# Let's rate cinematic SF/Fantasy villains by how terrifying they are. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 13, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860 "2013-03-13T21:24:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fugazi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f08c70/32.png) [@Fugazi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fugazi)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/21 "2013-03-14T02:33:07Z")
The Toruk-han from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. An army of Slayers would have lost to them if Spike hadn’t gone nuclear and taken them all out. I give them a 95 because they’re ugly too. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/22 "2013-03-14T03:31:04Z")
Scorpius, from _Farscape_. They had initially set up Crais as this insane, unstoppable, implacable foe… And then they bring in a guy so bad that he forces Crais to be a hero by comparison. They later tried to do the same thing to Scorpius himself, with the Sweaty Cleavage Lady, but I don’t think that one worked out nearly as well. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/23 "2013-03-14T03:52:50Z")
facehuggers 99.9. sure, momma will rip you to pieces, but baby will impregnate you, and eat you from the inside out. i know this from personal experience in a computer game. /cue sounds of skittering ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/24 "2013-03-14T04:07:23Z")
the invisible monster from Morbius’s id in _Forbidden Planet_: 90 ---
**Author:** ![Wargamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/df705f/32.png) [@Wargamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wargamer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/25 "2013-03-14T19:19:52Z")
Sauron? I don’t consider myself enough of an expert on the Professor’s works to properly grade him, but I’d imagine somewhere in the high 90’s. Balrog - 94 I mean, a 25 foot tall flame being wielding a firey whip? \ ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/26 "2013-03-14T19:36:00Z")
Shelob. 97 ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/27 "2013-03-14T20:03:00Z")
> [@Wargamer](#): > > Sauron? > > I don’t consider myself enough of an expert on the Professor’s works to properly grade him, but I’d imagine somewhere in the high 90’s. Sauron, seriously? He’s a giant, floating, firey [del]vag[/del]- er, [del]vul[/del]- er, eyeball in the sky. Oooooooh, scary. He’s significantly **less** present in the books, as I recall. I’d give “the writer,” a.k.a. Anthony Burgess, and his cronies in _ **A Clockwork Orange** _ a passing high score, perhaps somewhere in the eighties, for gleeful malice in taking young Alex and locking him in a room with Ludwig Van so that it he wants to snuff it. …on the other hand, some folks might think it’s young Alex who needs the score… ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/28 "2013-03-14T20:26:03Z")
> [@Balance](#): > > And sorry, **Skald** , but while the Weeping Angels were brilliantly, creatively creepy, I can’t agree that they rank that high. The fact that they didn’t outright kill their victims is a curious factor: _we_ know what happened to the victims, but to others in-universe, they simply disappeared. That’s creepy, especially as the missing count builds, but it doesn’t have the same impact as actually seeing the aftermath of an attack. Their camouflage is good, but rather restrictive, and their appearance can’t compete with the otherness of the Alien. Also, they can be held at bay by coordinated winking. > > I give them points for the fact that the best place to retreat from them is among a bunch of snakes, but I can’t really give them any higher than an 85. I would also argue that the Weeping Angels suffer from diminishing returns. “Blink” was creepy as heck but by the time we get to the giant weeping angel in New York and it’s skittering cherub babies, much of the the creepiness is lost. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/29 "2013-03-14T20:26:09Z")
Let’s see. How about Glory, from _Buffy the Vampire Slayer_. She’s a ditz, incredibly vain, ludicrously powerful, was essentially undefeatable except in her weakened alternate form, and murderous beyond all rationality. 95. As long as we’re on _Buffy_, how about Mayor Wilkins? Affably evil, sold his soul for power, was able to draw many powerful minions to his side, ascended to full demonhood, but ultimately couldn’t defeat Buffy and a bunch of high school students. His ascension lasted about five minutes. 91. Still a great character, though. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/30 "2013-03-14T20:33:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > To whom? > > And have the Reavers been mentioned yet? Any hoard that can be defeated by a 110 little girl isn’t something to be feared. ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Cake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/2acd7d/32.png) [@Mrs.Cake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Cake)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2013, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/31 "2013-03-14T21:09:03Z")
That little African doll from _Trilogy of Terror_ - 97 The creepy dead girl in _The Ring_ - 98 The rape ghost from _The Entity_ (1982 version) - 99 ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/32 "2013-03-15T04:32:30Z")
Pennywise the Clown - 96 ---
**Author:** ![Mavic\_Chen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mavic\_Chen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mavic_Chen)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 10:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/33 "2013-03-15T10:03:41Z")
Any film featuring a hand that gets chopped off - which then gains a life of its own, crawling about and strangling people. Me aged 10 -\> Hand = 92 Me aged now -\> Hand = 50 (still gives me the heebie-jeebies) ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/34 "2013-03-15T10:32:11Z")
I know you said cinematic monsters but can we please include some video game critters? If so I’d like to nominate Regenerators from Resident Evil 4. Creepiest, most difficult, scariest monsters ever. I hate, hate hate hate hate them (in a good way). Easily a 100. Scarier than sex with Nancy Grace for all eternity. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/35 "2013-03-15T15:31:33Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > I would also argue that the Weeping Angels suffer from diminishing returns. “Blink” was creepy as heck but by the time we get to the giant weeping angel in New York and it’s skittering cherub babies, much of the the creepiness is lost. Speak for yourself! The Angels creep me out every time I see them! 😛 (In a good way, though–I love them. :)) And I’m kicking myself for forgetting Pennywise the Clown. \ ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/36 "2013-03-15T17:39:21Z")
Yes the Weeping Angels are scary, but the Silence are even scarier! You turn your back and you forget you ever saw them. Weeping Angels 95, Silence 98. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/37 "2013-03-15T17:54:56Z")
the Daleks = 15 Davros = 85 Hannibal Lecter - 87 (10 points deducted from original “Silence of the Lambs” score due to increasingly campy sequels.) Pale Man (from “Pan’s Labyrinth”) = 110 ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/38 "2013-03-15T18:11:47Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > Pale Man (from “Pan’s Labyrinth”) = 110 Oh, good lord. I was trying and failing to think of anything good enough for the thread, and all I can think of is scary-as-hell books. But the Pale Man? Yeah, he’s what Pennywise is afraid of. ---
**Author:** ![Yodalicious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yodalicious/32/8195_2.png) [@Yodalicious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yodalicious)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/39 "2013-03-15T18:24:16Z")
Terminators have to be at least in the high 80s. “It can’t be bargained with. It can’t be reasoned with. It doesn’t feel pity, or remorse, or fear. And it absolutely will not stop, ever, until you are dead.” ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860/40 "2013-03-15T18:45:53Z")
Oh, I have an entry! [Hands of Blue 1 and Hands of Blue 2](http://firefly.wikia.com/wiki/Hands_of_Blue) from Firefly. Let’s put them around 85-90. I don’t especially find ravening madmen all that frightening: they’re like beasts, and they’re terrifying, sure. Terminator-types are also not especially frightening to me, more like a traffic accident. But the Hands of Blue types, with their calm businesslike demeanor, give me the willies. I think there needs to be something to contrast with the horror to set it off. The Pale Man is in such a beautiful setting and moves so gracefully, and is all the more appalling for it, for example. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-rate-cinematic-sf-fantasy-villains-by-how-terrifying-they-are/652860.md?page=3)