The Bad Boys of Horror

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Are we predisposed to find men with dark personalities attractive? Although conventional wisdom maintains that we should beware of men who say and do the right thing with too much ease, we often can’t help but find them utterly appealing. Sexy. An I-can’t-keep-my-hands-off kind of guy. There is something about bad boys that we find incredibly appealing even though we often regret the experience afterwards.

But this beauty, this bad boy charm is what makes us easy prey, as we’ve seen in horror movies as well as real life horror like, for instance, Ted Bundy or Ken Bianchi. We believe their charm and trust them because of their looks. “He could never hurt me. He isn’t creepy at all.” And it’s not just looks; some bad boys are charming because of their way with words. We’re attracted to their minds, and this may be even more dangerous than just looks alone.

Norman Bates

Whatever it is, the reasoning of why they are so attractive and interesting to us makes them even more intriguing. So of course I had to list some of my favorite bad boys of horror because, hey, why not?!?

George LutzThe Amityville Horror (2005)
When the devil takes over your body and wants you to kill your family, you – of course – have to take off your shirt and cut wood with your boy.

Tom HannigerMy Bloody Valentine (2009)
With his good looks he was able to convince his friends and us (the audience) that someone else was the killer. But let’s not forget that Tom was hallucinating that it was Harry Warden, the man who nearly killed Tom ten years ago all the while.

Norman BatesPsycho (1960)
With his innocent boy charm and his baby face, nobody ever expected that Norman was a mother-loving psycho freak.

Billy LoomisScream (1996)
Billy was brilliant with his cunning ways and bad boy looks. Even his friends didn’t know that he was a deranged serial killer.

OtisThe Devil’s Rejects (2005)
There’s something about his hillbilly looks. This guy gets it because he doesn’t give a shit. A tall cup of gin who wears that hair long and stringy like a rock star and gives it to you straight while planning on having some fun with you and then killing you.

Patrick BatemanAmerican Psycho (2000)
Here’s a guy who’s a Wall Street hotshot by day and a psycho serial killer by night. He is one of the most narcissistic characters ever to be in a horror movie by far, and he is one of my favorites!

Dr. Hannibal Lecter – “Hannibal” TV series (2013- )
What can I say? Hannibal is the best of the best when it comes to the bad boys of horror. He’s got it all: looks, charm, brains, fashion sense, and man, can he cook! Hannibal can eat me anytime!

So, who are some of your favorite bad boys of horror? Do you think we missed any? Let us know in the comments section below.

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