Blumhouse Productions has helped create some of the best modern horror films. One of his recent creations, The black phone, is another winner, with the praise mostly going to Ethan Hawke’s terrifying performance as the antagonist.
A surprise it’s not since Blumhouse Productions has produced other horror villains that have left their marks on screen. They were memorable for showing horrific actions against innocent people, releasing powerful energy and using it to steal a scene that will visit audiences in their nightmares.
The Man – Hush (2016)
silence was a home invasion thriller film directed by Mike Flanagan. The film depicts a deaf writer pursued by a killer who wants nothing more than to break into her secluded home, and she can’t do anything to stop it.
Known only as “The Man”, this antagonist is horrifying due to his antipathy and sadism. He’s dedicated to the cat and mouse game he created and there’s no point with him as he makes his target a prisoner in his own house by limiting his options more than they really are. were already. He is a cunning predator who makes every moment more tense than the last with the way he can stop any escape attempt.
Josef/Aaron – The Creep Franchise (2014 – )
Wild and terrifying experiences are guaranteed in this series of found horror footage that involves an enigmatic and bumbling serial killer who always returns with a new name and a new victim who documents his descent into madness.
It’s easy to feel sympathy for “Josef”, a terminally ill man who wants to make a video for his unborn son. But his darker side comes out with his constant manipulation and play with his victim’s sympathy. With this he was given the power, which he still possesses in the intense sequel where there is a different dynamic displayed between predator and prey and he is now nicknamed “Aaron”. He’s more outspoken about who he is, but still creepy.
The Grabber – The Black Telephone (2022)
Based on the 2004 short story by Joe Hill, this supernatural slasher centers on a boy kidnapped by a serial killer known as “The Grabber”, a mysterious man who lures his young victims with his charm before capturing them.
While there have been similar villains in the past, Ethan Hawke’s unsettling performance made this character stand out. He does this by horribly portraying each of his moods with an unbalanced nature. You never know how he’ll interact with his victims – he’ll show sympathy one moment before letting out laughter or going into a fit of rage the next. Either way, he’s an expressive villain, even if he hides behind his masks.
Adrian Griffin – The Invisible Man (2020)
This modern remake of a Universal classic features a woman trying to rebuild her life after leaving her abusive partner. But that’s easier said than done when it’s like an unseen yet familiar presence is stalking her.
Adrian Griffin uses technology to become the titular antagonist in an attempt to regain control. Even without a visible screen presence, his eerie energy is still there for all to witness. With the film’s themes revolving around abuse affecting someone’s mental state, Adrian is a scary villain because he’s as smart as he is despicable. His need for control is accompanied by more sinister intentions with the way he makes his ex feel like she’s going crazy after his “death”.
The Grandparents – The Visit (2015)
Visit is a found footage film documenting siblings visiting their grandparents for the first time. The results are a week of disturbing antics that continue to escalate each day.
The elderly couple in the film are more than a little eccentric and their bizarre behavior and creepy ways create strong tension throughout, written off as allegedly a form of Alzheimer’s. Audiences are also scared of Nana and Pop Pop’s tantrums and boundary crossings and, as this is a M. Night Shyamalan film, there is of course a twist as to who they are. It’s a revelation that kicks the already uncomfortable viewing up a notch.
Sue Ann “Ma” Ellington – Ma (2019)
A group of teenagers befriend a lonely woman who seems cool at first glance. It turns out, however, that his hip attitude hides something more vindictive. The film may have flaws, but Octavia Spencer’s lopsided and entertaining performance overpowers them.
The thoughtful revenge story makes the troubled woman playful, if not slightly awkward, with how she relives her youth with the teenagers. But she ends up falling into the vengeful murderer that she is. What makes Ma a good villain are the justifiable motives behind her heinous actions. While a cruel high school prank still torments her, she can be seen as a likeable character. The layer added to it gives more reason for the carnage.
The Butcher of Blissfield – Freaky (2020)
In this fun horror twist awful friday a teenage girl becomes the latest target of a local serial killer. Unbeknownst to either of them, the ancient dagger he uses as his weapon of choice leads to their bodies being swapped.
Considering this movie is also an homage to classic slasher movies, it’s no surprise that The Butcher of Blissfield has a Michael Myers/Jason Voorhees style to his kills. Whatever form it takes, it’s an ingenious killing machine, quiet yet deadly and creative with its attacks. He does all of this with no remorse and with more sadistic pleasure and the body swapping does little to stop him. He uses his new form to his advantage by posing as an innocent bystander or seductive bait.
Michael Myers – The Halloween Franchise (2018 – )
The recent recovery of Halloween franchise welcomed fans old and new. In this iteration, there is an exploration of Jamie Lee Curtis’ Laurie Strode. Audiences see how she fared as the one who walked away from Michael Myers. The film also shows how the babysitter killer has been waiting 40 years to strike again.
The iconic horror villain still strikes fear with his quiet intensity and the haunting portrayal is reminiscent of what made him a household name in the first place. Myers is relentless and unstoppable in his simple yet terrifying form as he manages to evade death like the boogeyman he is. He is the embodiment of evil that will not rest until he finishes what he started in 1978.
The Armitage Family – Get Out (2017)
Jordan Peele’s directorial debut tells the story of Chris Washington, a black man who meets his white girlfriend’s parents for the first time. During the visit, however, he discovers many skeletons in the family closet.
The Armitages, at first glance, appear to be a well-rounded and well-meaning family. Their only fault is that they come a little too strong with their liberal program. Peele’s commentary on racism creates some chilling scenes, yet it’s also brilliant. The Armitages actually kidnapped black people to have their bodies house the consciousness of wealthy white people. These villains take over their host bodies as the victims lay helpless in the “Sunken Place”.
The Tethered – Us (2019)
Sinister lookalikes have left their underground home to take the place of their counterpart in another disturbing Jordan Peele film. We scared the audience out of their thoughts due to the terrifyingness of the Tethered. On the other hand, these villains came with justifiable motives.
The Tethered wish to live their own lives after being bonded to those who were privileged to live above. But that doesn’t make what they do with the originals any less terrifying when they hunt them down. Much like what Peele did with get out and its themes of racism, We has a lot to say about class warfare with how the Tethered come together to master their double. And in some cases, they take back the life that was stolen from them.
