The likable psychopath is a great tool in any horror writer’s belt. Freddy Krueger. Chucky. Hannibal Lecter. Norman Bates. Pinhead.
Each of these villains finds a way into our hearts. Despite their intention to kill, often brutally, they possess such raw charisma that we, the audience, are willing to watch them wreak merry havoc on innocent people who we somehow like less than the literal murderer in our midst. Every example cited above has spawned numerous sequel films, books, TV series, and comics.
