There’s something truly disturbing about evil filmic characters that are even remotely possible. Sure, most of us have had the bejesus scared out of us by the likes of Freddy Kruger, Jason Voorhees and Pinhead but deep down inside we knew it was all pretend. Every so often Hollywood screenwriters look for inspiration in the strange and disturbing world of psychopaths with devastating and trauma inducing outcomes.

We have compiled our top ten most memorable movie psychopaths with chilling results. We honour the deliciously evil characters that have terrified their way into the hearts of movie goers and are responsible for many a sleepless night. Watch at your own peril.

10. Patrick Bateman from American Psycho
Perhaps the most egocentric psycho ever put to film this was the movie that made many of us take notice of Mr. Bale, little did we know that his deranged tendencies were not limited to the silver screen.


9. Jack Torrence from The Shining
No one does insane quite like Stephen King, never has procrastination been so lethal.



8. Alex Forrest from Fatal Attraction
The greatest endorsement for monogamy on film.



7. Max Cady from Cape Fear
De Niro has a long history of psychopaths but we chose Cady over Travis Bickle for his charmingly deadly ways.



6. Annie Wilkes from Misery
She certainly loves her romance fiction.



5. The Joker from The Dark Knight
Batman villains have come a long way but none more psychotically terrifying than Ledger’s interpretation of the mythic character.




4. Alex from A Clockwork Orange
Sure he’s a menace to society, but he makes it look so cool.



3. Anton Chigurh from No Country for Old Men
The haircut should have given it away immediately. No sane man would pay money for that do.



2. Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs
He likes to eat people, enough said.



1. Norman Bates from Psycho
Movie psychopaths don’t get any more memorable than this.