In Hulu's Prey, released in July 2022, the Predator has been shown to only attack and hunt species he sees to be a threat, and often times they are the ones to attack him first. That often-overlooked plot element brings to mind a curious factor in the realms of horror movies, being that some characters in the genre are simply primed for the chopping block.
Whether it's by their own machinations, stupidity, or thoughtless actions, there are some horror victims that simply have it coming. There are plenty of entries in the genre that dress up their scares with a side of karmic justice.
Tales Of Terror (1962)
A common theme in anthology horror movies is that of horrible people meeting horrible fates, and few writers understood that notion better than Edgar Allan Poe. In this trio of terrifying tales, Vincent Price leads the show with other horror alumni in adaptations of Morella, The Black Cat, and The Facts in the Case of M. Valdemar.
In these three tales, viewers are treated to vengeful ghosts, a murderer's plot revealed by a rather tenacious feline, and a corpse rescuing his wife from a doctor's unwanted advances. It's grim, gothic, and everything fans can expect from horror icons Poe and Price.
Masque Of The Red Death (1964)
One of the scariest productions in Vincent Price's career, Masque of the Red Death had a whole castle full of victims that were asking for it from the very beginning. The film expands on Poe's short story of the same name but ups the ante in terms of gore, shock, and terror.
Prince Prospero is one of Price's most despicable characters. He's a sadistic monarch, a practicing Satanist, and an abusive partner who takes pleasure in torturing members of his court and watching his subjects suffer from the bleeding plague. As to be expected both he and his royal entourage soon meet their justified ends at the hands of a hooded scarlet stranger.
Tales From The Crypt (1972)
Anything associated with Tales from the Crypt is almost always going to have a plot where terrible things happen to terrible people for doing something terrible, it's practically what made the original comics so famous. Of course, a film adaptation would have to do the exact same thing.
All the victims in the anthology of stories presented have done something to warrant their poetic deaths and damnation. Whether that's murdering a spouse, having a scandalous affair, or driving a lonely elderly man to suicide, the cast of detestable characters are all incredibly unlikeable, and they're practically begging for a swift kick in the groin from some karmic justice.
The Vault Of Horror (1973)
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While this anthology might not be as well known as its spiritual predecessor, The Vault of Horror follows a similar formula but with a decidedly more supernatural flavor. A host of dead damned souls are forced to watch their fates play out before them for all eternity, and thus the audience is treated to several terrifying tales.
This collection of karmic horror stories consists of a greedy brother inheriting a nest of vampires, a stolen illusion that turns on a murderous magician, and a vengeful painter enacting a voodoo curse on dealers that stole his work. That's only a light description of the film, but the message and morals are certainly well-received.
Creepshow (1982)
Creepshow is a horror movie made by creators who love horror movies, plain and simple. It's a horror anthology blatantly inspired by Tales From The Crypt that carries with it all the classic elements, including a Crypt-Keeper-like figure and a host of victims that meet gruesome and ghoulish ends.
Greedy family members are picked off by a zombie grandfather, a murderer is confronted by the corpses of his victims, a ruthless boss is consumed by cockroaches, and an abusive father is given his comeuppance with help from a little black magic. That's not even including the comedic segment featuring a surprisingly silly side of Stephen King.
Fool’s Fire (1992)
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Julie Taymor might be better known for her artistic endeavors on the stage, but her foray into the horror genre came in the form of Fool's Fire. This adaptation of Poe's Hop-Frog sees a put-upon jester get his revenge against the grotesque royals who abuse him and his lady love.
Following Edgar Allan Poe's terrifying story, Hop-Frog manages to trick his master and his court of cronies into masquerading as captured orangutans. Chaining them together and constructing costumes with fur and pitch, he sets them ablaze in a grand, glorious, and ghastly jest. In the end, the jester gets the last laugh.
Tales From The Hood (1995)
Tales from the Hood was an anthology horror movie ahead of its time. It presented a collection of stories that represented various issues that plague the Black community, such as police brutality, racism, and gun violence. By using the horror narrative, the film is able to make a poignant commentary without being preachy.
That all being said, it's still unbelievably satisfying to watch abusive, corrupted, and racist personalities get their just deserts for picking fights with the wrong supernatural forces. From zombies to kids with psychic powers, the film ran the gauntlet of classic horror themes.
Trick R’ Treat (2007)
The best way to survive this cult classic horror movie is to simply abide by the rule of "don't poke the bear." If characters abide by the rules and traditions of Halloween, they won't invoke a horrific fate. Unfortunately for the cast of Trick r' Treat, they don't play by the rules.
Granted, the victims consist of schoolyard bullies, serial killers, and child-murderers, but that only makes the carnage all the more deserved. The world might be a safer place if more werewolves and ghosts were keeping prowlers off the streets.
Carrie (1976/2013)
No matter which version of the Stephen King classic it might be, Carrie deserved her vengeance and her bullies deserved to get the ax. Anyone who mercilessly torments and abuses a meek girl with psychic powers is practically begging for some paranormal punishment.
It could be the original or one of the various remakes, but one thing that never leaves Carrie's story is the well-deserved vengeance against the gang of bullies. No decent person sees a bucket of pig's blood and a dead prom date as just a childish prank.
Mandy (2018)
Mandy is everything a horror fan could want and expect from a scary movie featuring Nicolas Cage. However, it's Cage that doles out the karmic justice as he wreaks a thorny vengeance against the murderous cult who killed his beloved Mandy. Needless to day, it makes for some absolutely satisfying and splattery action sequences.
Armed with an ax called "The Beast," Red Miller goes on a Conan-level vengeance quest to avenge his wife. Hacking through demonic bikers, cultists, and his own trauma, he's able to conquer his adversaries and leave a trail of carnage in his wake.