The Horror Movie Villains Who Viewers Mourned

The Sympathetic Monsters of Horror

Horror movie villains are often portrayed as terrifying and remorseless characters, but some of the genre's best antagonist death scenes manage to evoke sympathy from viewers. From reluctant villains to tragic antiheroes, these monsters captivate audiences with their complex and morally ambiguous nature.

Samara Weaving as Bee stands with her cult in front of Judah Lewis as Cole in The Babysitter

As far back as Frankenstein, the horror genre has been filled with figures who fall somewhere between reluctant villains and tragic antiheroes. Some villains become more popular than the heroes of their respective films, blurring the lines between good and evil in the world of horror.

Samara Weaving's Bee lying on the ground dying in The Babysitter's ending

Unlikely Redemption: Villains' Final Moments

Not all horror villains can charm viewers from the moment they first appear onscreen. Some monsters don't seem sympathetic until their final moments, where they evoke unexpected feelings of compassion despite their crimes. These unlikely moments of redeeming sweetness add depth to their characters and leave a lasting impact on audiences.

Samara Weaving's Bee smiling down on Judah Lewis's Cole

Whether they are satanic babysitters, alien parasites, or tragically misguided maternal figures, all of the monsters discussed here had an unlikely moment of redeeming sweetness before meeting their demise.

Samara Weaving's Bee staring down in The Babysitter

Villains Worth Mourning: A Closer Look

The horror genre has seen its fair share of villains who evoke genuine sympathy and leave a lasting impression on viewers. From demonic babysitters to tragic monsters, each villain's unique story adds depth to the genre and challenges traditional notions of good and evil in storytelling.

Judah Lewis's Cole holding a lighter in The Babysitter

Through their moving final moments and unexpected displays of humanity, these villains have transcended their roles as mere antagonists and become complex, multi-dimensional characters that viewers mourn.

Bradley Whitford's Steve Hadley and Richard Jenkins' Gary Sitterson driving a golf cart through the facility in Cabin in the Woods