10 Best Horror Movie Characters

The 10 best horror movie characters are a unique breed. They come from all walks of life; some are human beings, some were human beings and some were never human to begin with. Horror movies became a sought-after genre after George Romero's “Night of the Living Dead” in 1968. Although some fans think that the genre is waning, guys like Rob Zombie and Eli Roth say it is just getting started!

1. The Shape (Michael Myers), “Halloween.” “The Shape” in the original “Halloween” movie was terrifying, and is one of the best horror movie characters in the genre. Just seeing him walking down the street in the daylight was creepy.
2. Jason Voorhees, “Friday the 13th, Part 2.” Jason's debut was, of course, in “Friday the 13th Part 2”. This great horror movie character stalked and killed on the big screen. Two things stood out in that film: we see his face for the first time and that frightening potato sack mask.
3. Freddy Krueger, “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” The child murderer from Elm Street with the clawed glove, Freddy receives his nod as one of best horror movie villains because he finds and kills you in your dreams! Remember, don't fall asleep!
4. Leatherface, “Texas Chainsaw Massacre.” The Leatherface character was inspired by true life killer Ed Gein. Leatherface tore through victims with brute strength and his trusty chainsaw. He was a dominant force and one of the best characters to be featured in a horror movie.
5. Pinhead, “Hellraiser.” Pinhead was one of most cerebral killers in horror. A tactician with a equally scary posse that backed him up, he became a force to be reckoned with and is a very memorable one of the best horror movie characters.
6. The Tall Man, “Phantasm.” This undertaker released hell upon people in the form of zombie dwarfs. The movie “Phantasm” was also known for the silver sphere that killed victims after following them around corners.
7. Carrie White, “Carrie.” Carrie White really didn't want to be a killer; her mother and classmates were much more evil than Carrie. She literally blew the town apart with her kinetic abilities after a prank by fellow classmates pushed her over the edge.
8. Norman Bates, “Psycho.” Another film based on killer Ed Gein, “Psycho” did for showers what “Jaws” did for the beach. Norman Bates ran the Bates Motel in Fairvale, and runs into a woman by the name of Marion Crane who has embezzled money from her former boss. Bates is told to do various things by his unseen mother who is revealed later to be dead. Norman takes on her qualities and begins his killing spree.
9. Jack Torrance, “The Shining.” Jack Torrance is one of the craziest killers in horror, and one of the best horror movie characters on the big screen. He takes his family to the Overlook Hotel (Stanley Hotel) for an interview for winter caretaker. He figures the solitude of the hotel will give him time to write. He begins to go slowly insane about the same time his son's ESP abilities start to increase, leading to a cat and mouse game of death. Stephen King wrote the book, so you can bet crazy situations will occur.
10. Laurie Strode, “Halloween.” With the list full of evil villains, we have a surprise name at number ten. Laurie Strode, heroine of the “Halloween” franchise, gets this spot. She has battled her “brother” for years, and without her, there would be no reason to care about Michael Myers. She has gone above and beyond expectations when trying to stop Michael, and for that she gets recognized as a quintessential horror movie character.