31 Days of Horror Lists by the Losman- Killer Females

For the month of October I will put out a list of Top 10’s on a number of subjects each day, this should be fun as I would enjoy feedback and discussion on my list and will welcome feedback on how to improve the list as I plan on featuring them on my website. 

Top 10 Female Killers in Horror Films and Thrillers

Carrie White (Carrie 1976) 

Sissy Spacek plays the sheltered teen outcast who unleashes her telekinetic powers in a final act of revenge against the cruel actions of her classmates during her Senior Prom. This was the first book by Stephen King to be adapted to film and still remains one of the best. Followed by a number of unremarkable sequels and remade in 2013 with Chloe Grace Moretz portraying Carrie White. 

Pamela Voorhees (Friday the 13th)

A summer camp employee and mother to Jason Voorhees who is driven to revenge after the supposed drowning of her son by careless camp counselors. She is the primary antagonist in the first Friday the 13th movie and is often mentioned in sequels. Betsy Palmer portrays Mrs. Voorhees is a role that is rather limited but makes an impact in the final confrontation. 

Annie Wilkes (Misery 1990)

Annie Wilkes is a nurse who rescues romance novelist Paul Sheldon and helps him to recover from his injuries after a terrible car accident. While under her care he shares his latest novel to her only to have her react angrily at the fate of her beloved heroine. What follows is a series of cruel and sadistic moves on Mr. Sheldon as she forces him to rewrite the novel to her liking. Kathy Bates would win an Academy Award for her portrayal of the obsessed fan in the 1987 novel Misery by Stephen King. 

Asami Yamazaki (Audition 1999) 

A young dancer who attends a mock audition set up by film producer Shigeharu Aoyama under the pretenses of finding a new girlfriend. Asami reveals to Aoyama her troubled background and the two begin a relationship only to have her seek revenge after she feels betrayed by him when she learns of his past relationships. Asami is sadistic, manipulative and a total psychopath. Audition shocked films goers when it was released and remains one of the most disturbing movies to come from Japan. Asami is portrayed by Japanese fashion model and actress Eihi Shiina.

Samara Morgan (The Ring 2002)

A troubled young girl who has powers she did not understand but could manifest as dark thoughts onto others. Samara would find herself drowned by her adoptive family who feared her mysterious power only to have her return as a vengeful water spirit who appears in a cursed videotape that would send a mysterious phone call to those who watched and warn them that death would follow unless they spread the tape to others. Samara was portrayed by actress Daveigh Chase

Marie (High Tension 2003)

Marie is a college student who suffers from multiple personality disorder that manifests itself into a murderous serial killer who brutally butchers her friend Alex's family while leaving a trail of bloody corpses under the guise of being a pursued victim. High Tension was a controversial 2003 French horror movie directed by Alexander Aja with Marie being portrayed by Cecile de France.




Eli (Let the Right One In 2008)

A child vampire of unknown age, Eli bonds with a lonely neighbor boy and they become close friends. Her need for human blood is important as she cannot consume any other form of nourishment. She is also is bound by rules that require her to seek permission from her host to enter a home. Eli's bond with her friend is important as she will require someone to watch over her as she sleeps and to avoid being caught. Lina Leandersson portrays Eli in this Swedish film that would be remade with Chloe Grace Moretz playing a similar role.



Mary Mason (American Mary 2012)

Mary is a medical student who is strapped for cash and finds lucrative work in the field of extreme body modification. Seeking work as a stripper she is tasked with helping an injured man and is rewarded for her work. She then finds her services are in demand as a number of people are seeking bizarre medical treatments that most other surgeons refuse to perform. Mary takes a turn after she is attacked by a colleague and she extracts revenge by using him as a model to test out various procedures against his will. What started out as a desire to help others may lead her down a road toward revenge and possibly murder. Katherine Isabelle stars as Mary and is also known for her role in the cult classic Ginger Snaps.


Nurse Mildred Ratched (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest 1975)

Nurse Ratched is a strict and cold-hearted head nurse who works in the mental institution featured in the novel and movie of the same name. As head nurse, she has access to patient files that she uses to her advantage by exploiting their mental weaknesses. Her strict adherence to hospital rules make her respected and feared by staff and patients as she abuses her authority to maintain control. Louise Fletch would win an Academy Award for her role and her portrayal of Nurse Ratched is considered to be one of the greatest movie villains of all time.
 

Angela Baker (Sleepaway Camp 1983)

A serial killer who first appears as a harmless looking young girl who is bullied by other campers only to find them murdered by an unknown assailant. Angela has a secret that is revealed in the end of the first movie in one of the most shocking surprise endings of its day. In subsequent sequels, Angela continues to work as a camp counselor who kills campers she feels are anti-social, engage in bad behaviors or threaten those she favors. Angela is portrayed by Felissa Rose in the first and fourth film and Pamela Springsteen in the second and third installments.


Honorable Mentions

Gloria Holden (Dracula's Daughter 1936)
Sil (Species 1995)
Ginger (Ginger Snaps 2000)