Movie villains come in all shapes and sizes. For some the best underrated movie villains are the ones that can scare them out of their seats and for others the best are the ones who look the most heinous. For me, the best underrated villains are the ones who display characteristics that make it difficult for me to decide whether I like them or hate them. This makes it hard to determine what they are actually capable of, which in turn gives you many shocking and gruesome moments that you just didn't see coming. With that I give you my TOP TEN UNDERATTED MOVIE VILLAINS AND WHY THEY ARE INTERESTING:
10) John Doe (SE7EN): Kevin Spacey plays a deranged serial killer who uses the seven deadly sins (1.Lust 2.Gluttony 3.Greed 4.Sloth 5.Wrath 6.Envy 7.Pride) as his motive and canvas to kill his victims. The character of John Doe grows throughout the movie. You know you should be disapproving of this character, but at the same time you almost understand why he is ridding the world of these people. Then when John Doe is finally revealed you start to understand even more of why he does what he does. However, the writers do help you make your decision about John Doe an easy one with a shocking ending that most who have seen the movie will never forget.
9) Catherine Tramell (BASIC INSTINCT): Sharon Stone's breakthrough role. This is the role that got her on the map of Hollywood. The scene with her in the interrogation room crossing her legs lives vividly in the minds of just about every man that saw that movie. Tramell is a writer who is being heavily investigated for murders that have been accurately detailed in her book. Michael Douglas plays the role of the lucky detective assigned to investigate Tramell. Tramell is arrogant and sexy. She gives you that image of that bad girl you couldn't stand back in college, but at the same time you knew if you were alone with her she could easily con you into sleeping with her no matter how bad she was because she was just that sexy.
8) Anne Wilkes (MISERY): Kathy Bates pulls off a great rendition of a silly middle aged kook living out in the middle of nowhere. Anne Wilkes is huge fan of the MISERY book series written by her favorite author Paul Sheldon. You can only imagine how extacic she is to have rescued him from a wintery car crash and have the opportunity to nurse him back to health. You can't help but view Anne as the crazy old aunt most of us have in our family, until she gives you a view of her dark side and capabilities. If you lived with her, there would be no doubt that you would be sleepig with one eye open every night.
7) Col. Nathan Jessup (A FEW GOOD MEN): Jack Nicholson is riveting as a Col. in the United States Marine Corp with the duty of commanding the US Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Col. Jessup is an arrogant smart ass who believes he is above the law and the government. He unleashes his authority to have a slacking marine killed, but manages to have two of his soldiers take the fall for the murder. You have a hard time disliking Col. Jessup at first because he just gives off the arrogant Jack Nicholson we have all grown to love. However, you soon gain an urgency to have him put away for life when you see just how superior he believes he his when he takes the court stand in one of the most captivating scenes in movie history.
6) Norman Bates (PSYCHO): Anthony Perkins stars as Norman Bates who runs a creepy looking hotel in the middle of nowhere. Bates is a simple man, but with a bit of a problem. He likes dressing up like his late mother and slashing helpless victims in his hotel. You know what old Norman is doing to these people, but you just kind of want to get the guy some psychiatric help because he seems nice enough when he is not killing people. The infamous shower scene is what almost every movie buff always pictures when they recollect on this movie.
5) Alonzo Harris (TRAINING DAY): Denzel Washington finally won a long overdue Oscar for his portrayal of Alonzo Harris. Alonzo is a cocky corrupted street detective who takes on a new trainee Jake Hoyt played by Ethan Hawke. You believe Alonzo is teaching Hoyt the ways of the street until you learn there is a plan behind his training. Alonzo is cool and confident and you kind of enjoy his bad ass mentality. It isn't unitl late into the movie that you can't wait to watch his trainee teach him a thing or two.
4) Sil (SPECIES): Natasha Henstridge won her first movie role as a mutant alien that develops into a gorgeous blonde babe who is on a mission to mate with the human male species so that her off spring can run the earth or something of that nature. Sil is strangely a likeable character who seems sweet and innocent when in containment. However, when she breaks out and starts club hopping in the streets of LA with the intentions of breeding, you soon see no matter how hot Sil is she is not someone you would want carrying your offspring.
3) Alex Forrest (FATAL ATTRACTION): Glenn Close's character is sexy and in need of a restraining order. This movie had every man in the world never purchasing a pet rabbit for their child or cheating on their wife for at least a good two years after they watched it. Alex seduces Dan played by Michael Douglas while his wife and daughter are out of town. Dan falls for the seduction and has a long weekend of dirty and steamy sex with Alex. Little did he know that the weekend would turn into Alex wanting it to be forever. I am sure she had Dan wishing he wasn't so good in the sack. Alex does crazy thing after crazy thing, from constant phone calls and showing up at his home all the way to attempting suicide. You know everything a girl who can't let you go would do.
2) John Milton aka The Devil (THE DEVIL'S ADVOCATE): Al Pacino is incredible and convincing as the Devil. John Milton is the head of a large and prosperous law firm in New York City. When he recruits Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) and his wife Mary Ann from a small town near Gainesville, FL they think their dreams are coming true. Little do they know that it is all part of the devil's plan. John is a likeable guy who gives Kevin and his wife a great salary and a condo in a great building near central park. He is a wise cracker and egotistical being that is sexual and deviant. Kevin takes to him as a father figure and laughs at his quirky remarks and antics. However, simultaneously John is messing with wife Mary Ann's mind with evil sightings of monterous beings and babies running around with her ovaries. Kevin soon learns in the end he was spot on when he viewed John as a father figure.
1) Hannibal Lecter (SILENCE OF THE LAMBS): Anthony Hopkins won an oscar for his role as the tidy serial killer Hannibal Lecter. Lecter is a jailed psychiatrist without the opportunity for parole. A true menace to soceity, but with class. He believes in manners and fine dining. When Agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is asked to take on the task of picking Lecter's brain to help capture another serial killer on the lose, she soon realizes he is the one picking her brain. You watch this movie knowing this guy is evil, but you can't help but take to him and his compelling accent that draws you in. Everyone who has seen this movie can picture his face forever in that leather mask with three bars covering his mouth to control his uncanny taste for dining on human beings.