Masked movie killers have long been a standard of horror movies.. Some of the most terrifying horror villains are known to hide behind equally creepy masks. Horror movies like Friday the 13th and Halloween helped masked villains gain popularity in the mid-to-late 1980s, At first glance, some of the deadliest masked killers don't seem particularly frightening.
The masked assailant is a horror film cliché that will never go out of fashion. We're going to rank the Top 15 scariest of them all, so turn on all the lights!
15. The Collector (The Collector movie)
A man targets a wealthy family's home with the intention of breaking in and stealing a priceless diamond because he needs money to pay off a debt. He quickly discovers that he made the wrong choice in picking the wrong night to carry out his intentions since a masked lunatic had arrived earlier, captured the family, and filled the home with lethal traps.
THE COLLECTOR I Best of
- The Collector wears only black and looks to have some sort of eye defect that causes his eyes to reflect light in different colours. The Man puts on his mask ritualistically when it's time for him to do his crimes. Then gently tightens the threads on the rear of the mask into a tight fit over his head before carefully knotting them.
- The idea of the movie being a prequel to Saw (2004) was rejected by the producers. Personally I think this was a good choice.
- In the alternate ending, when Arkin exits the house and spots the young girl, he chooses to leave rather than intervene to save her.
14. Jigsaw’s Pig Mask (Saw)
While chained to pipes at either end of a filthy bathroom, photographer Adam Stanheight (Leigh Whannell) and oncologist Lawrence Gordon (Cary Elwes) recover consciousness. Flashbacks reveal the fates of the two men's prior victims as they come to the realisation that they have been trapped by a vicious serial killer known as "Jigsaw" and must solve his strange riddle to survive.
All Pig Mask Scenes (Saw)
- This mask is not even close to being the most memorable image from the Saw movies because there is so much else going on. The pig mask is somewhat frightening in and of itself, especially for swinophobes like, uh, me, with its scraggly black hair and gooey eyes.
- When John Kramer and Jill Tuck were still married, they were expecting a child, and John had already carefully planned for it to be born in the Chinese zodiac year of the pig.
- John sedated and kidnapped Cecil, taking him to his workshop and putting him in his first trap, the Knife Chair, using a pig mask laced with chloroform for Cecil and a second one to hide his own identity.
13. The Strangers (The Strangers Movie)
Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman's characters Kristen and James are expecting a nice weekend at a family vacation property, yet, their stay is anything but relaxing.. James is out running an errand when a strange and menacing woman knocks on the door. When he returns , mistaking Mike (Glenn Howerton) for an intruder, he accidently kills him. Then, three masked tormentors appear, posing a serious threat to Kristen and James as they fight for their lives.
THE STRANGERS | Best of
- The scary duo from The Strangers has a place on our list even if they aren’t the most recognisable slashers on it. Some viewers will undoubtedly feel very nervous after watching this movie, it offers a terrifyingly fresh take on the home invasion theme. Who, in all seriousness, wants to see either of these men in their home at night?
- The film was shot entirely with hand-held cameras or steadicam . Every shot has some sort of camera movement.
- According to director Bryan Bertino, the film is partially based on an incident he experienced as a child. One evening, a stranger came to his door, asked for someone who was not there, and left. Later, Bertino found out that other homes in his neighbourhood had been broken into that night.
- During filming, to get an actual reaction from Liv Tyler, director Bryan Bertino would tell her where to expect a loud bang from but would then have the loud noise come from a completely different direction. I would have been a nervous wreck at the end of production!!
12. Tomàs (The Orphanage)
A woman returns with her family to the house she grew up in, which was formerly an orphanage for children with disabilities. Her son soon begins interacting with an invisible new friend.
The Orphanage [2008] the bathroom.avi
- A strange youngster out for blood is maybe the only thing more unsettling than a mysterious killer out for blood. Tomás may not be as physically intimidating as some of the others on our list due to his small size, but his mask makes up for it. By removing an eye, adding some dirt, and instructing its wearer to "simply stand there," The Orphanage demonstrates how easily any child's plush doll can be transformed into a nightmare.
- On May 20, 2007, the movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to a standing ovation that lasted over ten minutes.
- Guillermo del Toro will serve as producer of the English-language version that New Line Cinema purchased the rights to in 2007.
11. Purge Participants (The Purge)
The government authorises a 12-hour time every year during which all illegal conduct, including murder, is lawful in a country where crime is rampant, and jails are overflowing. When invaders bring the dangerous outside world into their home, James Sandin (Ethan Hawke) and his family are put to the ultimate test. While attempting to avoid turning into the monsters they are trying to avoid, James, Mary (Lena Headey), and their two children battle to survive the night
The Forever Purge: The goat trap
- What kind of mask is appropriate to use when murdering your neighbours? Perhaps something with oversized features and menacing , toothy grins? The Purge's group showed an excellent choice in hideous masks. It was even more horrifying because the Polite Leader almost had the same face below his mask, which was an excellent casting choice.
- The designers took inspiration from the raucous Venetian carnivals and mediaeval German festivals like Rosencoik
- They were asked to create masks with materials that could be found within the home. Putting them together with thread and needles.
10. Cupid (Valentine)
There is love in the air. Would-be lovers court hearts with flowers, chocolates, cards, and presents on the most romantic day of the year. Best friends Kate (Marley Shelton), Paige (Denise Richards), Dorothy (Jessica Capshaw), Lily (Jessica Cauffiel), and Shelly (Katherine Heigl) are among the young women yearning for a relationship—a valentine to die for. And they might just get their wish this year.
Valentine (2001) - Clip: Clean Knife Killer (HD)
- It's supposed to be Cupid, the wingless infant that shoots arrows at people, but there's something evil about it. Perhaps it's the contradiction of a baby face on a man's body, or perhaps it's just a not particularly attractive baby face. In either case, the Cupid mask gives this early 2000s slasher a peculiarly baroque creepiness.
- The killer’s mask was the result of a process termed maskevation.
- The killer chose to use the cupid mask, because it had been popular at the dance where it all went wrong.
9. Satan (Satan’s Little Helper)
In preparation for a fun-filled evening, Douglas Whooly (Alexander Brickel) dons his costume on Halloween afternoon. But he throws a fit and runs out of the house when he learns that his sister Jenna (Katheryn Winnick) has a boyfriend. Douglas becomes friends with a man dressed as the devil and assists him in using fake corpses to decorate his garden. Unfortunately for Douglas and his family, the bodies are real, much like the murders that will mark the rest of the evening.
Satan's Little Helper Kill count | Best Clip Movies
- It appears to be a mediocre Halloween mask. It is intended to be a low-cost Halloween mask. But as "Satan" begins killing people in real life with the help of a nine-year-old video gaming junkie, the mask's hideous face grows increasingly unsettling.
- “Satan” never speaks
- He’s not actually “Satan”, he’s a vicious killer that never removes his mask. More to the point, we don’t know if he is a ‘he’. It’s widely assumed that he is.
8. Rabbit Mask (Donnie Darko)
One exceptional but disillusioned youngster is about to board Time's Arrow for a humorous, emotional, and distinctly mind-bending adventure through suburban America. After surviving a rare accident, Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) starts to question what it means to be alive. He soon falls in love and discovers cosmic mysteries that give him the seductive ability to change time and fate.
Donnie Darko - Movie Theater Scene ( High Quality)
- You'd never want to see a bunny that resembles that one, and you've never seen one either. Frank's rabbit mask is unsettling, warped, horrifying, and completely unforgettable. Think about the mirror reflecting that back to you. You would never rest again
- There are 2 versions of Frank's mask seen in the movie. A chrome plated one with painted eyes, teeth and inner ears.
- The rabbits in the film can symbolise how Donnie is the saviour of humanity.
7. Sam (Trick ‘r’ Trick)
As the residents of a tiny town (Anna Paquin, Brian Cox, and Dylan Baker) deal with actual ghosts and goblins on Halloween, interwoven stories show that some traditions are better kept alive. Horror stories include the repercussions of putting out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight and the interaction of a cranky hermit with a spooky trick-or-treater.
Trick 'r Treat: Back to School
- Sam presents as a sweet kid trick-or-treater while wearing ragged brown gloves and orange footie pyjamas with yellow patches patched on the front. A plain burlap mask with stitched-on black button eyes covers his huge, rounded head and is fastened around his neck. His demonic nature is revealed once his mask is taken off, however, as his bald, bulbous head is covered in sickening orange flesh. I’m not even sure which is scarier.
- Sam is the spirit of Halloween night
- He has his own set of rules 1. Always give candy to trick ‘r’ treaters 2. Always wear a costume 3. Never extinguish the flame of a Jack ‘o’ Lantern before midnight 4. Respect the dead.
6. Smiley (Smiley Movie)
A mentally fragile adolescent must determine whether she’s going crazy or if she could be the next victim after learning about an urban tale about a deranged serial murderer who has nothing on his face save a carved "smiley."
Smiley (2012) | Smiley Kills Proxy - HD
- An emoticon-based mask can seem amusing, especially one that is smiling, but this one's execution turns it into something hideous. The killer's smooth skin, which obscures their facial features and gives the impression that their eyes and nose are gone, is already a little frightening, but what makes it truly unpleasant are the jaggedly sewn up gashes that form the "smiley."
- So named because he has mutilated his own face by stitching his own eyes shut and carved his mouth into a smile.
5. Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs)
Dr. Hannibal Lecter, the murderous cannibal. He is currently employed as a museum curator in Italy. The F.B.I. Agent Clarice Starling (Julianne Moore), who helped him catch a serial killer, was given leadership of a mission; however, when one of her men fails, the Bureau summons her to the stand. Paul Krendler, a senior official, has it out for her (Ray Liotta). However, she is given a break by Mason Verger (Gary Oldman), one of Hannibal Lecter's victims who wants exact revenge for what Lecter did to him.
Hannibal Lecter Best Scenes
- The mask worn by Hannibal Lecter is one of the most recognisable movie props, but choosing the horrifying facial restraint was not an easy task.
- Anthony Hopkins used to perform creepy and downright ludicrous masks for his screen tests. According to Atwood in the piece, "there were notions of fencing, sort of grid masks, for a while."
- It was determined that a mask would be made, according to the costume designer. “We developed the fibreglass mask concept more”, according to Atwood. “The mask was originally intended to have a finish, but when we received the [final] example, it was made of raw fibreglass and resembled an old, dried-out piece of leather or even skin. It was so fantastic that it never returned for a paint job.” Truly terrifying
4. Ghostface (Scream)
A new murderer dons the Ghostface mask and starts stalking a group of adolescents to bring back memories of the town's bloody history, 25 years after a string of violent killings stunned the sleepy community of Woodsboro, California.
Scream (1996) all Ghostface moments
- It's basic, eye-catching, and borderline excellent. It's superficially based on Munch's The Scream, and Fun World originally made it as a Halloween costume before Wes Craven bought it for Scream. Despite having simply black blobs for features, it has a surprising amount of expression.
- Named after a rubber Halloween mask.
- Ghostface is a fictional identity that has been adopted by 11 characters so far in the Scream franchise.
- The mask started out with two different names, Father Death and the ‘Peanut-Eyed Ghost’ neither of which is scary, well not to me anyway.
3. Leatherface (Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
Sally (Marilyn Burns) and her paraplegic brother Franklin (Paul A. Partain) embark on an investigation after learning that their grandfather's tomb may have been vandalised. They find a gang of insane, violent outcasts residing next door after taking a detour to their family's old farmhouse. The survivors must use every resource at their disposal to flee as the group is assaulted one by one by the chainsaw wielding Leatherface (Gunnar Hansen), who is covered in a human skin mask.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Best Of Leatherface
- A would-be murderer has a wide range of materials to pick from. Human skin, though, has got to be the spookiest material for masks. There isn't anything that is scarier than that—disgusting. I swear, if I saw him, I'd run a mile.
- Leatherface’s name comes from the fact that the masks are made from human skin.
- Although Leatherface has used different tools to kill his victims with, the chainsaw is his signature weapon.
- The character Leatherface was largely inspired by real-life murder Ed Gein. Who also wore masks of human skin.
2. Jason Voorhees (Friday 13th )
Counsellors establish a summer camp in the forested area despite Crystal Lake's violent past. Even though the superstitious villagers forbid it, the young, fresh-faced characters Jack (Kevin Bacon), Alice (Adrienne King), Bill (Harry Crosby), Marcie (Jeannine Taylor), and Ned (Mark Nelson) pay little attention to the locals. Then they discover that a vicious killer is following them. The counsellors fight to survive as they are stabbed, shot, and slashed by a ruthless foe.
Friday The 13th: Jason Voorhees Best Kills
- You can't disagree that Jason Voorhees is an icon among all the slashers in horror film history, even though he's not our top choice. The hockey-masked monster from Camp Crystal Lake has been a source of terror since the 1980s and is frequently mimicked but never equalled. Additionally, he doesn't seem to be slowing down.
- Writer Victor Miller initially called Jason, Josh in his first drafts. But later changed it to Jason as he thought Josh was ‘too nice’. ‘Josh in Hell’ or ‘Freddy Vs Josh’ doesn’t have the same ring to it.
- Miller chose the name Jason, because of his High School bully.
- Friday 13th didn’t pick up the trademark hockey mask until Part III. It was originally going to be an umpire mask.
1. Michael Myers (Halloween)
Six-year-old Michael Myers savagely killed his older sister Judith, on a chilly Halloween night in 1963. He received a 15-year prison sentence. However, a 21-year-old Michael Myers steals a car and flees Smith's Grove on October 30, 1978, while being transported for a court date. To find his new victims, he goes back to his sleepy hometown of Haddonfield, Illinois.
Halloween (2018) | Michael Myers' Halloween Night Killing Spree
- Michael Myers would become to symbolise masked movie maniacs everywhere. And it may be argued that the iconic mask is primarily to blame. The hollow look, sunken eyes, and pale gaunt demeanour all combine to form a genre emblem.
- Michael Myers was the name of the head of the now dissolved British Company Miracle Films.
- Myers, after meeting with producer Irwin Yablans, distributed John Carpenter's previous film Assault on Precinct 13 in 1977. His name was chosen as a tribute to the success.
So there you have it, 15 of the best horror movie characters with masks. Personally, I wouldn’t want to meet any of them up close and personal. How about you?
