9 Unfairly Underrated Movie Villains From The 21st Century

If most movie antagonists leave an indelible mark through their iconic dialogue, insidious conspiracies, or shocking actions, then this undeaded, clockwork, super Nazi doesn't have much going for him (apart from an amazing bio). For all intents and purposes, he's just a one-dimensional boss fight for Hellboy to defeat.

But what Kroenen lacks in depth, he more than makes up for in sheer cool. With a bold costume, imposing martial arts skills, and a signature wheezing sound that chills you to the bone, this guy has undeniable presence. Which is far more than can be said for a lot of his peers.

And that's all without mentioning the genuinely unsettling autopsy scene, in which we finally get a peak at what's underneath his elusive mask. Here, we discover that Kroenen, motivated by an addition to surgical reconstruction (as well as implied masochistic tendencies), has conducted radical experiments on himself, slicing off his own eyelids, severing his lips, and forcibly removing his fingernails. The hideous result of this self-modification is an unforgettable example of creature design, as if an enemy from Outlast or Resident Evil has sneakily infiltrated a Summer Blockbuster.

The ghastly imagery on display, which was somehow approved for a PG-13, could only come from the macabre imagination of Guillermo Del Toro and it should have been enough to make the character a mainstay of both cosplay venues and audiences nightmare alike. Yet the horrific boogeyman has unaccountably faded into obscurity, despite being creepier than most horror villains.