killer psychobitch!
-Andrea Carlena Beauman (Still waiting quietly for that list)
32. John - February 9th, 2008 at 1:55 pm
What about The Hitcher with Rutger Hauer? The little kid in Identity? C’mon!
33. september78 - February 9th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
kathy bates in misery is classic. i also think that kevin spacey’s portrayal of john doe and the original psycho killer from hitchcock’s “psycho” deserve top spots. the final minutes of psycho still give me the creeps every time i watch it.
34. Borg - February 9th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
I love when lists have detailed explanations about each choice. Good job Shane Dayton.
35. mattayeaux - February 9th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
What about John Malcavich in Con-Air. Jab at Jamie.
36. romerozombie - February 9th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
…Or Steve Buscemi as Garland Greene in Con Air. He didn’t even do anything, he was unnerving by mere suggestion… surely a true psycho…
37. riledupone - February 9th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
This one’s out of the blue-Patty McCormack in “The Bad Seed”. A blonde-haired blue-eyed 9 year old girl who is evil personified. People who displease her start dying and her mother begins to realize the kid’s responsible. Chilling and well-done movie. And what about the psycho in “Seven”?
38. toolnut - February 9th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
I just went and saw No Country for Old Men last night and it blew my mind. The thing that really creeped me out was that there wasn’t any background music. It made it seem so real to me and that much more scarier. He definitely takes the cake for best psychopath in my book
39. Schiesl - February 9th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
no Kathy Bates in Misery, she was MESSED UP! and completely psychotic
40. Lyrebyrd - February 9th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet. Best of all the Dennis Hopper psycho roles, by far.
41. jfrater - February 9th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Lyrebyrd: great film and Hopper was great in it!
42. dvhann - February 9th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
I am so glad to see Anton from No Country For Old Men on here, he was so fricken creepy yet i thought he was the absolutely best actor in the film.
I love his silenced shotgun and his Air-Pressure Cattle Gun.
anyone who hasn’t seen No Country For Old Men should definately go see it. worth every penny.
43. Yogi Barrister - February 9th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
A couple of classics, Tommy Udo(Richard Widmark) from THE KISS OF DEATH. The scariest psychopath played by a woman is the Wicked Witch from THE WIZARD OF OZ.
44. Adam - February 9th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
WHOA!
How is it possible to leave out John Doe from Se7en???
Kathy Bates from Misery?
Jack Nicholson from Batman?
Otherwise, the list is pretty good
45. Mac - February 9th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Robert Mitchem is so good in Night of the Hunter, and everything else he was in. That’s quite a sweeping statement, I realise, but I stand by it.
It’s such a shame that the censorship buried Peeping Tom, because not only was it not exploitational (at least not on the same level as, say, Driller Killer etc), it’s a really good film. It’s nice that it’s getting more appreciation these days, even if it is too late for Powell. Shame.
46. blacksheep - February 9th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Robert Mitchum played Max Cady in the original Cape Fear made in the 50s. He’s more understated than Robert Deniro’s over-the-top characterization in the later Cape Fear, but still very creepy/scary in a way that only Mitchum could be.
47. Lindsay - February 9th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
natural born killers??
48. chsrocket47 - February 9th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
monster? and freddie got fingered?
tom green’s pretty messed up
49. JwJwBean - February 9th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Hand that Rocks the Cradle - Rebecca De Mornay She really creeped me out.
Oh and Sevens psycho was played by Kevin Spacey. He has played some other notable psychos too.
50. SubliminalDeath666 - February 9th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
The original and the newer version of No Country For Old Men are extremely good movies! The dude was a fucking psycho though… no wonder he’s #2!!
51. chsrocket47 - February 9th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
monster?? and freddie got fingered???
tom green is a messed up dude
oh and, with all respect to heath ledger, this new batman coming out looks to be pretty good and heath looks like he played the role of the joker with perfection. its tragic that someone that great and that diverse of an actor is dead…
sorry to bring down the mood haha
52. chsrocket47 - February 9th, 2008 at 6:41 pm
woops.. didnt mean to do that
53. SubliminalDeath666 - February 9th, 2008 at 6:46 pm
chsrocket47: Not cool dude….. not cool…..
54. Mom424 - February 9th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
I’m seconding No Country for Old Men, but Ben Kingsley in Sexy Beast (one of my favourite movies) was terribly disturbing. Michael Madsen as Mr. Blonde in Reservoir Dogs robbed me of sleep. And anything done by either Kathy Bates or Steve Buscemi (he rules!)is going to be too believable.
55. BrotherMan - February 9th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
American Psycho is filled with so many great quotes! Just like Falling Down starring Michael Douglas!
Where is D. Fense from Falling Down?
56. copperdragon - February 9th, 2008 at 9:55 pm
nice list for the top 10 White Male Movie Psychopaths.
i’m really starting to think that listverse is very misogynistic. Several lists that are top 10 “people of some sort” are all white men, then a SEPARATE list comes out that is the same subject, but “oh, here are the women/blacks/etc.”
57. DiscHuker - February 9th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
hannibal lecter is a little too high, meaning he should be closer to #1.
iknow i have already showed my fear on previous lists, but you HAVE to include rebecca demornay from “the hand that rocks the cradle” on a list about psychos. shudder
58. Mom424 - February 9th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
copperdragon; misogynistic? I think not. In the pool of movies with psychopaths in memorable roles, what proportion do you figure are either black or women? It is only recently that decent roles have been available for blacks or for that matter women ( with a few notable exceptions). Its just the math….
59. Lori - February 9th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
I’m glad to see you put American Psycho on the list. It’s one of my favorites. And dantheman, I totally agree with you. My boyfriend and I laughed our asses off throughout the movie, especially the axe scene. The way that he did that funky walk and went on and on about the bands discography… It was just goofy.
60. killadyvah - February 10th, 2008 at 1:08 am
jfrater-
great list as always, totally missing The Bad Seed. Patty McMoRmick puts Macauley Caulkin to shame, as it’s essentially the same movie they made, but she did it first, in black and white. The other thing is that Michael Corleone from the Godfather is an excellent psycopath. Killing all those people plus your brother for betrayral means you’re a psychopath.
61. Hayzeus - February 10th, 2008 at 1:54 am
DeNiro overacted so much in Cape Fear I found it hilarious. Also they made Cady a crazed christian (bonus points for originality there, guys). Sorry Bobby, but you’re just not as scary as Mitchum
But if a DeNiro Psycho is going to be #1, it has to Travis Bickle from Taxi Driver.
62. giggserella - February 10th, 2008 at 5:15 am
for me hannibal was not that scary. expecially after reading the books and finding out why he is that way and the fact that he really only kills assholes. if you read the whole series you allmost end up liking the guy. american psycho deserved higher on the list.
63. Joe - February 10th, 2008 at 11:10 am
I think Joshua should be on here. He’s one messed up child.
64. puddingpuppet - February 10th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I’d have to say that Anton Chigurh from No Country for Old Men should have gotten the top spot. He was spot-on psycho.
65. swampsnake - February 10th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
agreeing with brotherman about falling down . there’s when you feel fear when someone just snaps,also saw posted rutger hower in the original hitcher…then again any movie where he plays a psycho which there are quite a few
66. Slammerworm - February 10th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Francis Dolarhyde from ‘Manhunter’ (1986). Helluva presence, especially when he shoots that guy on the lawn like he was waving away an irksome fly.
67. Yondofan12 - February 10th, 2008 at 6:01 pm
The Cable Guy is creepier than any of these
68. Sandra - February 10th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Ok, so I watched American Psycho tonite for the firt time. My boyfriend brought it home since i asked about it. Wow. That was just totally psycho(for lack of a better word.) But now I’m confused about the ending. Did he really kill those people or was it all in his head, or what? I’ll watch it again tomorrow and hopefully i can get it.
69. Q - February 10th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
The Good Son is just a remake of the truly messed up child-psycho movie The Bad Seed.
70. WildGrits - February 10th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
My vote for Black Male Psycho:
Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris in the movie Training Day.
Maybe not a horror movie but he scared the hell out of me.
My vote for Female Psycho:
Bette Davis as Baby Jane Hudson in What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?
Her lipstick alone scared me.
My vote for Hottest Psycho:
Johnny Depp as Benjamin Barker/Sweeney Todd in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Anyone who kills Borat is A #1 in my book.
71. stormy617 - February 10th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
I think that Kurt Russell was pretty good in Death Proof.
And Silence of the Lambs was a really good movie Hanibal Lector was scary as hell.
“I’m having an old friend for dinner” that line is just classic!!
72. Logick Bomb - February 11th, 2008 at 4:12 am
great call on american psycho.
momento? the fact that he’s been killing for years and has NO IDEA makes him a bit noteworthy, since the movie never fully puts forth that he’s fully and completely insane and evil.
73. Mystern - February 11th, 2008 at 6:46 am
I’ve never seen any of these. Seriously. Of course due to my parents my cinema knowledge is seriously lacking.
74. copperdragon - February 11th, 2008 at 7:27 am
Mom: I’m just using this list as an example. Go back and look at all the other “people” lists, and you’ll start to see what I’m getting at. It’s not horribly bad, yet, but I thought it should be addressed. Interesting that there’s no comment from jamie.
75. krycek - February 11th, 2008 at 8:37 am
32.John-Word! “Whores don’t get a second chance.”
I was happy to see that Night of the Hunter was on the list. I would contend that Mitchum’s version of Max Cady was scarier than De Niro’s. The scene where Cady is attacked by the hired thugs in the original was frightening to me.
76. Celeste - February 11th, 2008 at 9:11 am
Macaulay Culkin also played a fantastic Psychopath in the movie Party Monster… creepy.
77. evan - February 11th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Michael Douglas Falling down???
78. Pigface - February 11th, 2008 at 9:38 am
good list, De Niro’s accent alone is creepy in cape fear. Also Alex from a clockwork orange and Bill Paxton’s character from frailty are two of my favorites
79. akKris - February 11th, 2008 at 9:47 am
No one has mentioned the guy from Seven. He’s only on screen the last of the movie, but we see the results of his work throught the whole movie. Scary!!
80. jakob - February 11th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
i think alex delarge from clockwork orange should be on this list…im kinda disappointed he isn’t
81. amanda - February 11th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
I agree with Kevin Spacey in Se7en! Kevin Spacey is one of my favorites, he is really underrated!
82. Che - February 12th, 2008 at 11:31 am
Peter Lorre in “M” ?
83. DiscHuker - February 12th, 2008 at 11:40 am
akkris: excellent suggestion. i had forgotten about him. when somebody is smart, rational and as the movie says “methodical, patient and a total nut bag” you’ve got the makings for a truly disturbed man.
84. Lasse - February 13th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Where is Amon Goeth from Schindlers List?
85. Egg - February 13th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Slammerworm: isn’t Dolarhyde from Red Dragon of the Hannibal series?
86. Borg - February 13th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Lyrebyrd: Good call on Dennis Hopper as Frank Booth. I forgot about him but he would be #1 in my book. That was the scariest performance I’d ever seen.
“Don’t you fucking look at me!”
“Mommy, mommy, baby wants to fuck!”
What a psychopath.
87. rich - February 14th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
Great list, as usual. You get people talking. that’s always a good thing. Another vote for Se7en. A true psycho believes in what he is doing. Kevin spacey was perfect. Also Tyler Durden. In falling down, Michael Douglas wasn’t psycho through the whole movie. he was fed up with being walked on, and lashed out.
88. jrjb - February 19th, 2008 at 2:37 am
Dennis Hopper was crazy as hell in Blue Velvet, so I agree with Borg and Lyrebyrd. Fuck That shit - PABST BLUE RIBBON or
I’ll fuck anything that moves!
Where’s Charlize Theron? She always seems to make my lists but like Hopper, I was truly freaked out by that character in Monster (though the real person was even scarier).
Andy Robinson who played Scorpio in Dirty Harry was a friggin lunatic too - paying some dude to kick his ass. And his screeching I got rights! While Harry was stepping on his gunshot wounded leg.
89. Sarah - February 20th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Love the list! I would have included the woman from Misery, but this is great nonetheless.
I love American Psycho and it cemented my love for Christian Bale a long time ago. But I will say that I don’t think that is was meant as a satire or gorey comedy (I forget the poster and don’t feel like scrolling up now, sorry). I think it was meant to show that even the most sane people, who appear sane to everyone around them, can be insane on the inside. Because he looked so perfect and had the perfect job and (up until a certain point) said all the perfect things, everyone assumed him to be perfectly upstanding.
90. Ernie - February 23rd, 2008 at 7:17 am
How about Colm Feore on “The Storm of the Century”? or Mark Wahlberg in “Fear”?
91. Sue - March 10th, 2008 at 11:56 pm
I don’t understand what it is about No Country For Old Men,I’ve been trying to watch it for three days and I’m still struggling to finish it.Granted,Javier portrayed the character excellently,but the movie is downright boring.
92. dtidew - March 15th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
“Bates” from Psycho should definately be on the list, along with “leatherface” if he is considered a psychopath (and not just a maniac) and the roomate from Single White Female
93. packerinar - March 18th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
I like the comments, some very good suggestions - I’d like to throw in for Sergi Lopez’s Captain Vidal in Pan’s Labyrinth (The Labyrinth of the Faun). I believe toward the end of the movie he sees how damaged he’s become, and doesn’t care or change a bit.
Red flag moment: beating an innocent man to death and shooting the man’s father immediately afterward; then after finding exonerating evidence in the old man’s satchel, turning to his aide to say “perhaps this will teach you to next time conduct a proper search.” I’m fairly immune to movies these days, but this film got to me, and that scene was actually shocking.
94. J.R. - May 25th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
This list sucks.
95. rushfan - June 8th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
christian bale is a god