The Top 10 Terrible Neighbors in Horror Movies
The latest film from DREAD (the horror distribution arm of our parent company, Epic Pictures), Red Letter Day, is now available to own on Blu-ray! Give the film’s trailer and synopsis a spin below.
Synopsis:
While adjusting to a new life in a quiet suburban community, a recently divorced
mother and her two teens receive mysterious red letters instructing them each
to kill or be killed. As the bloodshed begins, they find themselves in a race
against time to protect the ones they love from the people they thought they
knew.
Red Letter Day is written and directed by Cameron Macgowan; the film stars Dawn Van de Schoot, Hailey Foss, and Kaeleb Zain Gartner.
To celebrate the release of a film whose tagline is “Kill Thy Neighbor”, we thought it would be fun to recollect on some of the worst neighbors in horror movie history. Whether they’re secretly cannibals, serial killers, or in league with Satan himself, these are the folks we’d most loath to find living next door!
Carter Hayes (played by Michael Keaton) in Pacific Heights
A well-dressed, well-spoken tenant turns out to be a landlord’s worst nightmare. From the systematic destruction of an expensive property to the psychological torture he disseminates, Carter Hayes is truly a neighbor from hell.
Lars Thorwald (played by Raymond Burr) in Rear Window
He’s got a short fuse and a wicked temper. Lars Thorwald isn’t just willing to kill a woman who pisses him off, he’s committed to offing anyone who witnessed his atrocities.
Wayne Mackey (played by Rich Sommer) in Summer of 84
What makes Wayne Mackey exceptional devious is that, by all outward appearances, he’s a model police officer and an asset to his neighborhood. Too bad he’s got a growing body count of teenage boys.
The Ferrins and the Halversons (played by Arija Bareikis, Dana Bunch, Chris Mulkey, and Tisha French) in The Purge
The worst neighbors are the ones who smile in your face for 364 days a year, then attempt to stab you in the back (literally!) on Purge Night.
The Castevets (played by Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer) in Rosemary’s Baby
Don’t eat the chocolate mousse! The Castevets seems like the sweetest old couple you’ve ever met. Secretly, however, they’re committed to enabling the birth of Antichrist. Hail Satan!
Mr. Turner (David Morse) in Disturbia
Okay, he’s basically just a 21st Century reimagining of old Lars Thorwald from Rear Window, but there’s something exceptionally chilling about this guy.
The Klopeks (played by Henry Gibson, Brother Theodore, and Courtney Gains) in The ‘Burbs
We’ve been taught not to judge books by their covers, but the Klopeks might be the exception to the rule. They look like cannibals; they act like cannibals—maybe they are cannibals!
Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) from Silence of the Lambs
He’s got some interesting hobbies and the cutes puddle you’ve ever seen. He’s also got a pit in his basement and a penchant for fashioning clothes out of human skin. Don’t ask to borrow any lotion!
Mom and Dad (Wendy Robie and Everett McGill) from The People Under the Stairs
Hey, we’ve got nothing against BDSM between consenting adults. Keeping children prisoner (and cutting off their tongues) however, makes Mom and Dad the epitome of neighbors from hell!
Jerry Dandridge (Chris Sarandon) from Fright Night
Living next door to a vampire is fraught with peril—especially when he’s sexy enough to seduce your mom and your girlfriend! Welcome to Fright Night—for real!
Who are some other terrible neighbors from horror movies who deserve a shout-out? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram! You can also carry on the convo with me personally on Twitter @josh_millican.
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