The Joker The Dark Knight (2008)
The Psycho: An enigma wrapped in a mystery encased in a lie, nobody really knows anything about The Joker (Heath Ledger), a deformed killer who has designs to bring down Gotham’s Dark Knight.
Creepiest Act: The Joker releases a video he’s shot of kidnap victim (and faux Batman) Brian (Andy Luther).
Which includes that immortal bellow: “LOOK AT ME!”
Annie Wilkes Misery (1990)
The Psycho: The very definition of ‘fanatic’, Annie makes Take That and One Direction fans look positively restrained.
When she discovers her favourite author in a car wreck, she saves him – then keeps him locked up in her home.
Creepiest Act: When Paul Sheldon (James Caan) kills off her favourite character, Annie flips out and comes close to smashing a table over his head.
Which is only the beginning.
Jack Torrance The Shining (1980)
The Psycho: A writer (which pretty much says it all).
Jack loses his marbles when he agrees to take care of the Overlook Hotel with his family over winter.
Creepiest Act: For hours we’ve watched Jack clacking away at his typewriter.
Then, finally, we discover what he’s been writing…
John Doe Se7en (1995)
The Psycho: A serial killer obsessed with the seven deadly sins, John Doe (Kevin Spacey) uses them as inspiration for his sick killings.
Creepiest Act: Of all the sins, ‘Sloth’ is the scariest – Doe lashes a druggie child molester to a bed and starves him until the point of death, resulting in one of the biggest jump shocks in cinema.
But the creepiest? Probably lust. If you've seen the film, you'll know why. If that scene had been filmed instead of described, Se7en would probably still be banned today.
Roark Junior Sin City (2005)
The Psycho: Nicknamed The Yellow Bastard because that’s exactly what he is.
Roark Junior gets his kicks killing children. Which puts him firmly in ‘nasty piece of work’ territory.
Creepiest Act: After kidnapping former victim Nancy (Jessica Alba), Junior gets the whip out…
Billy Black Christmas (1974)
The Psycho: An attic-dwelling loner who resides in a Canada sorority house.
Gets his jollies by taunting the sisters with phone calls – then butchers them one by one.
Creepiest Act: Phone calls aside, the moment when ‘Billy’ peers through the crack in a door is supremely chilling – especially as that’s the only clear shot we ever get of him.
Leatherface The Texas Chain Saw Massacre (1974)
The Psycho: A chainsaw-wielding nut living out in the wilds of Texas. Particularly likes wearing the torn-off faces of his victims.
We blame the parents.
Creepiest Act: Forcing victim Sally (Marilyn Burns) to attend dinner with his family.
Then wheeling out granddad…
Colonel Kurtz Apocalypse Now (1979)
The Psycho: Dwelling in the Cambodian jungle, Kurtz (Marlon Brando) was turned insane by the war and now lords over a Cambodian community, killing at whim.
Creepiest Act: Attacked by Willard (Martin Sheen), Kurtz lies dying and whispers “The horror… the horror…”
Norman Bates Psycho (1960)
The Psycho: Total mummy’s boy. Runs the Bates Motel.
Likes to dress up in women’s clothing and kill young women.
Creepiest Act: Appearing as a blurry, wig-wearing shadow through a shower curtain.
Then raising a hand to reveal a knife.
Hannibal Lecter The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
The Psycho: A decorated doctor whose love for human flesh has landed him in the loony bin.
Creepiest Act: “I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.”
Lecter attempts to shock impressionable young Clarice Starling with the details of a particularly tasty dinner.
