The Scariest Monsters on Film to Sink Your Teeth into This Halloween

Dr. Frankenstein's monster is not exactly creepy. He's not totally evil. He's not completely innocent either. This big lug, with his clod-hopper boot-like shoes, thick chest, lengthy arms and legs is among the best horror creatures ever created for celluloid. Don't miss him speak in Bride of Frankenstein. Not only can he be "goood" but he can also be "baaad". Whether you love Karloff's Frankenstein monster or you're afraid of him, you should not pass up the opportunity to see him reek havoc this Halloween.

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Frankenstein (1931)
Bride of Frankenstein (1933)
Son of Frankenstein (1939)

Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula

Lugosi's Dracula can give you a long stare, make you do his bidding, and give you a pair of fang-like bite marks in your neck. There's no sympathy for this character. He's out for blood. And, this bad boy "never drinks... wine." Even though the man only appeared in one Dracula film, he made quite an impression.

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Dracula (1931)

The Alien and its mother, the Alien Queen

These beasts are among the most terrifying ever conjured up for the silver screen. They have a snapping mouth for a tongue. A head that is mysteriously shaped after a certain male sex organ. And, you don't dare kill them. They have acid for blood. Your only savior in these two terrific films is one strong woman, Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver). Otherwise, it's really unwise to watch these films with the lights off.

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Alien (1979)
Aliens (1986)
Alien 3 (1992)
Alien: Resurrection (1997)
AVP: Alien vs. Predator (2004)
Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007)

The Thing and The Thing from Another World

One version has a man roaming through an arctic station, completely made of green vegetables. The brilliance of The Thing from Another World resonates through to today. The creature is powerful and mysterious, perhaps a little too much like Karloff's Frankenstein, but who cares when being scared is so much fun. Then John Carpenter put out his own version of these beast. The shape-shifting creature in The Thing is nasty, mysterious and terrifying, all at once. The film almost acts like a sequel even if it is clearly a remake. If either of these monsters don't give you chills down your spine this Halloween, I don't know what will.

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The Thing from Another World (1951)
John Carpenter's The Thing (1982)

Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates

Norman may look like a man on the outside but let's face it, he's a monster. Him and his mother, put together are two terrifying peas in a pod. Psycho created a general fear in the general public over taking showers. It's brilliance rests with the master of suspense himself, Alfred Hitchcock. Whatever you do, don't go to the Bates' Motel. And whatever you do, don't watch Psycho alone.

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Psycho (1960)
Psycho II (1983)
Psycho III: (1986)
Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990)

Jon Chaney Jr. as the Wolf Man

Watch out! Chaney has fangs and he's not afraid to use them. Never before and never again was the myth of the werewolves so enduring. Chaney's Wolf Man was not only sympathetic, but terrifying too. What made this creature feature that much greater was the presence of Claude Rain's as the Wolf Man's father.

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The Wolf Man (1941)
Frankenstein meets the Wolf Man (1943)

Jeff Goldblum as The Fly

You might call him terrifying, you might call him disgusting, but Jeff Goldblum's Fly will survive in your nightmares. This shape-shifting accidental creation really turns on the charm when he starts vomiting on his foot to make it soft enough to digest. Sounds like a tasty dish huh? I was 5 years old when I was first exposed to this terror of a thousand faces. I was having nightmares for weeks afterward. Brilliantly scary, brilliantly disgusting and brilliantly acted, The Fly is sure to keep you up nights.

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The Fly (1986)

The Poltergueist

This was a charming, suburban neighborhood. Children were playing up and down the streets. Then on one stormy night, 'they' came. They came in through the television. They targeted an adorable, little blond girl, and terrorized a wonderful family. These ghosts come in many forms, but they are sure to scare the living pants off you. You certainly would not want a poltergueist as a house guest.

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Poltergueist (1982)
Poltergueist II: The Other Side (1986)
Poltergeist III (1988)

More monsters to watch out for

Michael Myers in Halloween (1978, 2007), Halloween 2, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers, Halloween 5, Halloween 6, H20: Halloween 20 Years Later, and Halloween: Resurrection

Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger in A Nightmare on Elm Street, A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors, A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare, Wes Craven's New Nightmare, and Freddy vs. Jason.

Kevin Peter Hall as the Predator in Predator, and Predator 2

Jason Voorhees in Friday the 13th: Part 2, Friday the 13th: Part 3, The Final Chapter, A New Beginning, Jason Lives, The New Blood, Jason Takes Manhattan, Jason Goes to Hell, Jason X, and Freddy vs. Jason

Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974, 2003), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Part 2, Leatherface: Texas Chainsaw Massacre III, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, and Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation.

Death in Final Destination, Final Destination 2, and Final Destination 3.

The shark in Jaws (1975)

Jigsaw in Saw, Saw II, Saw III, and Saw IV

The Creature in The Creature from the Black Lagoon

The aliens in Signs

Claude Rains as Dr. Jack Griffin or the Invisible Man in The Invisible Man (1933)

Brad Dourif as Charles Lee Ray or Chucky in Child's Play, Child's Play 2, Child's Play 3, Bride of Chucky, and The Seed of Chucky

Boris Karloff as the Mummy in The Mummy (1933)

Doug Bradley as Pinhead in Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, Hellraiser: Bloodline, Hellraiser: Inferno, Hellraiser: Hellseeker, Hellraiser: Deader, and Hellraiser: Hellworld

If you can think of anymore, please feel free to list them in the comments below.