10 Most Underrated Horror Movie Villains

Horror aficionados may be shocked by this entry. But just think about it. When was the last time you saw someone cosplay as Norman for Halloween? Or at a convention? When was the last time you saw a piece of Psycho merchandise?

Knife-wielding schizophrenic Norman is the undisputed daddy of the cinematic slasher and yet he seems to have been overshadowed by his more colourful offspring. Perhaps it is his unassuming persona, the very aspect which made that final reveal of his true nature so shocking back in 1960. Or perhaps it is because, of all the famous horror villains, he is the closest to reality.

Many cinematic killers have been based on the real-life necrophile and murderer Ed Gein, but Norman was the first and arguably most accurate - even more than many so-called biopics about the man. One thing which sets Norman apart from most horror villains is that he's a tragic and largely sympathetic character. He struggles against his illness and murderous impulses and would genuinely prefer a quiet normal life... if only Mother would let him have one.

That iconic and oft imitated shower-set kill of Marion Crane (Janet Leigh) is still uncomfortable to watch even sixty years later and with all the advances in special effects technology it has yet to be bettered. The belated 1983 sequel didn't even try. But with a script written by Fright Night and Child's Play's Tom Holland and the presence of returning cast members, it's still a satisfying continuation worth checking out.