A Top 10 of All Time Villains
written by Nickolas J. McKee
What lies in the dark waiting to scare us at night? Who could deceive us during a day leaving us only to question how we can be saved? Sure we have heroes to save the days from the darknesses of our world, but who are the villains we sometimes fear, hate or for dark romantics as myself — love? This is a countdown to my personal opinion of top 10 villains the world has ever seen!
10. Jack Daniel Edward “Jack” Torrance
The brilliance of Stephen King’s character Jack Torrance is no doubt one of the best main antagonists to be the shinning light of the movie. If there is one lesson to learn of Torrance is this: never get snowbound and locked with a writer suffering from severe cabin fever. In the classic novel and film “The Shinning” we see the evolution of a man undergoing severe psychosis. To make matters worse, you can get trapped in a Stanley Kubrick film for a total of 2h 26m and always find something new and questioning of horrific theories. Torrance is phenomenally played by Jack Nicholson (who by the way has a great portfolio of twisted personalities well played.) It sounds sweet of a father to caretake a place for a sweet winter vacation, right? Well, not in the Overlook Hotel of fair Colorado. True cinematic artists debate with true readers how Torrance is depicted. Interestingly enough, King had quite the challenge working with Kubrick to turn Torrance into one of the truest terrors of all time.
9. Gustavo Fring
Imagine your local KFC manager secretly running a tasty meth empire that isn’t the only business next door to you of your community. Gustavo Fring is the iconic machiavellian in the astonishing show “Breaking Bad.” Fring is well known for his calm and welcoming demeanor unto anyone who makes a first impression of him. If you dont work for him, sure, have some fresh hot chicken at Los Pollos Hermanos. However, if you’re like Bryan Cranston’s Walter White approaching him to disclose an unfortunate incident involving perfect product of meth — you best get ready for Fring’s dreadful gaze of a poker face. Whats interesting about Fring is the fact of how manipulating he can be of a businessman in plain sight. An average citizen would probably never question if he had a bad bone in his body. Fring is wise enough never to get his own hands dirty, but (spoiler alert!) has an unfortunate demise fancying his way into death. A true villain to me suspects the inevitable or is taken surprised by a wise action of his worthy opponent.
8. Count Dracula
True horror writers must submit allegiance to the unstoppable force of Bram Stoker’s Count Dracula or else they will never have a shot at the Bram Stoker Award itself! Developed from humble Irish patronage, the legend of Count Dracula spans from numerous artistic adaptions and will always be an entertaining phenomena. What I find remarkable about the Father of all Bloodsuckers is the fact that every single time I see a new production or storyline of Dracula I’m never failed. From Gary Oldman’s portrayal of a dark soul to the hit Netflix stream “Castlevania”, I love and crave the human condition of a dark being fighting all the world for his lost love taken from him. True homage of Count Dracula is to the lost, but found art of a craft that is rarely seen such as the old time “Nosferatu: A Symphony of Horror.” Watching Nosferatu for the first I was dazzled by symbolic themes of modern time many people go half their lives not recognizing. What I love about Dracula is the fact that we don’t see old school performances like we used to, however every time a new adaptation is reborn of Dracula…I yearn more for blood and cherish every single drop.
7. Darth Vader
Years ago as a child, I remember my mom and dad dressing me up as Darth Vader for Halloween. We wen’t to a holiday event with other parents and children who were also dressed for fun as well. As we entered the event ahead us was another young child — but he was dressed as an adorable Jedi. When the Jedi looked behind him and saw me slowly walking towards him he RAN IN TERROR. Darth Vader is no doubt the epitome of black doom! What I love and will always respect of George Lucas as Vader’s sole creator is the fact that Vader has a deep antitheses that is willingly docile of a well crafted making. We never truly know sometimes why a person so evil can act the way they do. Why the sudden change of a pure name of saving grace to be damnation? If you’re a Star War’s fan you know and can debate Anakin Skywalker pretty damn well to the reasons of why he is who he is. The original Star Wars has so many complexed issues thanks to Vader that will always stir controversy of a saga itself. I call Vader like it is: one of the all time anti-heroes of galaxies.
6. He — Who — Shall— Not — Be — Named — Voldemort…
There, I said his name! Voldemort! (Stock gasps.) The Dark Lord is raging fuel of self-hatred and ambition to be all powerful. He definitely has a cauldron of his own dictator traits with a magical sleeve of tactics quite challenging for his opposing opponent Harry Potter. His roots run deep like all daddy issues do: the un-acceptance of how blood is born sometimes to trying not to seem inferior to all walks alike. There may be a little sympathy for the character of Voldemort in my opinion and one can argue rightfully so for the sake of goodness to triumph. As Dumbledore said to Harry, Voldemort was always a lost cause that couldn’t be saved. What I find dangerous and questing of a true villain is how they are raised against the expected opposition of their time. Maybe He-Who-Who-Must-Be-Named shouldn’t be named for the sake of things…maybe…maybe so? Or not. Hmm.
5. Bill
A true villain forces a hero to challenge their authority by facing the dirty hands appointed and hired by a charmer. Bill is quite the deadly charmer himself indeed. What man takes away a woman’s child leaving the mother in extreme sorrow? If you don’t know “Kill Bill” you better go watch it. The cult classic of Quentin Tarantino will always live forever including the ever so tranced soul Bill gracefully portrayed by the great David Carradine. Bill is a man of his own bitter feelings who is cleverly not seen halfway of a spectacle story which abides by the powerful law of complete solitude of ruling absence. Very old and wise of his time, Bill is a threat to the innate existence of a warrior fighting to save her own cub. No one likes to be caught in a situation of their own child being taken away from them; this itself is all time turmoil no one wishes. If you know true cinema you can dissect themes that will always and truly be thematic. We learn of Bill too is never to question an assassin and what they are capable of. The only thing you can do is find answers of your own of how they can possibly kill you.
4. The Terminator
One can argue The Terminator could be number one themself. When it comes to Science Fiction one must question what is possible with what is not. To be sent forward from time or back from time…it can be an extreme headache within itself. Lets face it too, who doesn't love a bad ass in leather? T-800 is an argumentative essence of its own time. The storyline of the franchise “The Terminator” is quite complex and unique of its own, its just plain simple. Simpley, termtastic. Its not like the 90’s as it should be nowadays and thinking back I remember a film maker at the California Institute of the Arts telling me we don’t make corny bad ass movies like we used to or should! Does this make sense? Arnold Schwarzenegger could be a skinny boy’s wet dream begging to be dominated (mind you, I heard this from someone who gave high praise of the body builder’s physique.) If you watched the original films of the franchise you must understand the innate fear of Sarah Connor. The fact that something so dangerous can protect you… will always be an innate question of what can truly save us all or destroy us. This is the worst contradiction and possible betrayal to fathom.
3. Scar
I’m just gonna say it — Scar is a fascist ass. Alas, rightfully so in his own twisted mindset. Unlike Voldemort’s goal for ethnic cleansing, Scar utilizes possible military might with a medieval wit unlike any voice heard in the forever “Lion King.” Not bad for an animated character so suave and pleasantly enjoyable. I encourage someperformers who intend to play villains to observe their own speech patterns to find forked tongues of persuasion. Scar is of course a lion, but talks like a snake that doesn’t have to bite yet— words alone have already made Adam and Eve take the first bite a long time ago. Jeremy Irons sing songs the graciousness of evil on a rise. Only to fall rightfully so, so this I bow my head in respect.
P.S. Its messed up to tell your own nephew he is the sole reason their father has died.
2. Joker
There is only one D.C. character I love: Joker. The great Heath Ledger’s portrayal of Joker is forever with us with an actor gone too sone. Whats fascinating about Joker is the comical storyline that will always captivate an audience to go ape-crazy yearning more and more! Let’s face it, this character has two Academy Awards technically outdoing a lot of characters of history not receiving the same amount of awards given to them. Putting on the makeup changes you forever and there is even a “film curse” or account of Jack Nicholson warning Ledger this role will change you forever. I was going to mention the possible influence of leathered killers in number 4’s Terminator, but now that I mentioned Joker, the societal fear of a maniac clown will always be the latest rage and…well…also a possible living nightmare to become ever so true. The fact that someone can let go of being too serious and have some fun can sometimes get the best of others.
1. Dr. Hannibal Lector
If all of our psychologists, pharmacists and therapists were like Hannibal, lets face it, half of us are screwed as dinner plates! Dr. Hannibal takes the gold as my all time villain. The fact alone that he can eat people and gain the nickname “Cannibal Hannibal” is an aptitude of what a complicit organism can do alone in the animal kingdom. With earlier films of the Thomas Harris universe getting massive applause and reception rightfully so, we can see a man who is capable of pushing one’s hot buttons with plausible ease ever so lucid and shivering. Hannibal is the reason why one must think ten times harder what they are going to say on a date with someone they dont know — because it could be possible danger! In the film “Hannibal” I loved the intensity of a damning dark romance. One of the last psychological films didn't get much a reception as the previous horrors, but it goes to show one is capable to do anything thanks to mere infatuation yearning to know and prologue the inevitable.
In Conclusion!
As we have lingered into the Darkness of Villainy, who do you love and/or despise? Who or what is your all time villain(s)?
