Let's Unmask 16 Of The Scariest Horror Movie Villains, And Hopefully, We'll All Be Able To Fall Asleep Tonight After This

Can you imagine what it ’s like to be the target of grand , even millions , of minor ’s ( and adults ' ) nightmares ?

Welcome to the absolute best time of year, spooky season. Everyone remembers their firsthorror movie. Mine wasA Nightmare on Elm Street.My older sister thought it would be great for her, my mom, and an 8-year-old me to watch a movie that would subsequently make me stay wide awake for the next week in fear that I would soon be hearing, “One, two, Freddy’s coming for you.”

But of course, as you age, the scary monsters become the actors we know them to be. As adults, we know that although they look like people derived straight from the pits of hell in costume, they’re just normal human beings outside of it. So here are some of the most iconic horror movie villains, in and out of costume:

1.The Exorcist(1973): Linda Blair as Regan MacNeil (possessed by Pazuzu)

Here’s Linda out of costume at the 50th anniversary of the Saturn Awards in 2022:

2.The Ring(2002):Daveigh Chase as Samara Morgan

Here’s Daveigh out of costume atThe Ringpremiere in 2002 and as an adult in 2012:

Kelly Stables took over for Daveigh forThe Ring Two,but the last person to have the role was Bonnie Morgan in the trilogy’s 2017 movieRings. Here’s Bonnie in costume:

And here’s Bonnie out of costume at theRingspremiere in 2017:

3.It(1990):Tim Curryas the original Pennywise the Clown

Here’s Tim out of costume at theItpremiere in 1990:

Bill Skarsgård most recently played Pennywise in a 2017 remake and again in 2019 for the sequel,It Chapter Two:

And here’s Bill out of costume at theItpremiere in 2017:

4.The Grudge(2004):Takako Fuji (who portrayed the role in both the original Japanese and US versions from 1998–2006) as Kayako Saeki

Here’s Takako out of costume atThe Grudge 2premiere in 2006:

5.Insidious(2010): Joseph Bishara as the Lipstick-Face Demon

Here’s Joseph out of costume at the premiere ofInsidious: Chapter 2in 2013:

6.The Conjuring(2013):Joseph Bishara as Bathsheba

Here’s Joseph (once again) out of costume at the premiere ofThe Conjuringin 2013:

7.The Nun(2018): Bonnie Aarons as Valak (The Nun)

Here’s Bonnie out of costume atThe Nunpremiere in 2018:

8.Jeepers Creepers(2001): Jonathan Breck (who portrayed the role in the first three movies of the franchise) as The Creeper inJeepers Creepers 2

Here’s Jonathan out of costume at theJeepers Creepers 2premiere in 2003:

Jarreau Benjamin most recently played The Creeper in the 2022 movieJeepers Creepers: Reborn:

And here’s Jarreau out of costume in 2017:

9.Friday The 13th(1980): Ari Lehman as the first (unmasked) Jason Voorhees

Here’s Ari out of costume at the Hollywood Autograph Show in 2019:

The first (hockey mask) portrayal of Jason was given to us by Richard Brooker in the 1982 movie,Friday the 13th: Part III:

Here’s Richard out of costume at the Hollywood Show in 2009; he passed away in 2013:

Derek Mears most recently played Jason in the 2009Friday the 13thremake:

And here’s Derek out of costume at theFriday the 13thpremiere in 2009:

10.The Texas Chain Saw Massacre(1974):Gunnar Hansen as the original Leatherface accompanied by Hitchhiker, Grandpa, and the Old Man (The Cook)

Here’s Gunnar out of costume at the Monster Mania Convention in 2012, he passed away in 2015:

Mark Burnham most recently played Leatherface in a 2022 Netflix movie,Texas Chainsaw Massacre:

And here’s Mark out of costume at a screening series in 2013:

11.Halloween(1978): Nick Castle and Tony Moran both played the original (masked and unmasked) Michael Myers

Here’s Nick (masked Michael) out of costume in 2018 at theHalloweenpremiere:

Here’s Tony (unmasked Michael) out of costume at a Halloween festival in 2017:

James Jude Courtney has most recently played Michael Myers since 2018:

And here’s James out of costume at theHalloweenpremiere in 2018:

12.Predator(1987): Kevin Peter Hall (who portrayed the role in the first two movies of the franchise) as the Predator

Here’s Kevin with his wife, actor Alaina Reed Hall, and their children at the premiere ofPredator 2in 1990. He passed away in 1991:

13.Sinister(2012): Nicholas King as Bughuul

Here’s Nick out of costume at ScareFest 8 in 2015:

14.Barbarian(2022): Matthew Patrick Davis as The Mother

Here’s Matthew out of costume at a special screening ofBarbarianin 2022:

15.Hellraiser(1987): Doug Bradley (who portrayed the role in the first eight movies of the franchise) as Pinhead

Here’s Doug out of costume at Monsterpalooza in 2018:

Jamie Clayton most recently played Pinhead in the 2022Hellraiserreboot:

And here’s Jamie out of costume at a special screening ofHellraiserin 2022:

And finally, let’s hear it for the man who showed me what nightmares are truly made of:

16.A Nightmare on Elm Street(1984): Robert Englund as the original Freddy Krueger

Here’s Robert out of costume at the Sitges Film Festival in 2022:

Jackie Earle Haley most recently played Freddy in the 2010A Nightmare on Elm Streetremake:

And here’s Jackie at theA Nightmare on Elm Streetpremiere in 2010:

A little serial dating never killed anyone. 📱🔪 F Marry Kill starring Lucy Hale and Virginia Gardner is now playing in select theaters and on digital.Watch the Trailer Now!