It can be tricky to craft a compelling fictional serial killer in film and television. Writing a character that feels genuinely frightening despite not being real is hard. However, it can also be tough to make audiences want to watch more of the characters in question, especially when they are brutal killers.
That being said, several stand-out characters across film and television make for great examples of how to perfectly craft a fictional serial killer. We’re going to be looking at a few particularly stand-out choices.
These serial killer characters have become pop culture icons in their own right. They are also played exceptionally by their respective actors. Let’s take a closer look at some of the best – and scariest – serial killers in television and film.
1. Hannibal Lecter – played by Anthony Hopkins in the films and Mads Mikkelsen in the television series
Hannibal Lecter is arguably one of - if not the – most iconic fictional serial killer. Lecter is a brilliant psychiatrist who oozes charm and charisma, but he just so happens to also be a murderer who feasts on his victims.
The cannibalistic element of Hannibal is one of his most well-known features, with his character often dubbed Hannibal the Cannibal. He transforms his victims into fine meals before he consumes them.
The juxtaposition of Hannibal’s taste for the finer things in life with his brutal nature has made him an icon for horror fans.
2. Dexter Morgan – played by Michael C. Hall
Dexter Morgan is a well-known television show serial killer and the main protagonist of the show Dexter. It is difficult to create an endearing serial killer character on their own, but creating one that manages to hold together an entire series is all the more impressive.
Dexter works as a forensic technician specialising in blood splatters, but he lives a double life as a serial killer vigilante. He targets other murderers who have not had justice brought to them as they should have due to issues such as technicalities or judicial corruption.
The show focuses on Dexter balancing his everyday persona with the homicidal maniac within. The moral ambiguity of Dexter, combined with his genuine charm and likeability, makes him a noteworthy figure in the realm of fictional serial killers.
3. Patrick Bateman – played by Christian Bale
In the 2000 film American Psycho – based on the novel of the same name – Patrick Bateman is a wealthy man with extremely sadistic tendencies. This side of his personality leads him down the dark path of a serial killer.
Christian Bale’s performance as Patrick Bateman is exceptional, as the actor perfectly balances his wealthy decadent charm with psychopathic violence. Bateman is a narcissist obsessed with material goods and outward appearances. This shallow nature is a well-thought-out reflection of his emotional detachment.
Bateman is a killer who has no remorse and no respect for human life. He kills strangers and people he knows without a second thought, and with plenty of gruesome detail. Bale’s portrayal of Bateman is incredibly eerie, and one of the most iconic performances of a fictional serial killer.
4. Norman Bates – played by Anthony Perkins
The oldest serial killer character on this list is Norman Bates, who was created in 1959 in the novel Psycho. He is portrayed by Anthony Perkins in the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name. Bates is one of the most famous killers in cinema, known for his disturbed relationship with his mother and his split personality. He was thought to have been inspired by famous American serial killer Ed Gein.
On the outside, Bates seems to be a caring and dutiful son to his mother Norma. Together, they run the Bates Motel off of the highway. Despite his polite and unassuming nature, Bates hides monstrous secrets, severe mental illness, and various violent tendencies that lead to him becoming a murderer.
5. Joe Goldberg – played by Penn Badgley
Joe Goldberg is the main character of the series You on Netflix, an adaptation of Caroline Kepnes’s You and Hidden Bodies novels. Joe is an introspective killer, and the audience is allowed to hear his thoughts via an inner monologue.
This inner monologue is what makes him stand out as a compelling fictional serial killer. The audience can hear as he attempts to justify his vicious actions. He rationalises as he goes, attempting to put some logic behind his behaviour.
Joe twists the truth to himself – and to the audience – in an attempt to make himself feel like the hero of the story. In his mind, he didn’t want to do these things, he simply had no choice. Because of this, Joe is a fascinating fictional serial killer, but a cold-blooded killer nonetheless.
