11 most unforgettable horror movie villains of 2024

This year in horror, many unforgettable villains emerged, each more twisted, terrifying, and complex than the last. These antagonists captivated and horrified audiences in ways that were impossible to forget. Some were grotesque and otherworldly, while others were disturbingly human, but all of them remain unforgettable.

In this list, we explore the most compelling horror villains of 2024, examining what makes them so terrifying and why they’ve earned a lasting place in the realm of cinematic terror.

Art the Clown from Terrifier 3

Let's start off with Art the Clown's unsettling appearance. From his exaggerated features to his bloodstained clown costume, he looks like something from a nightmare. His silent nature, brutal killing methods, and lack of motive for killing also make him truly horrifying. He's not considered by many to be one of the scariest horror movie villains for no reason!

Abigail from Abigail

Give all the awards to Alisha Weir because her performance as a bloodthirsty vamp was outstanding! Abigail might appear on the outside to be an innocent 12-year-old girl who enjoys ballet, but she's actually a powerful, centuries-old vampire with superhuman strength who gets a kick out of prolonging her victims' suffering. She's incredibly manipulative, and she takes pleasure in making her victims participate in a deadly game where they're chased before she brutally murders them one by one.

Death Angels from A Quiet Place: Day One

The alien creatures from A Quiet Place: Day One, also commonly referred to as Death Angels, are really creepy because of their quick speed and heightened sense of hearing. If you make even the slightest sound, they will suddenly appear and begin tearing you to shreds. Imagine they were real. Would you survive? Of course, their appearance is just as disturbing with their massive size and sharp teeth. They're locked in once they set sights on their prey, and there's no stopping them.

Smile entity from Smile 2

Before we even get into the actual appearance of the Smile entity, which is creepy in itself, the way it takes on various forms is just as disturbing. After the demonic entity captures its next victim, it begins preying on their mind, slowly driving them to madness. The victim starts experiencing terrifying hallucinations of either people they know or strangers with wide, unnatural smiles. This is the Smile entity shape-shifting to take on the appearance of others.

After being completely driven to insanity, the victim is then compelled to commit an act of violence, often leading to their own deaths or passing the curse to others. It's a vicious, never-ending cycle, and no one has a definite answer on how to break it. It just keeps collecting more and more victims.

Now, let's talk about the Smile entity's actual appearance. It's this tall, really grotesque red humanoid creature with multiple mouths that usually reveals itself to its victims once they have fully given in to the curse's destructive power. It's definitely not something you want to encounter!

Cooper from Trap

It's Cooper's unpredictable and manipulative nature that makes him an iconic horror movie villain. He doesn't seem to have a motive. He just kills to kill, making him an even more chilling and memorable antagonist. He's quick on his feet and is able to deceive others to get his way. Even when placed in seemingly impossible situations, such as being trapped at a music concert, he's able to find a way to control everything around him.

But what really makes him terrifying is his ability to switch from being calm and composed to explosively violent in an instant. It's also disturbing how he's able to maintain the outward appearance of being a loving and responsible parent while secretly engaging in heinous criminal activities. Overall, Cooper is hands down one of this year's most compelling antagonists.

Johnny from In a Violent Nature

Move out of the way, Jason Voorhees and Ghostface! There's a new slasher villain in town, and he's even more frightening. After a group of teens steal his locket, a vengeful spirit named Johnny awakens from his grave to hunt them down. That locket means a lot to Johnny, and he's willing to murder anyone who gets in his way of retrieving it. I'm talking about really bloody and gruesome murders.

Xenomorphs from Alien: Romulus

Before there were Death Angels, there were Xenomorphs, and these aliens remain one of the most iconic and terrifying extraterrestrial creatures in cinema. In Alien: Romulus, these hostile monsters terrorize a young crew of space colonists. They're highly intelligent, fast, relentless, and able to withstand attacks that would kill most creatures. There seems to be no safe way to fight them. Each encounter with a Xenomorph is a high-risk event, making them one of the most difficult-to-defeat creatures in horror history.

Longlegs from Longlegs

Remember before Longlegs came out, the infamous serial killer wasn't shown in any trailer or other promotional material? People really wanted to see what Longlegs looked like, including me. After finally watching the horror film, I now understand why the movie's creative team decided to keep how he looked hidden.

His disturbing appearance will throw you off. His face is pale and lumpy, and he's covered in heavy white makeup. Longlegs also has long, unnatural-looking fingers. Overall, he has this unsettling presence and aura, making him one of the creepiest villains ever.

Mr. Reed from Heretic

Mr. Reed may seem like a friendly older man, but he has sinister intentions. This is something Sister Barnes and Sister Paxton find out shortly after entering his home. They thought they were going to have an innocent discussion about religion while eating blueberry pie, but Mr. Reed had something else planned for them. He forced them to participate in his twisted psychological game. While Mr. Reed might not look physically creepy, his manipulative ways and unhinged behavior make him very disturbing.

Here are two more unforgettable horror movie villains of this year:

• The Lady (Strange Darling) - A ruthless female serial killer with a twisted rationale for murdering people.
• Solange (The Front Room) - A racist and mentally ill woman who brings chaos into her stepson and his wife's lives.