2023 has already given horror fans some compelling villains, from a new Ghostface in Scream VI to the antagonists at the heart of Knock At The Cabin and Infinity Pool. While the most iconic horror movie killers will never be replaced, from Ghostface to the Candyman to Freddy Krueger, fans will never tire of checking out new ones. Over the past few years, Blumhouse has continued to put out chilling, haunting horror movies with some thought-provoking villains.
From demons with terrible faces who are the stuff of nightmares to an original take on the killer doll trope, these Blumhouse villains are definitely awe-inspiring and terrifying.
The Red Face Demon (Insidious Franchise)
The Red Face Demon from Insidious comes to mind right away, thanks to the many jump scares in this horror franchise. While he was an angel who was supposed to be loyal to God at first, he was forced to leave Heaven when he didn't listen. He is pure evil and since red is such a powerful color, this was a smart decision. The villain is also called The Man with the Fire in His Face, and both of his names are unsettling.
Before he shows himself to the main characters, the Red Face Demon makes a creepy noise, and while there are many great horror movies that use jump scares, the Insidious franchise succeeds in using this trope to show this villain. No one can ever see him coming, which makes him even scarier. The Lamberts hate that they can never predict when they will see him.
M3GAN (M3GAN, 2022)
The ending of M3GAN leads into the sequel M3GAN 2.0 which is coming in 2025, and Blumhouse succeeded in crafting a killer doll of their own with this villain. M3GAN loves to dance, bonds deeply with her friend Cady (Violet McGraw), and soon sees Gemma (Allison Williams) as an enemy who needs to be stopped.
Everything works about M3GAN, from her adorable face and innocent dress to her viral dance sequence when she proves that she can be wild and unhinged. It's hard to predict what she will do next since her code goes wonky, which adds to the terror surrounding her. M3GAN is a campy movie that surprised audiences as it has a heartwarming family story about grief but is also just plain fun to watch.
Bughuul (Sinister, 2012)
The Blumhouse horror movies Sinister and The Black Phone have great quotes and two chilling performances by Ethan Hawke. But while he plays the villain The Grabber in the latter, the actor terrified audiences as true crime writer Ellison Oswalt in the former, a man who moves into a haunted house with his family. Ellison encounters the demon Bughuul, whose stringy hair, gruesome face, and manipulative tendencies make him one of the most disturbing villains that Blumhouse has created.
Bughuul works so well because he can't be stopped or beaten, which makes him creepier. Best of all, though, his face is incredibly powerful. His gray pallor, sunken eyes, and closed mouth contribute to the disturbing atmosphere of Sinister. The title describes the situation that Ellison finds himself in and also Bughuul himself. There's really no better word to use for this brutal demon who does whatever he can to convince children to kill their families.
Missy And Dean Armitage (Get Out, 2018)
Some horror fans feel that Jordan Peele hasn't matched Get Out, and his 2018 film is definitely a powerful achievement. Telling a scary story while commenting on racism is no small feat and the two villains at the heart of the story, Missy (Catherine Keener) and Dean Armitage (Bradley Whitford), are memorable because they seem so "normal" at the beginning of the movie.
After chatting with their daughter Rose's (Allison Williams) boyfriend Chris Washington (Daniel Kaluuya), a conversation that includes several micro aggressions, Rose's parents are revealed to be completely evil. They try to trap Chris in the sunken place and their true, terrible motives are revealed. As the couple seems innocent at first, they make quite an impression on audiences.
Blissfield Butcher (Freaky, 2020)
With some of the funniest quotes from a Blumhouse horror movie, Freaky blends high school comedy with a classic slasher story, and it also includes a fantastic killer in The Blissfield Butcher. Vince Vaughn's character swaps places with teenager Millie Kessler (Kathryn Newton), which makes the movie as hilarious as it is haunting.
If Freaky didn't include this body-switching premise, the Butcher might seem boring and like another violent killer who is terrorizing the residents of a small town. But because viewers see Millie in the Butcher's body, and she is sweet, innocent, and doesn't want to hurt anyone, that makes this villain stand out.