10 Amazing 21st-Century Movie Villains Who Aren’t Spoken About Enough

7. Howard – 10 Cloverfield Lane

Nocturnal Animals
Paramount

John Goodman dug deep for this role, turning in a truly terrifying performance that many had never seen the popular actor bring to the big screen before. 10 Cloverfield Lane is creepy and claustrophobic, and it reels you in the longer it goes on through before letting you off the hook with an incredibly underwhelming conclusion. Still, it’s a film that needs watching just for John’s performance alone.

The role in question is that of Howard Stambler, a seemingly harmless yet rather loopy survivalist and conspiracy theorist who ‘saves’ Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Michelle from the wreckage of her car crash. However, the longer we get to know Howard, the more sinister his intentions become as his monstrous past is unearthed revealing kidnap and murder. Stambler’s supposed safe haven gradually mutates into Michelle’s worst nightmare as she soon realises her only chance of survival is to escape his devious clutches.

Goodman has always possessed the minerals to portray a character of this horrifying magnitude as Howard's erratic behaviour fluctuates from reassuring calmness to violent rage at the drop of a hat. He’s incredibly unsettling and equally unnerving in a performance that makes you scared to breathe while you watch. It’s hard to believe this is the same man responsible for voicing one of Pixar’s most beloved characters... but hey, that’s acting for you!

 
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Contributor

Avid Chelsea, England cricket and Scotland rugby supporter and sufferer. Proud northerner who for some reason sounds southern. Enjoy matching a face to a name, and will watch absolutely anything Daniel Craig is in. Greatest achievement? Getting winked at by James McAvoy.