20 Most Badass Female Horror Characters Ever

Easily one of the greatest female villains of all time, Annie Wilkes is an absolutely terrifying psychopath, with a veneer of friendliness that quickly slips away as she turns into something out of a nightmare.

In Misery, an author wakes up in Annie’s house after a car wreck, and at first it seems like she’s taking care of him and trying to help out. She gives Paul a bed to rest in and claims she’ll take him to a hospital as soon as the roads clear up. Annie reveals that she’s a huge fan of his books, but her psychopathic tendencies become clear when she bursts into a fit of rage after finding out her favorite character dies at the end of the latest one. Now she’s holding Paul hostage, forcing him to write a new book for her. 

Kathy Bates delivers one of the most unforgettable performances of all time, beginning as a sweet nurse but quickly revealing her true self. By the time the film gets to the famous scene of Annie breaking Paul’s legs, she’s as menacing as any male villain in history, making Jigsaw look like a downright swell guy.