8. Freddy Kreuger - A Nightmare on Elm Street
Initially the goal was not to put any supernatural Slashers on here as they sort of exist outside the realm of "plausible" killers. But then I searched the chasms of my brain to find the images from my Horror history that scared me as a child and that are scenes I still look to, to remember what it feels like to be truly scared. In the original Nightmare, when Freddy drags the girl to the ceiling and proceeds to slice her open, whilst her boyfriend watches in truly confused terror, that image has been permanently ingrained into my psyche. I think part of Freddy's back story also adds to just how creepy he is. This is a very, VERY bad guy who, let's get this straight, had a "penchant" for children and when the parents of those kids sought vengeance and killed him (rightfully so), he came back from the grave to kill those same kids in their dreams. Dude, what is your problem? Who does that? First off, you took advantage of those kids, pissed off their parents, and then decided to try to kill those kids because, why? You were mad that you didn't get your way? For me, that's about as sadistic as it gets. Freddy is purely motivated by his desire to ruin the lives of families and children. His "vengeance" is unwarranted and therefore complete and merciless slaughter, not to mention the psychological damage it causes his victims and their families as well as us viewers who are afraid to sleep at night because not even your dreams are safe anymore. This is about as terrifying as it gets. Children are our future Freddy! Stop this madness.