10 Scariest Boogeymen In Films
5. Freddy Krueger (A Nightmare On Elm Street)
One of cinema’s most iconic slashers: foul-mouthed Freddy Krueger has appeared in nine films and made guest appearances in several videogames to boot.
Both the undisputed champion of post-murder one-liners and proud recipient of the grisliest backstory award (I won’t recount it again here, but it sounds like they asked for everyone’s most grimdark suggestions, and decided to use them all), it’s fair to say Freddy has a flair for the dramatic. Notable kills include him morphing himself into a television and slamming his victim through the screen, and cosplaying as The Wicked Witch of the West.
Freddy Krueger attacks his victims through their dreams, a nightmare-inducing concept which leads to plenty of the teens Freddy so loves to menace chugging mugs of black coffee to postpone the inevitable. When they do fall asleep, they become vulnerable to Freddy, who gets superpowers in the dream world.
Ever since Freddy was killed by the residents of Springwood, Ohio, he’s been used to scare children and teens straight. He even has his own nursery rhyme sang by children before he makes an appearance, like small, creepy hype men.