Cue sinister music.

Wilhelm Scream in 3, 2, . . . all right then, pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. Even as that sinister melody builds tension within out ranks, let us pause to chat about those dastardly villains who have terrorized audiences throughout the history of the cinema. It’s easy to love the good guy, or at least it should be, but this space is reserved for a discussion of those fiends who sometimes steal the show, the dastardly villains who provide conflict and drama as well as action and suspense. I’m not talking about little fish either, I’m talking about those monstrous roles that gave birth to landmark performances, those towering giants who all movie villains must aspire to join in the hallowed ranks of legend.

Most great pictures are buoyed by the presence of a robust villain, a character who entertains and enrages an audience in equal measures. A classic villain is an iconic part, a role that often becomes a thespian’s legacy, though some of the best are known for several performances in this vein. Generally, the quality of the film the villain is featured in is an important element in the equation, as a true dud frequently renders even a most magnificent performance irrelevant. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that the following list boasts several big icons in pictures with a proud heritage.

Run for your lives, dear readers, for it is time to unveil my Top 5 Film Villains –



Cue sinister music.

Wilhelm Scream in 3, 2, . . . all right then, pull up a chair and make yourself comfortable. Even as that sinister melody builds tension within out ranks, let us pause to chat about those dastardly villains who have terrorized audiences throughout the history of the cinema. It’s easy to love the good guy, or at least it should be, but this space is reserved for a discussion of those fiends who sometimes steal the show, the dastardly villains who provide conflict and drama as well as action and suspense. I’m not talking about little fish either, I’m talking about those monstrous roles that gave birth to landmark performances, those towering giants who all movie villains must aspire to join in the hallowed ranks of legend.

Most great pictures are buoyed by the presence of a robust villain, a character who entertains and enrages an audience in equal measures. A classic villain is an iconic part, a role that often becomes a thespian’s legacy, though some of the best are known for several performances in this vein. Generally, the quality of the film the villain is featured in is an important element in the equation, as a true dud frequently renders even a most magnificent performance irrelevant. Therefore, it shouldn’t be surprising that the following list boasts several big icons in pictures with a proud heritage.

Run for your lives, dear readers, for it is time to unveil my Top 5 Film Villains –

1) Henry Fonda – Once Upon a Time in the West

It is one of the most memorable scenes in the history of western cinema: an entire family is gunned down in cold blood and the camera slowly pans over to the culprit, the agonizing close-up revealing the beloved blue eyes of good old Henry Fonda. I can see people in the audience gasping and physically recoiling in theaters when this picture debuted in 1968. It must have shocked some of the audience members to their very core, and that’s precisely what Sergio Leone had in mind. It is unique to see the wholesome star in such a role, but his Frank is as complex and believable as any villain could possibly be, and western fans spanning the globe are thankful Fonda signed up for the ride. As Frank’s story unfolds in this sensational Leone epic, we are witness to an impeccable performance, and the film rewards Fonda’s dedication and realism with a gripping role in a robust opera complete several overlapping storylines and a bevy of good guys and bad guys, some armed with wealth while others sport six-shooters. This is an epic film ripe with intrigue and drama, a tale told with admirable patience, and a star vehicle brimming with familiar faces offering up great performances of their own, but Frank serves as the dark undercurrent for everything that transpires. His presence in the film taints even the most peaceful scenes, and his steadfast resolve and his gruesome march toward his destiny drive the final act. Fonda is fine actor who is revered for his considerable ability, and his efforts as Frank serve as a testament to his remarkable talent. Despite this role being quite a departure from the good men he was known for playing, Fonda doesn’t flinch, playing the haunted killer who preys on everyone at his disposal in this thrilling voyage with deliberation and pride. The climactic showdown with Fonda and Charlie Bronson (simply billed as The Man) is riveting and perhaps even a bit tragic; Frank doesn’t like the hand he is dealt, but he plays it with the same relentless determination that defines this ruthless gunslinger.

2) Jack Nicholson – The Shining

This is the role that Jack Nicholson will always be remembered most fondly for, and given his incredible legacy, that is a bold statement indeed. Yet I have to believe that no role was more unmistakably his, and I maintain that perhaps no villainous role was better suited for the man who inherited it. Steven Weber was quite compelling in the televised adaptation of the Stephen King novel, but there is no comparison for Jack’s devilish grin and his manic intensity as he turns the snowy Overlook Hotel into a living hell for his unfortunate wife (played by the equally unfortunate Shelley Duvall, who was practically tortured on set by director Stanley Kubrick) and his young son, Danny. Jack is so formidable and imposing that he dominates the film, looming over the plot and the other performers in a gripping account of delirium and despair that eventually gives way to a violent madness. Nicholson invests so much of himself in the part, baring so much of himself to the audience, that I think you could probably watch this film with the volume turned all the way down and you would know what was going on in his character’s mind every step of the way. The part itself grants him a terrific opportunity to wreak absolute havoc, and Kubrick got such ferocity out of Jack in 1980 that everyone else seems to shrivel a bit when he’s on screen. Seriously, who better for the role of a struggling writer and a driven father who wants what is best for his family, but loses a struggle with his darkest demons and descends into a psychopathic rage? I honestly believe that no one else could have truly embraced such a dark and disturbing part and brought it to life in such vibrant detail, underscoring the horror and depravity with a gleeful lunacy that is at once cartoonish and utterly horrifying. Jack Nicholson’s portrayal of Jack Torrance in The Shining is one of the most riveting performances in motion picture history, so its place on this list should come as no surprise.

3) Patrick Swayze – Point Break

Bodhi could be the most intriguing character ever given life in a picture of this nature, a rollercoaster ride of the highest caliber, the 1991 Kathryn Bigelow extravaganza that packs a mean punch. Bodhi doesn’t just rob banks with his gang “The Ex-Presidents” (all of whom wear tuxes and latex president masks, Bodhi being Reagan) and jump out of airplanes when he isn’t surfing killer waves, he also turns young FBI agents to the dark side. Keanu Reeves gives Swayze a perfect foil as Johnny Utah, a swell guy who just happens to fall under the coolest psycho ever’s spell when he should be arresting Bodhi for robbing banks. Swayze gives the performance of his life in yet another iconic role for the heartthrob, and his talent shines through in this grim spiritual journey ripe with frantic chases and shootouts. Bodhi is a zealot who doesn’t see the cost of his actions, only the thrill of the next big ride, the rush of adrenaline and the spirit of adventure. He doesn’t care about anything else, and as warm and inviting as he seems, he is an albatross for all those who know and love him. Along the way Swayze brands the character with a certain sense of abandon paired with unmistakable charisma, elevating the material above the action genre and providing us with a real gem that should be hailed as a classic action flick, but is more frequently referred to as a guilty pleasure. My wife argued that I shouldn’t include Bodhi here because he was so likable and he wasn’t really malicious, but I think he deserves this spot. In truth, the character is very likable, and he isn’t malicious, she was right on both counts. However, he is so selfish in his pursuit of the next big thrill that he doesn’t particularly care when the people around him start to die. That’s what makes him a villain. It’s just like Johnny told him, “You crossed the line. People trusted you and they died. You gotta’ go down.” Bodhi is one of the most seductive villains of all time, a guy people will kill for if it maintains their spot in his inner circle and a man who sacrifices everyone around him in a heartless quest for personal satisfaction. As Bodhi, Swayze gives us a great performance in one hell of a movie, and I will always consider this his finest hour.

4) Brian Dennehy – First Blood

Few performances get me so angry or involved as Brian Dennehy’s flawless portrayal of Sheriff Will Teasle, the country cop who unwittingly incites a war between his police department and a crazed green beret in First Blood. To Teasle’s credit, the former green beret is now a long-haired vagrant, but the policeman allows his temper to get the better of him when he deals with the young veteran, and things soon spiral out of control with astounding quickness. Teasle is so easy to hate and so steadfast in his belligerence that he makes it easy for the audience to root for John Rambo, who is essentially a trained killer who has flipped his lid in the wooded hills of a small town called Hope. Dennehy doesn’t do anything bold or eccentric here, and the part doesn’t require it. His unerring determination coupled with an arrogant streak that won’t allow him to back down even after he realizes the magnitude of his mistake is all it takes to ground this truly first-rate thriller, an action film of the highest order. Sylvester Stallone is the star of the show, and he has never been better, but the whole thing works because Brian Dennehy offered up a performance that is unwavering in its sincerity and understanding. Teasle is a perfect villain, a character who makes a mistake and refuses to admit it, allowing that mistake to become his legacy. Dennehy embraces this notion and excels in a role that is guaranteed to elicit a strong emotional response from the viewer, a staple of an iconic villain if ever there was one.

5) Christoph Waltz – Inglorious Basterds

What more can be said of Waltz and the amazing spectacle he provides as Hans Landa in Quentin Tarantino’s WWII epic Inglorious Basterds? This role earned him the 2010 Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and it wasn’t a close race. Like many, I had never seen Waltz before watching Inglorious Basterds, and like most I was absolutely blown away by his amazing presence. As the opening scene clearly dictates, Landa is a cold-hearted son of a bitch who masks his brutality with a charming demeanor and an inviting smile, yet few villains light up the screen like this one does. Every scene he is featured in benefits from the sheer magnetism Waltz offers up as Landa by virtue of a potent mix of ruthless cunning and sublime grace. Essentially, we’re watching a man put on a show within a show, as there can be no doubt that Landa is a performer of considerable prowess. It’s almost as if this puzzling character needs to feel as though he is liked by the very people he preys upon, and this bizarre penchant for trying to endear himself to his quarry is a big part of what makes the infamous “Jew Hunter” so diabolical. I found the movie itself to be totally engrossing, and I don’t think I could overstate how important Christoph and his thoroughly entertaining performance as Landa is to my perception of the piece. This is a villain on a grand scale, a cruel madman who is to be feared, yet within the context of a motion picture experience this madman is simply irresistible. The screen seems to come alive every time he graces the scene, and whether he’s eating dessert or strangling a woman, both his mesmerizing charisma and underlying menace are paramount.

Well, that’s my list, and I have to admit that this was a lot tougher than I thought. So many wonderful stars in powerful roles were left out that I can’t help but second-guess myself. Stay tuned for my forthcoming Top 5 Film Heroes, and in closing, take a look at the other villains I considered when composing this list.

Robert DeNiro – Heat

Gary Oldman – Leon: The Professional

Marcia Gay Harden – The Mist

Angus Scrimm – Phantasm

Anthony Perkins – Psycho

Arnold Schwarzenegger – The Terminator

Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

Louise Fletcher – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Ralph Fiennes – Schindler’s List

Anthony Hopkins – The Silence of the Lambs

Wes Studi – The Last of the Mohicans

James Earl Jones – Conan the Barbarian

Lee Van Cleef – The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

And one last bit of nonsense: I didn’t know whether or not I should consider Darth Vader or the Great White in Jaws, so I didn’t, but surely they would warrant careful consideration if you find their inclusion on such a list agreeable.

Please chime in with your thoughts and feel free to suggest topics for future Top 5 columns.