If I'm being brutally honest I find the inner workings of serial killers fascinating. I find delving into the mind of real life's most brutal killers enthralling, but analysing the lives of fictional killers is another step up. Serial killers have been the centrepiece for many films over the years, and so I thought I would count down the ten greatest characters that create gripping and tense plots by simply murdering a great number of people. A warning that there may be some spoilers present in this article, so don't complain you haven't been told.
#10 Francis Dolarhyde (Red Dragon)
A fucked up man from the pretty fucked up 'Red Dragon' novel that began literature's obsession with the evil Dr. Hannibal Lecter; but more on him later. Francis Dolarhyde was a character inspired by the real life 'BTK Killer', who if you research will discover did some unspeakable atrocities to a great number of victims. For Dolarhyde to be worse than a man described as 'Bind. Torture. Kill' he has to have done some disturbing things on camera. In actual fact Dolarhyde, or 'The Tooth Fairy' as he's commonly known, is most notable for owning a set of razor sharp false teeth that he uses to bite into his victims after shooting them when they're asleep, sometimes even propping up a few corpses to watch him whilst he eats them alive. Obviously he does this at nighttime, hence why he's known as 'The Tooth Fairy'.
The motive for these actions is that Dolarhyde has an alternate personality, which he calls 'The Great Red Dragon'. Dolarhyde lifted this idea from a William Blake painting he saw, and since that day has been killing innocent people to become more like 'The Red Dragon' he idolises. Dolarhyde's most famous portrayal comes from the 2002 film 'Red Dragon', in which he was portrayed by Ralph Fiennes. The film itself wasn't too bad, but was highlighted by Fiennes' portrayal of this complex madman. Fiennes was fucking scary as Dolarhyde, and reminded me of a certain Anthony Hopkins performance that we will get to later on.
#9 Mike McKay (Death Proof)
A typical Quentin Tarantino creation, so you instantly know he's not going to be anything other than a homicidal maniac. 'Stuntman Mike' originates from the 'Death Proof' film that I personally feel deserved a lot more credit than it received by critics, who seemed to miss the point of the film entirely. The idea of a stunt driver who murders innocent women for pleasure is an original concept that warrants a lot of praise in my opinion, especially when the leading antagonist is integrated as excellently as Tarantino integrates Mike in this said film. 'Stuntman Mike' commonly stalks women, taking them for a ride in his stunt car that he describes as "100% death proof". Unfortunately the victims aren't aware that this rule only applies to his seat, and before long the young women end up going through the windscreen. Getting pleasure from killing young women isn't exactly anything revolutionary, but Kurt Russell's portrayal in the 2007 film makes up for this with an obscure performance that perfectly encapsulates any guy with a weird fetish. That's not to say that 'Stuntman Mike' is good at his work; in fact he ends up being beaten to death by some potential victims. So a quick end to a pretty gruesome life story.
#8 George Harvey (The Lovely Bones)
The rapist and murderer of protagonist Susie Salmon and many other young girls in the 2002 novel and 2009 film 'The Lovely Bones'. On the outside George is a kind man who builds dollhouses for a living, but on the inside he's a twisted man who lures young girls into underground bunkers so he can stab them with a knife. The girls then all end up at the same spot in heaven for some reason, but that's irrelevant to the character in question. What is relevant to George's character is the way he dies, which I do think is very bizarre. George dies when a random icicle falls on his head after trying to lure another girl into his home. He subsequently falls over and breaks ALL the bones in his body, dying a cold and painful death. I'm not quite sure why nobody bothered to help him, or how this ridiculous scenario ever came about, but like many things in the film, this critical element is never explained properly.
But the thing that really confused me about this very powerful character is how the film ends up making him seem like the good guy even though he enjoys murdering girls. The film essentially suggests that by murdering Susie Salmon, this man helps to cement the relationships in Susie's dysfunctional family, and also allow Susie to end up in a place of eternal happiness. At no point does the viewer ever get a sense of the negative effects that transpire from the loss of life, and so for what must be the first time I can say that a child molester has to be viewed as the good guy in a very twisted film. Why the fuck would director Peter Jackson aim to ruin an evil character like this by celebrating the fact that he's a murdering bastard?
#7 Dexter Morgan (Dexter)
The titular antihero from a series of books by author Jeff Lindsay, but most famous for appearing in the highly successful US TV show in which actor Michael C. Hall has received Golden Globe awards for his portrayal of this serial killer. Dexter is a forensic analyst who works at the Miami Police Department, spending the odd evening killing strangers that have broken the law, which must make suicide a very real option in this character's future. Like the majority of serial killers Dexter has a mantra he sticks too, but unlike the majority of serial killers Dexter has to have conclusive evidence that the target is guilty of a crime before murdering them and disposing of the evidence, with all remains of his involvement being destroyed.
Dexter is one of the more prolific killers on this list, with his death count thought to be over a hundred victims. Despite this you still end up treating the character like an antihero, and Hall's extraordinary performance makes Dexter a despicable character with a borderline pleasant persona. This diverse characterisation becomes an integral part of the plot, creating a killer so instantly likable, yet repulsive at the same time. The character has had such an effect on American society that there has even been multiple murder cases where Dexter is thought to have been the inspiration. That's a rather dark truth to compliment a character on, but it's also a testament to the power that this fictional creation has over its audience.
#6 Patrick Bateman (American Psycho)
The narrator and antihero of the graphic 'American Psycho'. The role of Bateman has become culturally iconic in recent years thanks to the performance of a young Christian Bale, who at that time was not mumbling his way through a trilogy of Batman films. However the very similarly named Bateman also lives a similar double life to that of Batman, only that Batman isn't really a homicidal maniac in his spare time; but that's debatable. In his everyday life Patrick Bateman is an investment banker obsessed with health and cleanliness, only becoming a serial killer to fulfill his fantasy of becoming the most lethal killer in history. In the films Bateman isn't that far off of that title, and especially loves picking on his colleagues, the homeless and prostitutes. Whether this character is a satirical symbol of 1980's greed and culture is debatable, but under this sophisticated persona is a character instantly relateable, making the brutal murders under his name all the more shocking.
The novel in which the same named film is based off was so disturbing that it was actually banned in Canada and Germany, and that's not surprising considering that Bateman enjoys eating and having sex with his victims after brutally slaying them. The actual character is taken to a whole new level when you consider that the only way we can try and understand the mind of this sadistic man is through only his words, and so whilst we can see the trail of destruction he creates, we as a viewer still cannot comprehend what goes on inside that twisted mind. That for me is the most disturbing thing about this character, becoming just as mysterious even after the credits have started to roll. As a character to analyse Bateman is one of the most fascinating in film, but his actions as a notorious serial killer are the ones that will be remembered.
#5 Leatherface (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
Undoubtedly the most iconic member of the serial killing family that run havoc in 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre'. Thanks to his legendary mask and chainsaw this rather dull character has managed to kill and eat his way into cinema history, despite only disposing of one person in his original outing. Thanks to 'Leatherface' and his appearance in a small budget film viewers now have a whole slasher genre to thank this inspirational creation for. Admittedly his appearances in the more recent entrants in the franchise have not given this guy's public image a boost, but there's no denying his iconic heritage, which is the main reason why he ranks as my top horror serial killer.
'Leatherface' is often considered to be the main antagonist of 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre' films, and although not the head of his murderous inbred family, is still present in all the films. In each entry in the franchise he takes the role of a pawn that doesn't speak, becoming a social outcast that has taken the lives of 30 fictional people, with the majority only happening because he's told to. The worst thing about the guy in my mind is that he doesn't really have a motive, only sawing limbs off people when his inbred family tell him to. The disturbing truth behind this creation is that the iconic leather face is made out of human skin, which is made worse by the fact that this feature is based off of the true story of serial killer Ed Gein, who wanted an item that would remind him of his mother. It isn't clear what Leatherface's motive is, but there's no doubt that the inspiration behind the character is actually more disturbing.
#4 Jame Gumb (Silence of the Lambs)
The antagonist, yet not the best known character from 'The Silence of the Lambs'. Gumb is known as 'Buffalo Bill' in the 1991 classic, being portrayed by the talented actor Ted Levine. The thing that separates Gumb from other serial killers is that he has an obsession with overweight women, skinning them alive to make a woman suit for himself as he believes he is transsexual. Due to not being mentally healthy Gumb is prevented from having the operation by the government and so takes the law into his own hands by trapping overweight women in a well where he leaves them to starve until their skin is loose enough to remove. I know, fucking disgusting. Eventually he's shot by Jodie Foster's character with the help of another man that might be making an appearance further down this list. Despite not being the best remembered character from the 1991 film, there is no denying that Gumb is one sick and twisted individual.
#3 John Doe (Se7en)
John Doe is the name given to a person whose identity is unknown, which really tells you a lot about this mysterious character from the gripping thriller 'Se7en'. He's not a character that's particularly frightening, but the heinous crimes this obscene man commits are disgusting to say the least. Doe, who was portrayed by Kevin Spacey, only makes his surprise entrance near the climax of the film, and so to become a legendary character when you only appear in a small portion of the film says a lot about Spacey's performance. It's a performance that I would certainly say was Spacey's all time best, and combine this with the superb script and excellent pacing and you have a powerful character that brings to life a very disturbing and graphic film.
However the thing that's most poignant about Doe's character is how cool and calm he is towards his heinous crimes. The intelligence of the serial killer creates an eery atmosphere that can only be achieved by watching a mastermind reveling in his dearly held motive to kill people. Doe subjects his victims to both physical and mental torture to reenact the seven deadly sins of Christianity that the character believes still apply in the modern world. Anyone who knows about these sins will know that they involve some harsh crimes, inspiring Doe to force people to eat themselves to death and mutilating corpses whilst they're having sex. Doe really is one of the most fucked up characters in cinema history, and I can only urge you to watch the thrilling conclusion of this well worked film to truly showcase what a disturbed and manipulative individual we're talking about here. It's one of the most suspenseful moments I've ever encountered, and will no doubt send shivers down your entire body.
#2 Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)
I've often stated that Anthony Hopkins' performance as the evil Dr. Hannibal Lecter is one of the greatest performances of all time. The extent that Hopkins makes his subject as believable as possible is just extraordinary to watch, allowing his character to become genuinely terrifying. Lecter is quite possibly the ultimate movie villain, which is an amazing feat considering that in reality the character is actually part of the supporting cast, and not the main antagonist of the plot. Over the years the iconic role of the evil doctor has been taken up by many inspiring actors that include such names as Brian Cox. Cox put in a good performance, but Lecter will always be remembered as a cultural icon thanks to a certain Anthony Hopkins. Never before has a conversation about a man eating his victims alive become so interesting and compelling, and that's thanks to Hopkins turning an ordinary character into a charismatic powerhouse. That calculated stare alone can easily haunt your dreams, and so it's no surprise that this role has become symbolic for the role of serial killers in film.
#1 Norman Bates (Psycho)
The number one spot on this list goes to the character that was made famous by the legendary Anthony Perkins performance, and certainly not the half-assed Vince Vaughan copycat in the remake that made a mockery out of this character. Norman Bates is a crazed killer obsessed with his mother throughout his life, even dressing up as her on the odd occasion. For this reason Bates enjoys stabbing women who threaten to take over from his mother as the dominant woman in his life. He sees these women as sinful, and so naturally rectifies this by stabbing them in the shower, or anywhere near the haunted Bates' Motel. The worst part of this story is that his mother isn't actually alive, having been murdered by Norman when she brought a man home with her, only leaving her mummified corpse in the basement to keep him company. An Oedipus complex taken to the extreme from a seemingly innocent lad that you would never believe could commit these atrocities.
Norman would go on to become an even more prolific serial killer in the various sequels, but it's Perkins' performance in the original classic that cements the character in the top spot. In my mind Perkins takes the role of a serial killer to another sinister level that none of the other creations on this list manage, taking a realistic approach that you could physically believe. Director Alfred Hitchcock took the role of an innocent boy next door and turned it into an evil human being, creating a revolutionary and disturbing character in a revolutionary and disturbing film. Perkins may have unfortunately died of AIDS in 1992, but the effects from this deranged psychopath on serial killers have shaped cinema to this very day.
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