The Top Ten Horror Movie Heroes

Explore the greatest horror film protagonists of all time

Jul 28, 2008

A horror movie is very villain-focused. We spend a lot of time following the antagonist as he/she slays and prays upon the weak. But what about the heroes of horror?

Monster Killers

10.) The Monster Squad (Monster Squad) – Fred Decker’s Monster Squad may be a borderline silly monster movie, but it still highlights what heroes in horror movies can do. Our pre-teen heroes led by Sean Crenshaw (Andre Gower) battle against horror movie legends such as Frankenstein’s Monster, the Mummy, and Dracula by following the rules set forth in classic horror films.

Vampire Hunters

9) Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) – This movie didn’t turn out at all how Joss Whedon had apparently imagined it, but the archetype of the female monster slayer is divined here. Long before Sarah Michelle Gellar battled monsters in the titular role of Buffy on Whedon’s TV series, Kristy Swanson dashed stakes through undead hearts in this much maligned horror-comedy.

8.) Jacob Fuller (From Dusk ‘Til Dawn) – In this underrated vampire flick co-directed by Robert Rodriguez (and co-written by Quentin Tarantino and Robert Kurtzman), Harvey Keitel does battle with the undead as Jacob Fuller, a doubting priest who wields a shotgun and a baseball bat as a very effective crucifix.

7.) Peter Vincent (Fright Night) – For the most part, Fright Night is an unremarkable horror movie with some poor acting (a la Evil Ed) and a mediocre script. Yet, somehow, Roddy McDowell steals the entire movie in his role as Peter Vincent, movie actor turned reluctant, real-world vampire hunter.

6.) Ripley (Alien and Aliens) – Is the Alien series horror? Is it sci-fi? Is it both? Does it really matter? Either way, Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley deserves to be on this list. She’s the quintessential kick-ass heroine (taking names long before Milla Jovavich in the stupid, but fun Resident Evil series) who evolves in toughness throughout the series and even straps a flame thrower to a pulse rifle with miraculous results.

Zombie Fighters

5.) Ben (Night of the Living Dead) - An amazing character in an excellent film, Ben (Duane Jones) is the first African American hero to appear in a horror movie. He’s resourceful, intelligent, and brave as he defends himself against not only zombies but also fellow survivors.

Exorcists

4.) Father Merrin (The Exorcist) – An experienced exorcist and archeologist, nothing represents the beacon of hope against a demonic force like Father Merrin (Max Von Sydow). His knowledge and willpower prove to be nothing against Pazuzu, yet it’s his sacrifice that allows Father Karras to succeed in the final battle.

Survivors

3.) Peter (Dawn of the Dead) – Swat team member Peter (Ken Foree) of Dawn of the Dead manages to represent everything we want in a survivor. He’s strong, intelligent, and a damn good shot.

2.) Laurie Strode (Halloween) – Laurie Strode (Jamie Lee Curtis) is the classic scream queen and in Halloween she sets up slasher genre rules that last: If you’re virginal and innocent, you survive. Bookworm Laurie is exactly that, and so she survives against Michael Meyers and her friends do not.

Just Plain Hero

1.) Ash (Evil Deadl Dead II, and Army of Darkness) - “Good. Bad. I'm the guy with the gun.” There is no horror movie hero like Ash (Bruce Campbell). He’s everything a horror hero wants to be: Strong, fast, full of snappy dialogue, and nigh invulnerable. His battles with the deadites are truly epic.

The copyright of the article The Top Ten Horror Movie Heroes in Horror Films is owned by Jeffrey David Greene. Permission to republish The Top Ten Horror Movie Heroes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.