Serial killer movies have always been popular, since they speak to common fears, and the common fascination with the dark side of the human soul. Ever since the dawn of cinema, there have been crime movies. In fact, some of the most influential movies from a century ago deal with serial killers, showing the timeless appeal of these ideas. As movies have evolved over the years, there have always been serial killers on screen, just in different guises.
The changing faces of movie murderers over the years have reflected the filmmaking trends and societal attitudes of the time. Starting in the 1920s, serial killer movies were used as a way to explore the dehumanizing destruction of the First World War. Serial killers were later seen in screwball comedies of the 1940s, gritty detective dramas of the 1990s, and superhero movies of the 2020s. Throughout every period of film history, there have been movies about the universal fear of people who kill.
15 Incredible Fictional Serial Killer Performances In Movies & TV Shows
Across film and TV, incredible actors have brought fictional serial killers to life through their sinister performances and deranged believability.
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligarirepresents the pinnacle of German expressionism, making it one of the great totemiclandmarks of early cinema. The silent horror film follows a bloodthirsty hypnotist who brainwashes his sleepwalking victim into commiting a series of grisly murders all for his own self-edification.The Cabinet of Dr. Caligariisn’t as scary to modern audiences as it was over 100 years ago, but it’s still a must-watch for anyone with an interest in the history of cinema.
Director Robert Wiene uses long shadows, exaggerated physical forms and unusual angles to create an unnerving spectacle.
WhileThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligarihelped shape the language of cinema with its dark themes and its tense plot, the movie’s greatest and most eye-catching quality is its disturbing visual style. Director Robert Wiene uses long shadows, exaggerated physical forms and unusual angles to create an unnerving spectacle. This ties in with the movie’s themes, asThe Cabinet of Dr. Caligariexplores different perspectives, and the surreal destruction of Europe after World War I.
101930s - M (1931)
Fritz Lang’s Seminal Serial Killer Movie Established Some Of The Genre’s Traditions
Fritz Lang had already made a seismic contribution to the advancement of cinema with 1927’s sci-fi masterpieceMetropolis.His first “talkie” proved to be just as influential.Mestablished many of the techniques which are still used by serial killer movies almost 100 years later. The plot follows a child murderer played by Peter Lorre, and the frenzied attempts of law enforcement to catch him.
Mcontrasts the pathetic, lonely life of the murderer with the way that the media portrays him.
Mcontrasts the pathetic, lonely life of the murderer with the way that the media portrays him. It explores the role that the media has in creating ongoing crime narratives, something that other filmmakers have taken inspiration from. The terror of the killer on the loose isn’t nearly as frightening as the sense of paranoia and distrust which quickly grips a formerly peaceful community.Mis often listed among the greatest movies of all time.
91940s - Arsenic And Old Lace (1944)
Cary Grant Stars In A Screwball Comedy About Serial Killers
Arsenic and Old Laceis an adaptation of a hugely successful Broadway show of the same name, with some of the original cast reprising their roles. The big addition is Cary Grant, who had plenty of experience as a leading man in screwball comedies such asBringing Up Baby.Arsenic and Old Laceis much darker than his usual fare, however, as he plays a man who discovers that his family is filled with murderers.
Arsenic and Old Laceplays on the idea that every family is crazy in their own way.
Arsenic and Old Laceplays on the idea that every family is crazy in their own way. In the Brewster family, this is more than just odd family traditions and competitive game nights. The two aunts of the family have taken to murdering elderly bachelors to free them from the misery of single life, while their nephew is another serial killer who has had plastic surgery to look like Boris Karloff. Grant is good for plenty of laughs as the one normal character on show.
The Night of the Hunterhas had two lives. First, it was savaged by critics upon release, and it ended Charles Laughton’s directorial career on his debut. Years later, however, the film was reevaluated as an underappreciated classic. It enjoys a sparkling reputation these days, andit counts Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee and other influential filmmakers among its fans.
The Night of the Hunterstars Robert Mitchum, who delivers a chilling performance as a callous serial killer disguising himself as a priest.
The Night of the Hunterstars Robert Mitchum, who delivers a chilling performance as a callous serial killer disguising himself as a priest. His portrayal is so reptilian thatThe Night of the Hunteroften seems like a monster movie, albeit one with a human antagonist. Many of Laughton’s directorial choices are intentionally old-fashioned, which creates an expressionist story that has stood the test of time far better than more grounded tales of the era.
Psychois one ofAlfred Hitchcock’s best movies, and it perhaps showcases his flair for depicting the nature of human evil better than any other film. Thanks to an iconic performance from Anthony Perkins,Psychocreates a truly disturbing serial killer, and Hitchcock’s mastery of tension makes it look for a long time as though he might get away with every one of his crimes.
Hitchcock’s mastery of tension makes it look for a long time as though Norman might get away with every one of his crimes.
Psychostarts out as a superb horror movie, with Hitchcock’s claustrophobic direction turning the Bates Motel into the dangerous lair of a monster. Soon after the unforgettable shower scene,Psychochanges tact and becomes a detective movie, without losing any of its vitality. Only the audience know the true danger as Detective Arbogast starts sniffing around.The powerful soundtrack is just the cherry on top.
Thelong-runningHalloweenfranchisehas since become more complicated and supernatural, but John Carpenter’s 1978 original remains a simple, classic slasher.Halloweencreated one of the most recognizable serial killers in film history, with Michael Myers escaping from captivity and donning a creepy William Shatner mask before going on a killing spree.
Halloweencreated one of the most recognizable serial killers in film history
Jamie Lee Curtis established herself as a true scream queen withHalloween. The movie also set the tone for plenty of other slashers and horror movies, as countless filmmakers have borrowed Carpenter’s creepy POV shots, and his idea to open the movie with a scene of shocking violence.Halloweenhas earned its place as required viewing for horror fans, and a classic that still gets rolled out in repertory cinemas all over the world every October.
TheFriday the 13thfranchiseshares a lot in common with theHalloweenfranchise, and it has been accused of copying John Carpenter’s formula. Both slasher franchises have become less grounded over the years, and their timelines have been irretrievably tangled. In both cases, the original is the best.Friday the 13thdoes borrow a little from theHalloweenplaybook, but it has plenty of its own ideas to sustain itself.
The mystery element inFriday the 13this part of what makes the slasher stand out from so many of its contemporaries.
The mystery element inFriday the 13this part of what makes the slasher stand out from so many of its contemporaries. Each of the counselors at Camp Crystal Lake is a potential suspect as well as a potential victim, although there is always the lingering suggestion that the deaths may be caused by some phantom force from the beyond.Friday the 13this a gruesome serial killer movie and a satisfying mystery, with a perplexing final scene that lives long in the memory.
The1990s were a great time for gritty crime dramas, andThe Silence of the Lambsisn’t the only classic serial killer movie of the decade. David Fincher’sSe7endigs deep into criminal psychology, Denzel Washington and Angelina Jolie shine inThe Bone Collector,andScreamtakes a comedic view of the slasher genre.The Silence of the Lambscould be the best of all, however, creating an iconic movie serial killer.
The Silence of the Lambsisn’t the only classic serial killer movie of the decade.
Anthony Hopkins' Oscar-winning performance as cannibalistic killer Hannibal Lecter is enhanced by Jonathan Demme’s direction. Demme often chooses to frame Hopkins in an extreme close-up, giving the illusion that there is no escape from his intense gaze. Jodie Foster is also superb as the subject of this gaze: the rookie FBI profiler who becomes the lead detective on a twisted serial killer case.None of the sequels quite managed to live up toThe Silence of the Lambs.
American Psychohas been divisive ever since its release, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of just 68% highlighting how critics have failed to agree on its quality. The audience score of 85% shows thatAmerican Psychohas found a cult following over the years who appreciate Mary Harmon’s movie for what it is. Although it has been difficult to categorize,American Psychois as much a dark satire of corporate America as it is a horror movie.
Although it has been difficult to categorize,American Psychois as much a dark satire of corporate America as it is a horror movie.
American Psychotakes the audience inside the mind of Patrick Bateman, Christian Bale’s slick serial killer with a love of Huey Lewis and custom-made business cards. The story draws a lot of comedy from Patrick’s inner monologue. Split between thought-provoking philosophy and petty complaints about everyday life, the constant monologue demythologizes the idea of the serial killer.American Psycho’s twist endingexplores the rift between fantasy and reality for one last time.
David Fincher has created several movies which explore the dark depths of criminal psychology, includingSe7enandZodiac.The Girl With the Dragon Tattoocontinues his trend of serial killer movies, adapting Stieg Larsson’s best-selling novel with Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara in the lead roles. Craig plays a journalist whose investigation into a missing person leads him into the den of a depraved serial killer.
David Fincher has created several movies which explore the dark depths of criminal psychology, includingSe7enandZodiac.
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoodeserved a sequel, as Fincher was interested in adapting each book in Larsson’sMillenniumtrilogy. Ultimately, the movie’s mediocre box office results meant that Fincher’s request for an increased budget for the sequel was always going to be a hard sell. Even without the two follow-ups,The Girl With the Dragon Tattoois a captivating crime drama. Niels Arden Oplev’s 2009 adaptation is also worth watching for fans of the genre.
