The Omen
In Orphan, Esther seems like sweet little girl in desperate need of a family. But as her new step parents soon learn, Esther has a terrifying secret life and past, and tries to destroy their home and their lives through her murderous ways.
As Orphan is released on DVD and Blu Ray on November 30th, we thought we’d examine some of the other truly terrifying characters in horror films:
Chucky - Child's Play
When serial killer Charles Lee Ray transfers his soul into a doll, it’s clear this toy isn’t going to just want to play nice. Chucky goes on a murderous rampage and his victims never see it coming. After all, who would suspect a harmless doll?
Damien - The Omen
What would you do if you found out your son was the Antichrist? In The Omen, it becomes clear to Damien’s parents that there is something wrong when everyone connected to their son starts to die.
Although they try to purge his murderous ways, both his parents are also killed, leaving Damien to smile sinisterly into the camera at the end of the film.
The Candyman - The Candyman
After the release of this film, generations of people were too afraid to look in the mirror! Say his name five times, and the murderous Candyman with a hook for a hand will hunt you down, as Virginia Madsen’s character in the film discovers!
Freddy Kreuger - Nightmare on Elm Street
The petrifying fact about Freddy Kreuger is that there’s nowhere to hide, as he attacks you in your dreams. This serial child murderer torment Johnny Depp and friends in their sleep, but can also kill in the real world, making him virtually impossible to outrun.
Regan - The Exorcist
It’s hard to say what’s not scary about Regan in the Exorcist, her demonic possession leads her to spit green vomit, possess a priest, and killing another priest as he tries to save the young girl’s live. It’s no surprise that when the film was released some cinemas refused to show it.
Hannibal Lecter - Silence of the Lambs
Although Hannibal Lecter isn’t the serial killer the film is trying to track down, he steals the show with his charming and yet terrifying behaviour.
The character, a self confessed cannibal, shows no remorse killing and eating two policemen guarding him in prison, and takes great pleasure telling people when he wants to devour them.
Samara Morgan - The Ring
You’ll never look at your TV the same way again! The videotape which contains black and white images leads to an anonymous phone call for the viewer, warning that in seven days they will die. Sounds harmless?
When a murderous girl crawls from the television set to kill those who have watched it, it becomes clear to the victims that they should never have watched the tape...
Leatherface - The Texas Chainsaw Massacre
The second cannibal tale in our list, and even more terrifying than Silence of the Lambs. The film in which the terrifying murderer Leatherface and his family kill passers by using chainsaws and then eat them was deemed so terrifying it was banned across the world, including the U.K.
