Top 10 Serial Killer Movies.

 Serial killers appear more and more in horror movies. The greatest degenerates and psychopaths are the heroes of many films that arouse disgust and fear in viewers. Both in Poland and in the world there is a group of loyal audiences of this type of film. People are interested in biographies of criminals, stories, and adaptations based on facts, as well as horror films about famous criminals. Here is a subjective list of TOP 10 serial killer movies that are especially memorable.

1. "Psycho" - Alfred Hitchcock (1960)

This is one of the most characteristic films of Alfred Hitchcock, the master of horror films. "Psychosis" was a breakthrough work of the famous director and a film that still evokes mixed feelings in viewers. It was this work that started a new sub-genre of horror, namely slasher - horror films about killers who pursue their victims and eliminate them one by one. Both in Poland and in the world, slashers were real hits. Fashion for this type of horror sub-genre evolved at the turn of the '70s and '80s of the twentieth century. What is "Psycho" about? About a thief who went on a journey to her lover with a stolen fortune. On the way, she stopped at the roadside motel where she was murdered. The greatest degenerates and criminals who later appeared in the cinema were modeled on the murderers from "Psycho". The role of the dark Norman Bates was played by the gifted Anthony Perkins. The entire film is interwoven not only with unexpected twists but also piercing music and masterful acting. The murder scene in the shower has become historic, and it still scares viewers today.

2. "Creep" - Patrick Brice (2014)

It is an amazing psychological horror and it is Patrick Brice's directorial debut. The film tells the story of Aaron who writes back to a certain Josef (allegedly dying) for a job advertisement. Josef's last dream is to film a day in the life of his… unborn son. Over time, the relationship between Aaron and Josef becomes very dangerous - each new frame causes more and more anxiety. Ultimately Josef turns out to be the killer. However, I will not spoil and just add that the twist of the movie is really surprising. Watching Brice's work may feel uncomfortable, to say the least. This is a film about a murderer that evokes great emotions. Stories about killers told in this way are very rare on-screen today. That is why it is worth spending one evening and watching this film, shot using the found footage technique (a film stylized as an amateur recording and shown from the perspective of a camera).

3. Hangman Johnny Martin (2017)

Hangman is a moving crime fiction from the thriller genre, in which Al Pacino himself played the main role. The plot is about a detective who belongs to a homicide department and creates psychological profiles of the murderers. After his wife's death, he deals with a new serial killing case. How does the elusive criminal kill more people in the film? He hangs his victims and, after committing a crime, leaves clues to criminals that are encrypted. The serial killer uses the theme of the famous word-guessing game, the well-known "hangman", in his killings. When listing films about serial killers, it is simply impossible not to mention the work "Handman".

4. "A Clockwork Orange" - Stanley Kubrick (1971)

Many fans of strong cinema admit that this is the most successful work of Stanley Kubrick. The plot is about the life of a gang leader, Alex DeLarge, who spreads terror throughout the city. He is in love with the works of Ludwig van Beethoven, but at the same time has a love of hurting people. During one of the robberies, he is captured and imprisoned. Over time, after a successful experiment to eliminate evil in Alex, he is released home. It's hard to pass by this item indifferently. Kubrick touches not only the villain's psyche in the film but also justice, which he defends at all costs. It turns out that even the worst criminals can experience evil beyond what they used to do. To find out about it, it is worth refreshing "A Clockwork Orange" and checking how much Kubrick's work is still up-to-date.

5. "Zodiac" - David Fincher (2007)

David Fincher's film is about the investigation of a serial killer who killed people in San Francisco. This is an excellent detective story that draws you from the first shot. The investigators' obsession with the title Zodiac is truly poignant. The next pieces of the puzzle, which are revealed with each subsequent minute, make an impression even on veterans of strong cinema. Adaptations based on real events are very popular. These are hits among fans of horror movies. One of such films is "Zodiac" - the murderer with this pseudonym really killed people at the turn of the '60s and '70s in America. The killer sent the police and newspapers letters and ciphers about the murders he had committed. Despite many signs, he has not been captured to this day and his case is unsolved. The director spent almost a year and a half studying the crimes of the Zodiac and police archives before he started cinematography.

6. "Halloween" - John Carpenter (1978)

Carpenter's work is about Michael Myers - a six-year-old boy who turns out to be a murderer. After a stay in a psychiatric hospital to which he is sent and where he spends many years, he returns to his homeland. Myers is perhaps one of the most iconic characters when it comes to serial killers. To this day, sequels are made, as well as reboots and spin-offs about the "adventures" of Michael Myers. Myers in every part of "Halloween" is terrifying. It's hard to run away from him, let alone negotiate with him or stop the killer from further murders. It's a typical slasher that has become one of John Carpenter's most recognizable films. Fans of the horror classics know "Halloween" literally inside out.

7. "The Silence of the Lambs" - Jonathan Demme (1991)

This is a famous psychological thriller, in which Anthony Hopkins played his role in the role of Professor Hannibal Lecter. The top 10 films about murderers simply could not miss "The Silence of the Lambs", in which the portrait of a psychopath is one of the best in the history of cinema. The film was showered with awards and continues to inspire many young directors to this day. Why is the story so interesting? Well, it tells about an FBI agent who is looking for a serial killer with the help of a psychiatrist, and also ... a cannibal who is serving his sentence. Thanks to the character of Hannibal Lecter played by Anthony Hopkins, you can really learn a lot about what is in the mind of a serial killer. "The Silence of the Lambs" is a must-see for every fan of strong cinema.

8. "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer" - Tom Tykwer (2006)

The action of the film takes place in 18th-century France, where a certain Jan-Baptiste, endowed with an absolute sense of smell, lives. His greatest dream is to create a perfect fragrance that will be long-lasting and unique. To get it, he kills the most beautiful woman he can meet. Thanks to the film, you can learn about what a terrifying ritual killing for a macabre goal can become. To fulfill sick fantasies, killers are ready to do the worst of deeds. This is what you can see in "Pachnidle" - the path of an obsessive psychopath whose innocent dream has turned into a deadly obsession.

9. "Misery" - Rob Reiner (1990)

An excellent thriller based on Stephen King's novel with the exact same title. The plot concerns the meeting of Paul Sheldon with Annie Wilkes - but it was not a typical meeting of two people. Paul, a novelist, has a car accident and Annie (his fan) comes to his aid. A woman drags Paul to her house - it is the middle of winter, so the man would have nowhere to go through huge snowdrifts. Meanwhile, Wilkes turns out to be obsessed with the novelist. An apparently helpful and nice woman suddenly turns into a mentally ill killer who has terrible intentions towards Paul.

10. "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre" - Tobe Hooper (1974)

This is an iconic horror movie in which gore and slasher elements are mixed. The film is considered to be one of the best ever made in the history of horror movies. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre tells the story of a group of teenagers being chased by Letherface, a character wearing a mask made of human skin. The brutality and bloodshed in the film are certainly not something that will delight fans of adventure movies. What's the most terrifying thing in the history of The Texas Massacre? Well, the hero in the form of a serial killer was inspired by ... a real character. Leatherface's model was the murderer and cannibal Ed Gein. He was a serial killer, also known as the Plainfield Butcher. It's worth watching the movie, as well as looking at the story of Ed Gein. It's really interesting and makes it hard to squint after reading it.

Bibliography:

• Anita Has-Tokarz: Horror in Contemporary Literature and Film, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University Publishing House, Lublin 2011
• Stephen J. Giannangelo, Jarosław Groth (trans.): Psychopathology of Serial Murder, If P to Q Publishing House, Poznań 2007
• Bartłomiej Paszylk: Lexicon of horror film, Instytut Wydawniczy Latarnik, Warsaw 2006