A Look at Real, Fictional and Suspected Serial Killerz
| Top Rated Fictional Serial Killerz | ||
| Here's an interesting note: As reading through these, take notice of how many fictional serial killers are killers for a cause, creating a sympathy and understanding of the characters. Then look back at our list of Real Serial Killers and Unconfirmed Serial Killers. With the exception of Dr. Death (Jack Kevorkian), none can claim a higher calling. Even Dr. Death though, shares the most common denominator among serial killers and that is the preying on those weaker and innocent. | ||
| OF
COURSE, there are many more movie serial killers, these
are just a few that seem to have a lasting impact. And, all but
one, have been portrayed through multiple sequels, remakes and
novels. Supernatural Killers are Not Included. If you really want to see one added, email us at info @ serialkillerz.info |
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| Rank / Name | Photo | Information |
| Dexter Morgan |
 |
Serial Killerz
Splatter Score: Kill Type: The killer with a heart, although he claims otherwise. His kills are very ritualistic, involving the reward of blood from a cut on the cheek and death by stabbing in the heart. Dexter has likely killed well over 100 people. Famous Quote: "How many more bodies would there have been had I not got to those killers? I didn't want to save lives, but save lives I did." Novels/Television: Television show Dexter is based on series of novels beginning with Darkly, Dreaming Dexter. Inspiration: Dexter does not appear to be inspired by any one factual. The only serial killer (suspect anyway) that might compare is Jack "Dr. Death" Kevorkian in that they both work in the medical field, and they both consider their actions just, but the similarities end there. More similarities are probably drawn to Hannibal Lecter or other vigilante killers. Dexter, serial killer turned vigilante, tries to control his tendencies by focusing on bad people. Another possibility for inspiration would be a character like Batman, because essentially the two are very similar. Neither is actually a super hero, but they both have a lot of gadgetry and they are both troubled by their inner evils. Dexter calls his the "Dark Passenger" while Batman is the Dark Knight. Fact Splatter:
-- No basis. Historically, there just aren't any good guy
serial killers. Dexter and like characters like them are
truly atypical, preying on people that are an equal or greater
challenge. Serial killers almost always prey on weaker and
innocent people.In-Theory Splatter: 
In theory, we would like to think, if there are serial killers,
can't they at least be like Dexter, focusing the "dark
passenger" on the evils of society. The reality is, that would
defeat the purpose, as serial killers, don't seek justice, but
rather choose to exhibit violence and power over those that are
weaker. In Theory, Dexter doesn't exist.Actor(s) and why we love or hate the character: Dexter longs to be human and lives by a code. He has been taught to use his "Dark Passenger" for good and only kill those who deserve it. Michael C. Hall won the Golden Globe for best actor for season 4 of Dexter. The combined awards on this page show that the world truly appreciates the well-intended serial killer. |
| Leatherface |
 |
Serial Killerz
Splatter Score: Kill Type: Multiple murders with chainsaws and meat hooks. Portrayed as vicious killer at times and other times as brain damaged simpleton. Always aided by his killer cast of cannibalistic and odd family members. There is no real consistency in the character or the plots of the various movies. His body count is somewhere in the hundreds. Famous Quote: "Urrgh. Unnhhh. Ahhhh." -- He doesn't speak! Movies: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 3, The Return of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning Inspiration: Ed Gein, similarities are limited to making a mask, or depending on the movie a suit from human flesh. Ed Gein was in the process of making a body suit from the flesh of his victims in an effort to be a woman. Fact Splatter:
-- No basis. The character motivations and actions bare no
resemblance to Gein. Leatherface only gets a half splatter
because he likes to wear flesh.Actor(s) and why we love or hate the character: The character has been portrayed by numerous actors, most notably by Gunnar Hanson who played the character repeatedly. |
| Hannibal Lecter |
 |
Serial Killerz
Splatter Score: Kill Type: He is a cannibal and murderer, killing his victims in a variety of ways with at least 29 kills. Famous Quote: "A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti." Movies/Novels: Red Dragon, Manhunter, Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, Hannibal Rising Inspiration: FBI Conversations with Lecter were inspired by conversations with Ted Bundy in efforts to capture the Green River Killer. Fact Splatter:
-- Like Dexter Morgan, there just simply any serial killers with
this kind of conscience. However, Lecter gets the 2 1/2- Fact
Splatter score because his initial introductions in Red
Dragon and Silence, are through
interviews with FBI agents using his knowledge just as the way
Ted Bundy was interviewed to try and capture another serial
killer. LECTER IS NOT REAL, but some of
the circumstances mirror reality.In-Theory Splatter:
Like Dexter, guys like Lecter just don't exist. If they do, they
are simply to smart to get caught. Again, the closest we've seen
so far is Dr. Kevorkian, a smart medical man killing for a
cause.Actor(s) and why we love or hate the character: Lecter has been portrayed by multiple actors, but most notably, Sir Anthony Hopkins won an Oscar for his portrayal in Silence of the Lambs. Lecter is a likeable cannibal and serial murderer, preying on the wicked for the most part, or those in authority such as police officers. He does not seem to attack the innocent and the Hannibal Rising saga tries to further justify his crimes by giving a historical basis why his actions are just. |
| Norman Bates |
 |
Serial Killerz
Splatter Score: Kill Type: Most famously, by knife in the shower. He kills while dressed as his mother. Famous Quote: "A boy's best friend is his mother." Movies/Novels: Psycho 1-4 and a 1998 remake of the original. There are two novels. Bates dies in the second. Inspiration: Ed Gein. Bates dressed and pretended to be his mother. Gein had an abnormal affection for his mother and hoped to one day be a woman. Fact Splatter:
-- To say Norman Bates is based on Ed Gein would be more correct
than any of the others in terms of pure character motivation,
however the events of Psycho and following movies have no
foundation to be called truthful.Actor(s) and why we love or hate the character: Played most effectively by Anthony Perkins who manages to create a tortured portrayal, battling the dual personalities to try and maintain a non-violent life. |
| Captain Spaulding Otis B. Driftwood Baby Firefly Mother Firefly Tiny Rufus T. Firefly Dr. Satan |
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Serial Killerz
Splatter Score: Kill Type: Torture, maim, kill, shoot. Characters are tortured in a variety of ways, they are outright tortured, skinned alive, shot, made to wear human flesh, bashed in Famous Quote: "It's all true. The bogeyman is real and you found him." Movie/Novel: The Devil's Rejects, House of 1000 Corpses Inspiration: Director Rob Zombie has cited Bonnie and Clyde, The Wild Bunch and Badlands as inspiration. Fact Splatter for DEVIL'S REJECTS:
-- While the characters themselves do not appear to be founded
in reality, the notion of criminals on the run is, especially in
note of Zombie's inspirations, particularly Bonnie and
Clyde and Badlands. The latter is a
dramatization of the Charles Starkweather and Caril Fugit crime
spree, which very much parallels elements of Rejects.
So weather intended or not, Rejects gets a higher Fact Splatter
than most. Fact Splatter for HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES:
-- More based on past movie killers rather than factual killers.
CORPSES gets the dishonorable half splat,
noting that it is not based in fact, unless by accident.Actor(s) and why we love or hate the character: Zombie achieves a difficult goal. He creates brutal and vicious killers that are cruel beyond imagination, yet, especially in Rejects there are moments of sympathy and understanding. There are times when we root for the victims, but ultimately the only characters capable of stopping them are creepier than they are. Ultimately, the conclusion feels just, but somehow sorrowful. Odd. Most notably, actors include Sheri Moon Zombie (Baby), Bill Mosley (Otis), Leslie Easterbrook and Karen Black (both Mother Firefly), Sid Haig (Captain Spaulding), and Matthew McGrory (Tiny) in his final film. |
| Paul Kersey Death Wish |
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Serial Killerz
Splatter Score: Kill Type: Kersey is a vigilante. His begins are revenge for the death of his wife, then events continually force him to continue his wave a violence by gun. Famous Quote: "You believe in Jesus? Well, you're gonna meet him." Movies/Novel: Death Wish 1-5, and an upcoming remake with Sylvester Stallone. The two novels were Death Wish and Death Sentence. Inspiration: Justice maybe? Fact Splatter:
-- While there have been
vigilantes throughout time, none that have amassed the body
count of Keresy. We'll give this a 2-splatter for the
vigilantes that have been out there and for Charles Bronson's
honesty when offered the role by director Michael Winner.
Bronson said, "I'd like to do that." Winner asked, "The film?"
Bronson replied, "No. Shoot muggers."Actor(s) and why we love or hate the character: Bronson's legacy of a tough guy spanned multiple generations. Anyone growing up in the 70s and 80s probably remembers him best for the role of Kersey. Even if you support his mass number of killings, you have to ask, how can one person have so much bad luck? |
| Jame Gumb or Buffalo Bill |
 |
Serial Killerz
Splatter Score: Kill Type: Pretends to be hurt then lures women into a van and bludgeons them. He then imprisons them until their skin is loose enough to cut off and add to his female flesh suit. He then hangs and strangles the women to kill them. Famous Quote: "It rubs the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again." Movie/Novel: Silence of the Lambs Inspiration: Ed Gein. Similar to Leather Face, Buffalo Bill is making a woman suit to be a woman. The character was additionally rejected for sex change operations. Gein hoped to one day be a woman, too, and was also making a flesh jumpsuit to help him transform into a woman. Fact Splatter:
-- Similar to Gein, he wants to be a woman and is making a woman
suit. This is more or less where the similarities end.Actor(s) and why we love or hate the character: He's not particularly loveable and he's the only one of the bunch to be a one-movie wonder, but his unique role is so memorable and his level of creepiness seems to fit the profile of what today's society thinks of as the modern serial killer. Ted Levine plays the creep-master, Jame Gumb. |
| John Kramer or Jigsaw |
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Serial Killerz
Splatter Score: Kill Type: A brutal and creative killer, who never actually kills his victims himself. He always uses some type of device that if implemented will mean the victim's horrific demise. Jigsaw is yet another killer for moral justice, tormenting people with a chance to atone for their sins. Usually, of course, they die violently. Jigsaw is killed off midway through the series, yet his spirit lives on as his legacy is carried on by likeminded killers. He is a man dying of cancer using the final days of his life to force people to appreciate their lives. Famous Quote: "Congratulations. You are still alive. Most people are so ungrateful to be alive. But not you. Not anymore." Movie/Novel: Saw I-VII Inspiration: There does not seem to be any factual basis for Jigsaw. He does not match the profile of any serial killers, but then again, none of the serial killers claiming justice really do. Sure, there are serial killers such as Dahmer who torture their victims in ways that would make Jigsaw proud, but theirs is truly without purpose and no intention of freeing the victims for a higher moral purpose as Jigsaw does. Fact Splatter:
-- Saw gets a half-splat. Financially, the franchise has proven
that people find it very entertaining, but the reality is,
Jigsaw isn't a serial killer you should have to worry about if
you have an unclean moral conscience.Actor(s) and why we love or hate the character: Played by only Tobin Bell so far, but with a franchise already seven movies deep, who knows what remains. |