Summary

• Horror villains with complex backstories amplify fear with intricate origin tales that plunge viewers into twisted narratives.
• Complicated origins of iconic villains like Xenomorphs and Michael Myers enhance the depth and themes of the horror genre.
• In-depth origins of characters like Freddy Krueger and Pennywise add layers of terror and adaptability, making them truly haunting figures.

Great horror movie villains with ridiculous, complicated origin stories underscore how deeply the genre is rooted in the element of mystery. While horror films are known mostly for their nightmarish imagery and heart-pounding musical scores, the convoluted stories of certain movie villains can greatly amplify the visceral fear evoked by these cinematic elements. As audiences uncover the twisted paths that led to the creation of such villains - wading through atrocities, ancient curses, demonic possessions, or experiments gone wrong - these dark and complex backstories add layers of fear to the story.

In fact, horror movies where the villain is the best character typically involve complicated origin stories for the antagonists. Though these stories can get absurdly complex to the point of being ridiculous, they typically add depth to the narrative, and can leave viewers intrigued by villainous motives. Despite their absurdity, these backstories can also provide audiences with the insight necessary to truly appreciate the overarching themes of the film. After all, although horror movie scares are exciting on their own, it is the underlying context behind the terrifying events that allow some villains to invade viewers' nightmares.

10 Xenomorphs - Alien Franchise (1979-present)

Created by: Carlo Rambaldi, H. R. Giger, Dan O'Bannon, Ronald Shusett, and Ridley Scott

After the classic Alien movies capitalized on the mystery behind the origin of the Xenomorphs, Prometheus and Alien: Covenant explored their backstory to expand the franchise's lore and themes. More will be revealed following the Alien: Romulus, which will expand the relationships between Engineers, Xenomorphs, and humanity. So far, it's clear that the Engineers created a bioweapon in the form of a black liquid mutagen that spawns the Xenomorphs, able to twist the genetic material of their hosts into murderous shells of their former selves. While convoluted, this still-unfolding origin story solidifies the Alien franchise's cinematic legacy.

9 Michael Myers - Halloween Franchise (1978-2022)

Most Notably Played By: Nick Castle

In 1963, a 6-year-old Michael Myers killed her sister, and was eventually imprisoned in a sanitarium. 15 years later, Michael escaped and began terrorizing Haddonfield. That's about where the similarities end between Halloween's different timelines. While the Cult of Thorn timeline dove into Myers' supernatural origins, the H2O/Resurrection and the Halloween Ends timelines continued Myers' rivalry and obsession with Laurie Strode. Meanwhile, Myers is considered fictional in Halloween III: Season of the Witch, which is in its own contained universe. Myers' origins are bound to get even more complicated when studios decide to reboot or revisit the once-profitable franchise again.

8 Freddy Krueger - A Nightmare on Elm Street Franchise (1984-2010)

Most Notably Played by: Robert Englund

This entry discusses rape and violence against women and children.

Freddy was a child murderer who was burned alive by his victims' parents. Later, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child explained that Freddy was conceived in a mental asylum, where his mother was accidentally locked in a room where she was raped hundreds of times. Moreover, after The Final Nightmare revealed how Freddy made a deal with Dream Demons during his death to gain powers, the 2010 Nightmare on Elm Street remake added that he molested the children of the people who killed him. Freddy's convoluted backstory actually works well because it mimics memories unfolding in dreams.

7 Hannibal Lecter - Hannibal Franchise (2001-2015)

Most Notably Played By: Anthony Hopkins and Mads Mikkelsen

Dr. Hannibal Lecter was introduced as a cannibalistic genius psychiatrist in The Silence of the Lambs. Over the sequels and the Hannibal show, he has shown a propensity for manipulating potentially like-minded individuals. It was in Hannibal Rising where his origins were unveiled. As a child and refugee during World War II, Lecter witnessed the murder and cannibalism of his sister, which set him on the path of revenge killings. Cultivated during his years in medical school, his sophisticated charm masked his true nature, allowing him to evade detection. Though complicated, Hannibal's origins make him a frighteningly realistic horror villain.

6 Lestat de Lioncourt - Interview with the Vampire Franchise (1994-present)

Played By: Tom Cruise, Stuart Townsend, and Hugh Panaro

This entry discusses self-harm and suicide.

Lestat was born in the late 18th century as the seventh son of a failing French aristocratic family. Though the screen adaptations only touched on Lestat de Lioncourt's origins, The Vampire Lestat tackled how Lestat channeled his killer instincts into becoming a renowned hunter and saving his family's legacy. Lestat and his lover Nicolas then moved to Paris, where Magnus turned Lestat into a vampire. The disillusioned Magnus then killed himself, leaving Lestat rudderless - but also the immortal heir to his family's fortune. Lestat's complex origins remain highly influential in shaping contemporary vampiric lore across film, series, and gaming.

5 Pennywise - It Franchise (1990-present)

Played by: Tim Curry and Bill Skarsgård

Older than time itself, Pennywise - also known as IT - originated from the Deadlights section of the Macroverse or Todash Darkness, and then came to Earth and hibernated millions of years ago. These details in Stephen King's novels are eschewed in the screen adaptations. However, the films did reveal how IT was awakened when Derry was built in 1715, and then transformed into the clown Pennywise to elicit fear more easily. Combined with his 27 to 30-year cycle of feeding on fear and killing countless victims, Pennywise's ridiculously complicated origins make him a villain that's constantly adaptable to reboots.

4 Jason Voorhees - Friday the 13th Franchise (1980-2009)

Most Notably Played By: Ari Lehman, Steve Daskewisz, and Kane Hodder

Born with facial deformities and considered an outcast, Jason drowned in Crystal Lake while neglected by camp counselors. His mother, Pamela Voorhees, sought revenge by murdering those responsible. However, Jason later emerged as a vengeful spirit donning a hockey mask. Throughout the Friday the 13th franchise, Jason's backstory has evolved to include supernatural resurrection - he has even died twice in several films. Jason's motivations also shift from avenging his own death to protecting his childhood home. Jason's complex backstory highlights the character's tragic undercurrent, implying that he is a victim of circumstance driven by the primal urge to survive.

3 Pinhead - Hellraiser Franchise (1987-2022)

Most Notably Played By: Doug Bradley and Jamie Clayton

It was Hellbound: Hellraiser II which revealed that Pinhead was a British WWI soldier named Elliot Spencer. Among the little-known facts about Hellraiser's Pinhead is that he was a comionate man - until the Battle of Flanders in deeply traumatized Elliot, who sought solace in hedonistic pursuits. Drawn to the Lament Configuration puzzle box, Elliot opened it and unwittingly transformed into Pinhead - Spencer's id manifested as a demon. While the Hellraiser reboot casting transwoman Jamie Clayton in the role further complicated Pinhead's origins, "he" actually has a feminine voice in the source material, which notably regards Cenobites as genderless.

2 The Tall Man - Phantasm Franchise (1979-2016)

Played By: Angus Scrimm

His deep fascination with death led 19th century mortician Jacob Morningside to create and step through an interdimensional gate. As seen in Phantasm 4: Oblivion, Jacob then "returned" as the Tall Man, an artificer who commands the undead and sinister machines like the Sentinel balls. While the Tall Man's goals are mysterious, it's implied that he wants to rule over dimensions through death and torture. Apart from Jacob and the Tall Man, there are several versions of the character, and most appear to share his evil agenda - a convoluted multiversal villain who predates multiverse-terrorizing superhero movie antagonists by decades.

1 Sadako - The Ring Franchise (1998-2022)

Most Notably Played By: Rie Inō and Yukie Nakama

Sadako's mother was the psychic Shizuko Yamamura, who had an affair with ESP researcher Dr. Ikuma. After Sadako killed a journalist who questioned her mother's powers, Dr. Ikuma trapped Sadako inside a well, where her vengeful rage was recorded in the infamous cursed videotape. The sequel Ring 0: Birthday then unraveled the events that led to Sadako's death, including Sadako being split into two beings, and her killing more people than initially shown. The various Ring sequels, reboots, and other adaptations of Koji Suzuki's novels have further complicated Sadako's origins, twisting or revealing more details to cater to new audiences.