10 Horror Movie Villains Who Went To Great Lengths
These lunatics will stop at nothing.
There are plenty of traits that come package and parcel with horror villains. Whether the antagonist is a serial killer, an experiment gone awry, or a visitor from the stars, they tend to be merciless, ruthless, and surprisingly creative with how they eliminate their victims.
However, another key characteristic shared by many evildoers in the genre is determination. No matter how many times these wicked characters are shot, stabbed, or literally killed, they shuffle it off like it's nothing. What's more astonishing is that these guys can spend years or decades putting the final touches on their master plan, and some dedicate their entire life to their cause, solely to destroy one person.
In a way, it's commendable how dedicated these sinister scoundrels are. If they focused on something besides vengeance or slaughtering innocents, they could take on the whole world. Instead, these maniacs wake up every day and choose violence. Even when they have the chance to live peacefully, they seem to prefer cooking up convoluted plots against their enemies.
Their actions may be unforgivable, but it's impressive the lengths some horror villains go to get what they want.
10. John Ryder - The Hitcher
In The Hitchhiker, Jim Halsey's life turns upside-down after picking up psychotic drifter John Ryder. When he realises Ryder is bad news, Jim tosses him out of the vehicle. However, instead of finding other people to terrorise, Ryder obsesses over Jim, frustrated that he got away.
Hijacking a truck, Ryder tries to run Jim off the road, blowing up a gas station in the process. And after Jim is framed for Ryder's crimes, the crazed hitchhiker has the opportunity to get away scot-free. Rather than riding off into the sunset, though, Ryder locates the police station Jim is residing in and slays the cops. Though some still believe Jim is the killer, Ryder keeps murdering everyone in the area to keep the cat-and-mouse game going, and when the insidious vagrant learns Jim has a soft spot for a waitress, he has her ripped in half.
Though Ryder is arrested, he breaks free shortly after and continues tormenting Jim instead of running away.
Just as a reminder, John Ryder hunted Jim Halsey with the same determination as a Terminator, purely because the innocent driver outsmarted him during their first encounter.