8. Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man
Christopher Lee brings charismatic flair to the role of Lord Summerisle, feudal lord of a community of regressive pagans on a remote Scottish island. Next to the prissy, judgemental protagonist, uptight investigator Neil Howie, Summerisle appears warm and friendly, if a littleoff. Of course he turns out to be behind a truly sinister cult ritual that puts a dark spin on the islands cheery nature-loving festivities. The Wicker Mans famous tension comes from the jarring clash between the quaint jollity of the pagan islanders, who honour ancient gods with eccentric rites, and their blatantly malicious motives. The happy grins on the faces of Summerisle and his followers as the well-meaning Howie is burnt to death as an offering to the sun are more unnerving than any amount of monstrous snarling would have been.