10 Scariest Boogeymen In Films

The boogeyman is a monster popularised by folklore and used by parents to scare their children into good behaviour: "go to bed on time or the boogeyman will get you!" Chances are everyone had some experience with this growing up. It’s the monster living in the cupboard, or under your bed.

Of course, boogeymen are an idea the film world has latched onto with great effect, since it's the perfect movie monster. What these beasts actually are or look like is vague, so filmmakers can get creative and insert whichever creature they see fit. It's a ready-made premise, capturing the horror of discovering the monsters we heard stories about as children are real when we grow up.

And most importantly, boogeymen seem to have a preoccupation with rules: they both love to abide by rules and they’re also concerned that you stick to their rules or else you’ll run afoul of them.

John Wick might be the man you send in when you need to kill the boogeyman, but it seems none of the characters in the following films had his number...

The bane of teens since 1980, Jason is unmistakable in his trademark hockey mask, armed with a machete. Though he’s similar to Michael Myers (a masked, silent killer), Jason feels like he has more personality. Or maybe just has a better PR team.

Jason has starred in 11 movies to date - mostly trudging around Camp Crystal Lake - but he’s also taken a trip to New York, been to Hell and back, and even took a jaunt into space.

After so many instalments, it’s difficult to be scared or surprised anymore and the franchise has lapsed into parody much like A Nightmare on Elm Street.

It’s easy to forget the first film has its fun bit of misdirection, teasing Jason’s return from the grave before the real killer is revealed. Of course, Jason takes centre stage for the sequels and there’s a gory thrill in watching him do what he does best.