Pearl and Barbarian recently hitting theaters worldwide has incited some energetic discussions about the greatest villains 2022 has had to offer, and there are still a few months to go.
From horror films to historical epics, 2022 was filled with nuanced antagonists with motivations that vary, but their level of danger is crucial to the way the story unravels. From Christian Bale's Gorr and Fjölnir The Brotherless in The Northman to Nope's Jean Jacket, viewers have had plenty of reasons to not be able to sleep at night this year, so far.
Scott Buxton - RRR
It's late September and RRR remains arguably the most memorable action flick of the year, so far, and the reception of the movie was unanimously positive among both critics and the public. The movie deals with a range of different themes, such as love, imperialism, and friendship, told in an anxiety-inducing narrative filled with epic moments that Hollywood could once only dream of achieving.
Set in 1920, RRR follows two revolutionaries caught up between the love for their nation and the fight for justice. As the conflict takes big proportions, Scott Buxton stands in the center of it as an authoritative, ruthless governor who plays the all strings to oppress the people who should rightfully lead the nation.
Gorr - Thor: Love And Thunder
Thor: Love And Thunder was one of the most divisive MCU entries of recent years, but it undeniably offered a great performance of Christian Bale in the role of Gorr. Regardless of the many complaints about the tone of the movie or its script, Gorr steals the show every time he's onscreen.
A ruthless galactic killer, Gorr's main objective is to decimate all gods, which leads him to set his sights on Thor. Turned into a dangerous, enraged being after the death of his daughter, he would likely succeed in his mission if he weren't so attached to his bitter past.
Steve - Fresh
Fresh is outrageously hilarious, at times, but also manages to feature horror elements in a stylish way, which makes the indie film one of the most innovative horror movies of 2022, so far. Frustrated after countless romantic dates gone wrong, the young Noa decides to take her chance with a charming stranger named Steve, whom she met at the grocery store. When his dangerous instincts are revealed, however, Noa gets more than she bargained for.
Steve is as enchanting as he is evil. Merciless and sarcastic, he's a cold-hearted predator who likes to play with his food. Thanks to Fresh's dark humor, it's easier to like him than hate him, even though viewers don't cheer for him at any time.
The Green Man - Men
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One of the creepiest entities A24 ever introduced, it's difficult to even define what the Green Man really is. Men is the kind of movie that uses horror as a vehicle to turn vague ideas and relevant metaphors about grief and psychological abuse into an atmospheric journey about moving on, centered on the character of Harper.
As she sets out into the remote countryside, a mysterious figure begins to follow her into the woods. With dead eyes, fully naked, and mysterious scars across the skin, the Green Man seems harmless at first, until he turns into a terrifying shape-shifting entity immune to pain, turning Harper's vacation into a complete nightmare.
Fjölnir The Brotherless - The Northman
One of the most exciting films about Vikings in recent years, The Northman is half thrilling action epic, half prophetical journey filled with mysticism and symbolism. In the film, a prince thought to be dead sets out to get revenge on the death of his father, mercilessly murdered by his own brother, Fjölnir.
The film offers great character development in Fjölnir, showing that even with his ruthless manners and his hateful bitterness, he's also a great father and a respectful warrior, which makes him a very nuanced villain. The final face-off between Prince Amleth and Fjölnir will definitely be remembered as one of the most incredible duels of this century.
Pearl - X
Pearl is such a memorable villain that she even got her own prequel, coming out in the same year as X. When a group of amateur filmmakers stays at her farm to shoot a pornographic movie, Pearl and her husband reconnect to a few insatiable instincts, including a thrill for killing.
Taking down the members of the group one by one, Pearl embodies classic slasher killers in the body of a woman over 70 years old, offering gruesome kills and arguably the most uncomfortable sex scene in recent years.
The Scarlet Witch - Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness
Lots of speculation anticipated the role of the Scarlet Witch in the Doctor Strange sequel, and while some fans argue her transformation to a villain was poorly conducted, the level of danger that she represented, not only for Doctor Strange's world but all multiverses, is undeniable. A terrifying presence onscreen, Wanda's devastating abilities, combined with the power of the Book of Vishanti, presented the scariest MCU villain since Thanos.
Letting obsessive impulses get over her head, Wanda interfered in the balance of the multiverses in a desperate attempt to be reunited with her children. Killing several heroes and pretty much starting a war against the sorcerers, Doctor Strange had no other option but to corrupt his own power in order to level hers.
Jobu Tupaki - Everything Everywhere All At Once
Everything Everywhere All At Once offers a little bit of everything, from gripping action sequences across multiverses to an emotionally charged family drama. In the center of all this, mother and daughter represent the two extremes of a fight to save the destiny of the universe. On one side, Evelyn, an ordinary Chinese immigrant who discovers she has the ability to travel through all the different versions of herself in the multiverse, on the other, there's Jobu Tupaki, or Joy, who witnessed everything a human could possibly know and now wants to throw all the multiverse into an endless void of nothingness.
Behind Jobu Tupaki's selfish objective lies a repressed mother-and-daughter relationship and a nihilist way to contemplate existence. Her powers are beyond human comprehension, and she can mold and bend every multiverse she stumbles upon to her will, ultimately turning her into an oppressive villain, if it weren't for the sentimental weaknesses every human has.
The Riddler - The Batman
The Batman is one of the few superhero movies that managed to balance multiple villains in a concise narrative, with all of them having incredible highlights throughout the movie. But even with Falcone's constant menace and the Penguin's tricky intentions, the Riddler stands out as the most terrifying, managing to put into practice a plan that almost condemned Gotham for good.
Acting in the shadows and masterfully pulling everyone, including Batman, into his twisted game, the Riddler exposed the threads of corruption that ruled over Gotham with brutality and spite. Even when Bruce Wayne finally got him arrested, it didn't feel at all like the Riddler lost.
Jean Jacket - Nope
Jean Jacket isn't simply one of the most terrifying villains of the year, it's also the most original. From the promising mind of Jordan Peele, Jean Jacket is an alien predator that terrorizes a remote rural Californian area, hiding up in the clouds and flying around every once in a while to prey on unsuspecting people or animals.
Peele offers a bit of brand-new creature lore to the overdone sci-fi genre, adding his usual horror trademarks to establish a gripping atmosphere of suspense. As Nope's characters begin to understand how Jean Jacket acts, the story only gets better, using the unknown as an effective formula for success. It's also worth mentioning the legendary creature design was also done by Peele, turning the image of the monster into a stunning visual feast.