Hope you've had a good, productive week. My week has been busy but oh so very good. The first draft of SWEET JUSTICE is almost finished. Once that's done, it's time for major revisions and edits, but then it'll be headed to my editor. Yayayayay!
Today, in honor of Halloween this weekend, we're talking favorite fictional villains. You know those really, really bad people we love to hate. Even though we despise these people and what they stand for, they are an important and integral part of the story. Not only do they give the story conflict and excitement, villains also make the hero look even more heroic. What would Superman be without Lex Luthor? Sure, he's strong, got some great super powers and is a genuinely nice guy, but how would we know just how heroic and strong he is if he didn't have to battle Lex and his evil minions? Villains bring the excitement and angst. They give you someone to hate and as a result, provide you with someone to root for--the hero.
Over the centuries, fiction has brought us some evil, devious and just plain mean villains. Usually when I think of memorable fictional villains, I don't think of those evil soulless characters who kill people willy-nilly--Halloween's Michael Myers, Jason in the Friday the 13th movies or even the demons or the devil in the Exorcist. To me those people or entities aren't as much villains as they are simplistic killing machines, without conscience or the ability to reason. The villains I love to hate and find much more memorable are those who can reason. They know the difference between good and bad and for whatever reason, choose to be bad. Those kinds of villains I find fascinating. I love to know what makes them tick or what made them into the evil, twisted people they've become.
We won't limit the list to just books. There have been some uber creepy villains in movies and television that are just as memorable. Who are your top five favorite fictional villains? Do you have five that you can remember hating so strongly that you couldn't wait until they got their comeuppance?
Not in any particular order, here are my top five:
Hannibal Lecter from Silence of the Lambs (Yes, I know he's a serial killer and a cannibal, however, he's a psychiatrist who knows the difference between right and wrong and man oh man, he doesn't just choose to be bad, he chooses to be very bad!)
Jim Beckett from Lisa Gardner's The Perfect Husband (He's a cop--supposed to be one of the good guys, one of the guys you root for, not a mean, sadistic killer. Creepy, scary guy!)
George Foyette aka The Boston Reaper from Criminal Minds (Cunning, devious and so very creepy. He outsmarted and out-manipulated so many, and in the end, did something so dastardly evil that when he got his just deserts, I was standing the middle of the room, my hands fisted and wanting to get in a couple of punches myself.)
The villain from Karen Rose's Have You Seen Her (Mentioning the name would be a spoiler, but I love the surprise and sheer audacity of who this villain is and how Rose keeps you guessing. By the way, if you haven't read Karen Rose, I highly recommend her...she's absolutely incredible!)
Carol Janes, the villain in Linda Howard's Dream Man (I think the fact that he was so ordinary and unexpected, that when you see his evil, it's even more chilling.)
Okay, now it's your turn. And if you can't think of five, feel free to give fewer.
One random commenter will win a 'grab-bag' prize package filled with all sorts of goodies. I'll announce the winner tomorrow.
Hope everyone has a fabulously spook-tacular weekend! See you back here on Monday for Recommend Monday!
53 comments:
Since I try to avoid creepy TV, mine are all from books!
Any Karen Rose villain is a great one. She does some that you don't expect, others that you meet from the beginning but it doesn't matter when or how you meet them, man are they creepy!
I also have to give big time credit to Tess Gerritsen. All of her Rizzoli & Isles books have great villains.
Some others that write really great villains are JT Ellison and Allison Brennan.
Off to cower in a corner now! I hate scary things!
The Karen Rose villain is the one I was going to specifically mention. Comes to mind every time I think of a terrifying villian.
I have a couple Tess Gerritsen books in my TBR pile: I should break those out. Thanks for the reminder Aly.
Julie Garwood's Heartbreaker has a GREAT villian. Man on man.
I admit I have a hard time with villians simply because it seems hard for me to have them be "real". The creepiest villians to me are the ones that lead the normal lives: have a wife, kids, whatever and then BAM! They're a super freak.
My favorite villian is the character played by Robert Mitchem in the original Cape Fear movie -- Robert Mitchem was a great villian in a couple of other movies as well and he was really good at it! Creepy, sneaky, but you knew why he was that way. Chilling!!!
Oh I forgot about Garwood's series! You are right Ronlyn...nasty villain!
Christy I have to say your one of the best at creating nasty villains. All your bad guys are bad with a capital "B"! But the one that still leaves a bad taste in my mouth is Donald Rosemount. They don't get much worse than that.
I can't remember a lot of the villains names, but I know Lisa Jackson, Lisa Gardner and Iris Johanson are all really good at creating those nasty guys that get inside your head. Those are the ones that give me the creepy crawly feeling the most. The ones that get inside my head and run around like they own the place lol.
I'm with Aly I avoid creep TV/movies. It's odd that I like to read about murder and mayhem, but I don't like scary movies. Now action/murder movies okay, but horror flicks... I'm out! :)
I don't get to watch a lot of creepy TV or movies cause my hubby is a ninny and doesn't like that kind of stuff.
One show, though, that I really love is the Mentalist and the Son Of Sam villain is really creepy.
My all time favorite villain to hate would be Rosemount, he just reminded me of a slimy, creepy high pitched weirdo.
I agree with Christy on the Hannibal side of things, but I liked him best in "Hannibal" the movie. Really creepy.
In the Dee Davis books there is a traitor, I won't tell who because I want you ALL to read that series, I love that person as a villain too because it was so unexpected and they just led a normal life. Those are the creepiest to me.
And as lame as it sounds... Lord Voldemort from J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. We are Potter freaks in this house. My hubby is planning to be "sick" on Nov 20th so that we can go to the midnight showing of the next movie.
Happy Halloween everyone ;o)
Hope...did you know that the Pacific Sciene Center has a Harry Potter Exhibit?
My kid is begging me to take him. It'll be here for the next 3-ish months.
Well, I'm not much in to villan movies either but the ones that come to mind are from these movies but don't remember names: 1) The Chainsaw Massacre, 2) The Halloween movies, 3) Freddy, 4) Friday the 13th & 5) The Nightmare on Elm Street. Can't say I've seen these but I remember watching previews and they give me the creeps. All have villans in them and are appropriately creepy!
Last night I finished Annie Solomon's Two Lethal Lies. Man, what a twisted individual the villian in that book is!! Makes me shudder just to think of it!
Ronlyn - I didn't know that. We have been talking about a trip to Seattle for a while now, we might be coming sooner than later after I mention the exhibit.
Kris - That is on my Kindle waiting to be read! Wondering if I should wait and read it when the hubby is home next weekend - LOL!
I dont watch to much tv/movies anymore i would rather read a book nowdays but as a kid i would have to say:
1. Freddy Kruger
2. Hannibal
3. Texas Chainsaw Massacre
4. Halloween/ Michael Myers
5. Friday The 13th/ Jason
These would give me nightmares for days after watching them
Happy Halloeen Everyone!!
Hi Christy ,hi Everyone,
the villain who gives me the creeps just thinking of him is Hannibal Lector. There are scenes in this movie I could not stand to watch - although the movie is great.
As for books I agree that Donald Rosemount is a really great villain, because he is such a whimp and compensates his issues in a really horrific way.
Also very creepy is Theodore Glenn in Allison Brennans Killing Fear. He is a real sociopath with absolutely no conscience.
The villains of Karen Rose`s books are also great to hate, especially the female one in Nothing to fear.
Its the only female villain I know about.Are there others anyone know about and would like to recommend ?
Elke, Christy had a female villian that was pretty chilling.
Let me think: trying to think of other female villians...
the delete was me, I had a duplicate post for some reason. :-)
Brenda Novak had a female villian in "The Perfect Liar" too. She was nasty.
1. Christy Reece's CHARACTER in "Second Chance". I absolutely dispised that person.
2. Christy Reece's Rosemont in "Run To Me".
3. Lora Leigh's villian in "Hidden Desires"
4. Silence of the Lambs
5. Karen Rose's villian "Silent Scream".
Aly, I so agree about Karen Rose's villains. Every time I think she's created the creepiest one yet, there's another one that is even creepier. I think the most surprising of them all was her villain in I'm Watching You because in many ways, he wasn't the villain. The people he killed were very bad people and he was a sad man. That's still my favorite book of hers though! I loved Abe and Kristen!
Oh Ronlyn, I loved Heartbreaker and now am going to have to dig it out for a reread. Can't believe I don't remember the bad guy!
Oh Shelly, you're so right. Robert Mitchum was chillingly creepy in Cape Fear. That's a great movie and with Gregory Peck, what's not to love?
The other Rob't Mitchum creepy role was in Night of the Hunter -- how could someone terrorize children?? Gives me the willies!!
Thanks, Crystal! I really enjoy creating the villains. Rosemount was delightfully fun to write as was the bad girls in SECOND CHANCE. Villains have a way of surprising me with their badness.
The villain in SWEET JUSTICE is probably the slimiest I've ever created and man oh man, did he surprise me with his uber creepiness.
Hope, I glad you loved to hate Rosemount. Sometimes I can still hear his cackling mad laughter in my mind. (:
Laura, if you ever decide to watch one, choose the one I think is the best of them all and that's the original Halloween with Jamie Lee Curtis. So super scary and no gore, which sadly, is almost unheard of in movies today.
Oh Kris, that sounds like a great book! Will be on the lookout for it.
Good question Christy
I have to go with Rosemount for sure. I think that him being from a book made him creepier than a movie villain because my mind could imagine the worst.
I remember recommending your books because of the smartly written villain. I also remember asking you if you had a psych degree because I couldn't imagine conjuring up someone like him.
Now that I'm thinking about it, Karen Rose has had some nasty women in a few of her books. You Can't Hide, Nothing to Fear...several bad bad girls.
And Christy! as soon as you re-meet the Heartbreaker you will remember. *chills*
Hey all!
Christy, although I'll agree with ol' George from CM, I have to say that show give us LOTS of great villians. What about Tobias Hankel, the guy who kidnapped Reid... or the good looking dad that kidnapped women with the help of his young son? He seemed so normal, but... ick!
Bookwise, so many of you have already listed some really great villians that I absolutely agree need to be on the top 10 list. I'll add Chevy Bankes from One Scream Away. Great bad guy!
These villians are creepy to me.
Buffalo Bill in Silence of the Lambs
Carl Stargher from The Cell
Freddy Krueger from Nightmare on Elm Street
lol Hope your husband is a ninny huh. That made me laugh! I LOVE Harry Potter! I once worked with a guy that strongly insisted that I read the first book. He bugged the heck out of me for months! He said I promise you'll like it. I kept telling him I don't like paranormal type books. (or movies for that matter) But finally I gave in. Read the first book and have been hopelessly hooked since.
I'm still not a paranormal book reader, but those I like.
Kara I forgot all about Chevy Banks! I totally agree!
Hey Sandy! Creepy ones for sure. I think Hannibal's my pick for the creepiest of them all. That faber beans and a bottle of chanti statement gets me every time. (:
Elke, you're so right about Theodore Glenn in Killing Fear. Absolutely chilling. That's one of my favorites of Allison Brennan's books.
The female villain in Nothing to Fear is scary! And in SECOND CHANCE, I have a female villain. (:
I love Allison Brennan The Butcher from "The Hunt" is on the top of my list of villains. Kathy Bates character in "Misery" is a great villainess.
This is Mama Gails list.
1. The sheriff from Nottingham in Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves
2. villian from Silence of the Lambs.
3. Karen Rose's villians
Others I can't think of at this moment. There are so many.
BOO!!!
At last I made it!!! Love reading all the posts with your favorite villains.
I think Hannibal Lecter is one of the all-time scariest. And "Criminal Minds" has the "best" villains on television. Ronlyn, I agree with your inclusion of the "Heartbreaker" villain. I just loved that book and Laurent and Nick!!! Any villain Karen Rose writes makes my skin crawl.
Donald Rosemount will always remain at the top of my list as an evil, psycho, creepy villain. Glad he got his due!!!
Happy Halloween everyone!!! Have a spooky, safe & fun time!!
A good, really bad villain like the gravy over the meat of the story! : )
1. 'Dallas'; Larry Hagman aka J.R. Ewing: because he seemed to love being so bad! He made me smile and shake my head with his antics.
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2. Return to Me - when there is a family connection--it makes it so much worse.
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3. Christine Feehan's Ghost Walker series - Dr. Whitney's reckless experimentation on children and adults.
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4. The villains in Kylie Brant's Waking Nightmare, Waking Evil and Waking The Dead.
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5. Anthony Perkins in Psycho
Happy Halloween everyone!
Jackie, glad you despised the SECOND CHANCE villains. LOL There were several, weren't there?
I haven't read Leigh's Hidden Desires, I don't think. Must look that one up!
Oh, Shelly, I don't think I've seen Night of the Hunter. Robert Mitchum sure could play slimy evil real well, couldn't he?
Hey Mary G! I remember you asking me about the psych degree. LOL Probably doesn't make it much better that he came from my twisted imagination. (:
Kara, you're so right about CM. I think The Reaper just hurt me because he hurt Hotch so badly. (:
Tobias Hinkle was bad, but I ended up feeling really sorry for him. Now the guy who used his son to lure women so he could cut there hearts out? Oh yeah, he had major evil going on.
Crystal, I don't think I've heard of The Cell. Is that a movie or television show?
Yes, Buffalo Bill was a very bad guy in Silence of the Lambs, but he sure loved that little dog of his. I'm glad nothing happened to it. (:
Jane, The Butcher in The Hunt was scary. That was my favorite book in that trilogy.
And yes on Kathy Bates in Misery. What was her name? Annie, maybe? Anyway, she just seemed so ordinary and kind of sweet and then WHAM! she's super scary crazy!
Hey Anne, I was glad Rosemount got his due too. Actually I just reread that part the other day and I hurt for Cole all over again. Poor guy. ):
Jackie, tell Mama Gail I said hey!
And the Sheriff from Notingham. Is that the new one with Russell Crowe or an older movie?
Oh, Linda, you're right. I still remember some of those Dallas episodes. JR did enjoy being mean. Always had a smirk on his face that made you want to smack him.
And the villain in Return to Me was evil but so much fun to write. (:
Anthony Perkins in Psycho is a great villain. Creepy personified!
Hi
Jackie got this to work for me. It was the movie with Kevin Costner in it. It was the man's voice that got to me. Can't wait for another LCR book. I am so looking forward to it.
Hey Mama Gail! How SWEET of you to drop in! Yes, I remember the Kevin Costner Robin Hood movie but for some reason can't remember who played the sheriff. Was it Alan Rickman?
Ok...I have been thinking about this..
1. John Lithgow on Dexter as the Trinity Killer
2. Jeremy Montgomery Criminal Minds Safe Haven. That kid who killed family because his mom left him on the side of the road was way to twisted for me.
3. Dexter...Well, he is a serial killer but you have to love him.
4. Red John on The Mentalist. That guy just needs to die.
5. Heath Ledger as The Joke in The Dark Knight.
Have a safe Halloween everyone!
Hi Christy and everyone!
Here's my list of creepy bad guys:
1. Any Karen Rose villains
2. Any Allison Brennan villians
3. Carol Janes from Linda Howard's Dream Man
4. The villian from Linda Howard's Shades of Twilight
5. Any Beverly Barton villians
Hey Sarah, oh that kid in Criminal Minds was scary wasn't he? Just absolutely no conscience at all. Yikes!
And looks like I need to start watching The Mentalist. Several have mentioned that show.
Hey P&RS Reader! Yes, the villain in Shades of Twilight was not only evil, man oh man, he was one of the most disgusting and slimy ones I can remember. That's a great book!
Congrats to Linda, the winner of the 'grab-bag' prize package!
Linda, please email your mailing address to Christy@christyreece.com. Also, be sure to let me know which LCR book you'd like to have.
Thanks for playing everyone. That was a blast!
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