The monster movie genre has no shortage of beastly threats. A giant creature or deformed mutated math can be quite intimidating on its own, but the terror is up even further when that beast has a brain. Simply put, the smarter the monster, the bigger the threat.
Anyone can be afraid of a giant kaiju, a rabid Saint Bernard, or a host of venomous spiders, but what about something more challenging? For those who are tired of seeing human victims running away from blobs from outer space or mindless zombie hordes, have a look at these ten intelligent terrors.
Bruce (Jaws)
Great white sharks have often been cited as nature's perfect killer, but what would happen if that apex predator was smarter than the average bear, in a matter of speaking? Steven Spielberg's first summer blockbuster, Jaws, held the answer to that question.
The titular shark was no genius, but it knew when it was being hunted, and it knew where to score the best meal. That's enough to earn a spot on the list.
Xenomorphs (Alien Franchise)
While the first appearance of H.R. Giger's face-sucking, acid-spitting horror from outer space might only have been as smart as your typical extraterrestrial monster, the Xenomorph's intelligence grew with each new film.
From stalking the crew of the Nostromo down darkened hallways, to using its own blood to burn out doorways on a space station, the alien monster has as much brain as it does bite. Better have that flamethrower handy.
Raptors (Jurassic Park)
While the T-Rex might be the face of the franchise, it was the raptors that terrified viewers the most in the original film. Not only were they smart enough to evade the park staff, but they could stalk their victims with the confidence of a serial killer.
That scene in the kitchen is still as spine-tingling now as it was in the '90s. "Clever girl" was certainly an understatement if there ever was one.
Indominus Rex (Jurassic World)
What biologists in their right mind would ever think this monster was a good idea to create? A group of intelligent, predatory raptors is one thing, but using their DNA with that of a Tyrannosaurus Rex? Somebody needed to be fired.
The Indominus Rex is possibly one of the most awesome yet overpowered movie monsters ever created. With the intelligence have a raptor and the size and ferocity of a T. Rex, there are few predators on this list got match both size and intellect.
The Thing (The Thing)
Similar to the Xenomorph, the titular creature from John Carpenter's sci-fi masterpiece seems to grow exponentially intelligent the more it interacts with the human cast.
Going from canine intelligence to human-level once it finds the proper host, it takes the film's situation from monster hunting in a remote arctic base to a game of cat-and-mouse with a deadly threat. Need proof? rewatch that ending.
Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th Remake)
Up until the 2009 remake, Jason Voorhees was more of a mindless monster then he was a man. A golem in a hockey mask, essentially, there really wasn't a need for him to be very bright.
However, the Remake version has Jason setting traps, alarm systems, and other implements to keep his lakefront property safe from frisky teenagers. While this arguably makes him more of a threat, did the guy really need any help?
Gremlins (Gremlins)
The tagline says it all, "Cute, clever, mischievous, intelligent, dangerous." While Gizmo might be cute and cuddly, his mutated brood is far from friendly and fuzzy. Stripe and his band of green goons are as intelligent as they are numerous.
Their leader specifically is the brains of the outfit, knowing exactly what to do to cause the most damage. Including sabotaging an alarm clock, and locating a gigantic swimming pool to spawn a second wave of monstrous minions.
The Creature (Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein)
While Boris Karloff's original might have been a little lax in the brains department, Robert DeNiro's interpretation sticks closer to the source material. In the book, Frankenstein's monster is self-educated, decidedly more verbose, and certainly more malicious than most of his kind.
He becomes more than just a mindless, lumbering corpse, but a thinking, feeling, and vengeful threat to everything his creator holds dear.
Dracula (Netflix’s Dracula)
On the subject of classic creatures, Netflix's version of the count is definitely the most monstrous incarnation of the character, but also perhaps the most intelligent.
In this version of Bram Stoker's famous horror story, Dracula can gain certain abilities and knowledge from the victims he bites. In theory, this means he can grow exponentially intelligent and all the more crafty. Pair that with his more bloodthirsty nature and it's a recipe for terror.
The Predator (Predator Series)
Was there ever any doubt this guy wouldn't be on the list? The Yautja are the galaxy's perfect hunter, what else could one expect from a species that hunts Xenomorphs for sport?
They're clever, they're cunning, and they're technologically advanced with enough weapons to take down every mentioned monster on our list and more. What more can be said?