10 Horror Movie Villains That Could Have Been Totally Avoided

When it comes to the genre of Horror
as a whole, there tend to be several common characteristics from movie to movie. It’s a safe bet to assume there will be suspense, jump scares, or over-the-top gore. However, regardless of any differences in plot, it is virtually guaranteed that one of the characters will make a string of poor decisions. The beloved Scary Movie films, which will gain another title in 2026 with Scary Movie 6, managed to build an entire franchise around this idea.

As frustrating as these stupid choices are, some don’t hold a candle to others. In certain instances, a simple action could’ve completely changed the trajectory of the story and nullified the threat. These examples are typically present in films where the villain gains their power from some sort of summoning or ritual, or the ire of the villain could have been avoided through common decency. There are several exciting horror movies to look forward to in 2025, which will most likely exhibit similar qualities.

10

Carrie

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Carrie (1976)

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In consideration of legendary author Stephen King’s best movies, Carrie is undoubtedly one of the standout cinematic adaptations of his works. Since its 1976 release, the film remains iconic within the horror genre and has inspired several modern remakes. When it comes to avoiding Carrie White’s (Sissy Spacek) wrath, the answer is simple. The bottom line is to not be cruel to people, especially to the degree of Carrie’s maltreatment at school.

Carrie

R

Carrie is a horror film directed by Brian De Palma, based on Stephen King’s novel. It stars Sissy Spacek as Carrie White, a shy high school student who discovers her telekinetic abilities. Tormented by her peers and controlled by her fanatically religious mother, played by Piper Laurie, the film follows Carrie’s emotional and psychological struggles leading to a dramatic climax. Carrie solidified its place in the horror genre for its powerful performances and chilling atmosphere.

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Release Date

November 16, 1976

Runtime

98 Minutes

Cast

Sissy Spacek
, Piper Laurie
, Amy Irving
, John Travolta
, William Katt

Director

Brian De Palma

Her life is a living hell in both the classroom and the household. She wasn’t some malicious demon who was summoned, but rather a sweet girl whose telekinesis was innate. Carrie wouldn’t dare use her abilities for violence against others. Yet, her mother’s abuse and classmates’ vicious pig’s blood ploy pushed her past the breaking point, and understandably so. Her peers would’ve sung a different tune if they had known her potential, but it was too late.

9

Paddy

Speak No Evil (2024)

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James Watkin’s Speak No Evil was easily one of the best horror films to hit screens in 2024. Packed with suspense, excellent performances, and a unique narrative, the movie had a surprising amount of depth considering the straightforward premise. Essentially, the Dalton family meets Paddy (James McAvoy) and his wife on vacation and agrees to spend the weekend with them at their country farm.

Speak No Evil

R

Speak No Evil is a 2024 horror-thriller film by writer-director James Watkins. A remake of the 2022 movie Speak No Evil follows a family who head to the country for a much-needed vacation – but the situation quickly deteriorates, thrusting them into a horrific nightmare.

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Release Date

September 13, 2024

Runtime

110 Minutes

Cast

James McAvoy
, Mackenzie Davis
, Scoot McNairy
, Alix West Lefler
, Aisling Franciosi

Director

James Watkins

When it’s clear that there are ill intentions, the Daltons know they can’t stay. Given that Paddy had a weird vibe from the get-go, the family could’ve easily said no to the invitation in the first place. After arriving, it’s obvious that things are off, and are only becoming more strange. The Daltons have countless chances to leave, and after finally escaping, they feel the need to drive back to retrieve their daughter’s toy bunny. It’s truly infuriating; the fallout could’ve been avoided so swiftly.

8

Pale Man

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)

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In terms of Guillermo del Toro movies, Pan’s Labyrinth exhibits the legendary director at his absolute best. The dream-like dark fantasy story features beautiful environments, whimsical creatures, and intriguing realms, feeling like a poignant fever dream from start to finish. When exploring the ancient labyrinth, young Ofelia (Ivana Baquero) comes across the Pale Man (Doug Jones), a grotesque, slender creature who sees by holding eyes in his hands.

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Even though he isn’t the leading antagonist, the Pale Man is certainly a spectacle in the film, and his presence ramps up the element of horror. The dining table he sits at is packed with a decadent feast, and Ofelia is only given one condition: don’t eat anything. Disregarding her single instruction, she quickly breaks this rule and plucks a grape off the table. Unsurprisingly, the Pale Man becomes enraged and comes after her.

7

The Djinn

Wishmaster (1997)

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Robert Kurtzman’s Wishmaster is a prime example of a dormant horror franchise that needs more sequels. The film series is relatively unknown, which is a shame given how entertaining the premise is. Although there are four installments in total, the villain and his rules are generally the same. In Wishmaster movies, someone unwillingly summons an evil Djinn who unleashes havoc on those around him. It is another fairy tale-inspired narrative where there are simple rules which are inevitably broken.

Wishmaster

R

An ancient Djinn is released from a gemstone, granting twisted wishes to those who summon him. As the Djinn wreaks havoc, a woman named Alexandra Amberson discovers the connection between the mystical entity and the chaos around her. She must race against time to stop the Djinn before he unleashes his brethren and brings about an age of terror.

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Release Date

September 19, 1997

Runtime

90 minutes

Cast

Tony Todd
, Tammy Lauren
, Robert Englund
, Andrew Divoff
, Kane Hodder

Director

Robert Kurtzman

To allow the rest of his species to emerge from their realm, the Djinn must grant three wishes, which ultimately have twisted and malicious outcomes. The most obvious avoidance method is to simply not summon him, but the franchise makes it clear that accidents happen. If that fails, the next line of defense is to just not wish for anything. Although the evil genie often tries to twist words to get someone on a technicality, the safest bet is to say absolutely nothing.

6

Pumpkinhead

Pumpkinhead (1988)

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Although the franchise has never been a mainstream household name, the Pumpkinhead movies are filled with quality scares and a distinctive leading villain that would look even better if it were portrayed with modern-day effects. In the first movie, Ed Harley (Lance Henriksen) seeks out a witch named Haggis (Florence Schauffler) after his son is wrongfully killed.

Pumpkinhead

R

Directed by Stan Winston, Pumpkinhead is a supernatural horror film that was released in 1988 and marked the beginning of a franchise of films. After Ed Harley’s son is killed in a reckless hit-and-run accident by a group of teenagers, he seeks the help of a local witch to exact vengeance against them. With the witches’ help, Ed summons a demon known as Pumpkinhead to do the deed – but he soon realizes the dire consequences of his actions as the mischievous demon begins a killing spree.

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Release Date

October 14, 1988

Runtime

86 Minutes

Cast

Lance Henriksen
, John D’Aquino
, Jeff East
, Kerry Remsen
, Kimberly Ross
, Mayim Bialik
, Buck Flower

Director

Stan Winston

Wanting revenge on the teens who murdered his son, Ed helps Haggis resurrect Pumpkinhead, a vicious demon who quickly sets off on a bloody rampage. Although Ed’s desire for justice has merit, his son’s death was an accident, and summoning a murderous mythical creature probably isn’t the best solution. To make matters worse, he doesn’t even take time to consider another option. Instead of bringing the situation to the police or tracking down the killer, Ed’s first thought is to approach a witch and summon a demon.

5

Betelgeuse

Beetlejuice (1988)

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There aren’t any films quite like Tim Burton’s original Beetlejuice. The wacky horror comedy was a commercial success upon its release and has garnered a deeply dedicated fanbase over time. The movie is so beloved that it inspired a sequel nearly 40 years later with the hit 2024 Halloween blockbuster Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Additionally, the 1988 installment demonstrates a clear-cut example of a summoning dilemma.

Beetlejuice

PG

Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice stars Michael Keaton as the titular “bio-exorcist”, an obnoxious spirit who specializes in driving living occupants out of homes. When Barbara (Geena Davis) and Adam Maitland (Alec Baldwin) die suddenly, they pass into the spirit realm, and must stay in their home. However, in the living world, the Deetz family purchases the house and moves in, prompting the Maitlands to enlist the help of Beetlejuice to drive them away.

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Release Date

March 30, 1988

Runtime

92 minutes

Cast

Catherine O’Hara
, Michael Keaton
, Geena Davis
, Alec Baldwin
, Winona Ryder
, Jeffrey Jones

Director

Tim Burton

Adam (Alec Baldwin) and Barbara (Geena Davis) want the living family out of their house, and it seems like the only solution is employing Beetlejuice (Michael Keaton) by saying his name three times. Despite the numerous warnings from Juno (Sylvia Sidney), the newly deceased couple decide to enlist the help of the mischievous ghost anyway. It’s a tough situation for them, considering the alternative is haunting a house for 125 years. Nevertheless, they do the one thing they’re not supposed to, and it backfires.

4

Shark

Jaws (1975)

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Steven Spielberg’s 1975 masterpiece Jaws is certainly one of the most famous movies of all time, and is a certified Hollywood classic. The film is often credited as being the first blockbuster production ever, considering its massive marketing efforts and global impact. It’s unlikely for a horror movie to hit major box office milestones but Jaws ​​​​​​defied the odds.

Jaws

PG-13

Steven Spielberg’s legendary tale of one man’s desperate battle with a killer Great White shark on his small seaside community. Faced with a mounting list of victims and a local authority dead-set against causing panic or destroying the tourist economy, he assembles a team to tackle the shark head-on.

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Release Date

June 18, 1975

Runtime

124 minutes

Cast

Roy Scheider
, Robert Shaw
, Richard Dreyfuss
, Lorraine Gary
, Murray Hamilton
, Carl Gottlieb

Director

Steven Spielberg

The method of avoiding the villain in Jaws takes absolutely zero effort. All one has to do is simply stay out of the ocean. While the solution is laughably straightforward, taking this route wouldn’t make for much of a dramatic effect. Never setting foot in the water again is a big ask, but at the same time, it was already clear there was a man-eating shark close to Amity Island. With that being said, even with the “antagonist” out of the picture, the film instills a lingering fear of the unknown.

3

Samara/Sadako

Ringu (1998)

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When it comes to popular horror franchises, Ringu is a household name. The Japanese film was first released in 1998 and was later met with an American sequel in 2002 dubbed The Ring, which brought massive popularity to the story. Although there are a total of 14 Ring movies, the original and its follow-up are generally considered to be the best.

Ringu

Not Rated

Based on the Japanese horror novel by Koji Suzuki, Ringu is a supernatural horror film directed by Hideo Nakata and was released in 1998. Reporter Reiko Asakawa is prompted to investigate a strange videotape that supposedly led to the death of her niece and her friends. However, after Reiko finds and views the tape, she too becomes cursed and must solve the case behind the tape within a week before meeting her fate.

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Release Date

January 31, 1998

Runtime

95 Minutes

Cast

Nanako Matsushima
, Hiroyuki Sanada
, Rikiya Otaka
, Miki Nakatani
, Yûko Takeuchi
, Hitomi Sato
, Yutaka Matsushige

Director

Hideo Nakata

The fabled villain, Sadako Yamamura (Rie Ino’o), or Samara Morgan (Daveigh Chase) in the American version, is easily one of the most iconic antagonists of the genre. In these films, people watch a cursed videotape created by Sadako that ultimately kills them in seven days. When it comes to defeating her, it’s again pretty simple: don’t watch the tape. It’s easy to theorize the efficacy of other potential techniques, such as copying the video or fighting Sadako directly. However, all things considered, she’s powerless without a visual connection.

2

Candyman

Candyman (1992)

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Bernard Rose’s 1992 horror Candyman includes one of the most memorable and unique villains to ever grace the silver screen. There are a total of three films in the original franchise in addition to the 2021 remake. Both versions stand alone in their ability to create bone-chilling horror and thoughtful social commentary.

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The villain, Daniel Robitaille, or Candyman (Tony Todd), was an African American man who was brutally killed in the late 1800s due to an interracial romance. His ghost lived on in urban legend, and to summon him, one must simply say his name out loud five times in front of a mirror. When this happens, Candyman appears and viciously kills whoever he sees. It isn’t rocket science to figure out how to avoid this risk altogether. It’s as simple as staying clear of mirrors and sequentially saying his name.

1

Pinhead

Hellraiser (1987)

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In 1987, Clive Barker kicked off another fan-favorite horror franchise with the release of Hellraiser. Since then, there have been a whopping 10 more installments, with the most recent being a 2022 reboot. The events of the original film sum up the premise nicely. There is a mystical puzzle box that summons Cenobites, extradimensional masochists who torture those who open the box.

Hellraiser

R

Based on the novella The Hellbound Heart,  Hellraiser is a 1987 supernatural horror film written and directed by the novella’s original author, Clive Barker. After an unfaithful wife encounters the zombie of her dead lover, demonic entities known as cenobites pursue him after he escapes their sadomasochistic underworld. 

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Release Date

September 18, 1987

Runtime

94 minutes

Cast

Ashley Laurence
, Sean Chapman
, Doug Bradley
, Andrew Robinson
, Claire Higgins
, Nicholas Vince
, Simon Bamford
, Grace Kirby
, Oliver Smith

Director

Clive Barker

Pinhead (Doug Bradley) is one of the Cenobite leaders and remains the spectacle of the series. Given that he is essentially from Hell, there aren’t many routes towards salvation. Pinhead is immune to all physical attacks, so once the box has been opened, it’s over. Once again, the method of avoidance in this situation is simply to not summon the invulnerable supernatural being. According to canon, if someone is forced to open it against their will, Pinhead will show mercy. Hopefully, the franchise will continue with a Hellraiser reboot sequel, perhaps avoiding this horror trope.

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