Trick Or Treat

Of all the bloodthirsty crazies who keep getting up from the floor to take yet another stab at some feckless innocents, these are your favorites, Fandango fans.

Nick Castle, Jr. in Halloween.
(Copyright Compass International Pictures)

1. Michael Myers, Halloween (9 movies since 1978)

Director John Carpenter got in early on the slasher craze, and so was able to nab himself the best holiday-themed title. Halloween began the oft-repeated slasher-film theme of naughty kids dying, nice kids surviving. Myers has also been known as The Shape, due to his fleeting, faceless appearances. In fact, his frozen mask is reportedly based on a hastily spray-painted Captain Kirk mask.

FUN FACT: Carpenter  himself composed and performed Halloween's "haunting" theme tune, a karaoke favorite of the era: "DOO-doo-da-DOO-doo-da-DOO-da-doo-da,  DOO-doo-da-DOO-doo-da-DOO-da-doo-da..." 

Obvious things last: This indefatigable knifester, named after a film executive pal, would surely have had a different name had the Austin Powers/ Wayne's World star been born 15 years earlier.

Ken Kirzinger in Freddy vs. Jason.
(Copyright New Line Cinema)

Robert Englund in A Nightmare on Elm Street.
(Copyright New Line Cinema)

2. Jason Voorhees, Friday the 13th (11 movies since 1980)

You gotta hand it to the clever guys behind the Friday the 13th series who introduced the concept of a psycho in a hockey mask, an object previously perceived as "Canadian" and unthreatening.

FUN FACT: Perhaps the oddest thing about this franchise is that it was created by one of the most committed soap opera writers (All My Children, plus pretty much all the rest of them) in the business, Victor Miller.

3. Freddy Krueger, A Nightmare On Elm Street (8 movies since 1984)

With this and the Scream series under his belt, plus a number of really scary one-offs, Wes Craven must surely be the all-time Sultan of Cinematic Shocks. His Freddy -- in a jaunty fedora and sporty Swiss Army Glove -- attacks victims in their dreams, which has certainly been something to keep the residents of Elm Street awake at night.

FUN FACT 1: Whereas Jason Voorhees has been portrayed by a succession of actors and stunt men, Freddy has been played by only Robert Englund, once rumored to be the son of Cloris Leachman, best known as "Frau Blucher" in Young Frankenstein.

FUN FACT 2: When the Number Two guy teamed up with our Number Three for Freddy vs. Jason (2003), the result was by far the largest grossing film in either series.

4. Leatherface, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (6 movies since 1974)

When Eminem wanted a look that read "homicidal," he donned Jason's hockey mask, but his weapon of choice? That's right, a chainsaw, like the one that Leatherface first brandished in Tobe Hooper's super-scary original. Leatherface is so-called because he wears a mask of human skin – oh, and he's a cannibal. The original TCM stands as an art-house-meets-spook-house classic, a film proudly chosen for the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.

FUN FACT: The under-esteemed fourth entry in the series, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation, stars two native Texans who would soon be chainsawing their paths to the top: Renée Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey. (See our list of "Most Unlikely Horror Debuts.")

5. Jigsaw, Saw (4 movies since 2004)

As this decade's reigning horror franchise, Saw is worthy of serious scrutiny. What is it that fans appreciate about a gruesome but admittedly creative torturer like Jigsaw (Tobin Bell)? Here are some elements that set Jigsaw apart from the pack:

1. Jigsaw is known to be dying, and therefore contemplative about the nature of life.
2. He believes that his victims -- who are often interconnected -- have been taking their lives for granted.
3. His tortures are fiendishly devised; he would be deeply offended at being lumped in with mere "slashers."

It remains to be seen how long the public's fascination with Jigsaw (not to mention his supposedly doomed corporeal body) will last; we'll probably have a better idea after the total box office tallies are in for Saw IV.

Honorable mention: To the band of Euro-perps – this decade's other hip sadists – in Eli Roth's Hostel.

6. Chucky, Child's Play (5 movies since 1988)

Chucky, voiced by the great character actor Brad Dourif , is a doll "possessed" (and not in the sense of mere ownership) via voodoo by a dying serial killer.

Favorite moment: After Andy, Chucky's six-year-old "owner," is blamed for a murder that Chucky actually committed, Andy's mother notices that Chucky has been operating all along...without batteries!

FUN FACT: Has anyone appeared in more horror franchises than Brad Dourif? Count 'em: Child's Play, Halloween (2007) , Exorcist III (1990), Critters 4 (1991), and Urban Legend (1998).

7. The Creeper, Jeepers Creepers (2 movies since 2001)

The Creeper is an ancient demon who disguises his horrible appearance the same way most of us do – under a long coat and big hat.  He goes on a 23-day killing-and-eating spree every 23 years. Which means that if this franchise runs and runs, they'll need to move either forward or backwards in time – like Back to the Future, except with piles of mutilated corpses.

REALLY SCARY/PATHETIC FACT: The film's original director Victor Salva was once accused of child molestation – and directed a non-horror film called Powder starring an albino Michael Jackson-lookalike.  

8. Candyman, Candyman (3 movies since 1992)

According to legend, you can summon Candyman, the son of a slave who was murdered, by looking into a mirror and chanting his name 5 times. And then you die, and he goes around killing everybody. Now, you'd think, even if there were just a 1% chance of this happening, it would be enough to dissuade most series characters. But of course then you wouldn't have a mini-franchise.

DID YOU KNOW: The first Candyman was directed by Bernard Rose (Immortal Beloved), scored by Philip Glass (top modern classical composer guy), and inspired by a story by Clive Barker (see Hellraiser, below), and starred Virginia Madsen (Sideways). And the second was directed by Oscar winner Bill Condon (Dreamgirls). Classy pedigree.

DID YOU ALSO KNOW: That if you stand in front of a mirror and chant Dreamgirls 5 times, they will actually appear and sing at you...OK, maybe not.

9. The Tall Man, Phantasm (4 movies since 1979)

One thing about The Tall Man (Angus Scrimm): he certainly has a unique modus operandi. He's an undertaker who turns his clients into dwarf zombies, he has these deadly silver-ball weapons, and he has the sweeping ambition of a Bond villain. Plus he's got a great catch phrase: "Boy!" (It's the way he says it.)

FUN FACT: The first Phantasm was partially shot in the touristy California Gold Rush town of Julian (well-known for its autumn apple-picking), a town with a creepy Pioneer Cemetery. A fifth Phantasm is promised for 2008.

Doug Bradley in Hellraiser.
(Copyright New World Pictures)

10.  Pinhead, Hellraiser (8 movies since 1987)

British horrormeister Clive Barker applied acupunctural healing to his bank account with this one, featuring a character (played by Doug Bradley) originally known as Lead Cenobite, but soon nicknamed Pinhead for obvious reasons. Pinhead has supernatural powers of evil and isn't afraid to use them, but if you had to sit down for a meal with one of the freaks on this list, he'd probably be your best chance for decent conversation.

POINT TO PONDER: Are we the only ones surprised that the Pinhead look has not yet entered the fashion mainstream?

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