20 best films about maniacs and serial killers

1. 1. Silence of the Lambs (1991)
2. 2. Zodiac (2007)
3. 3. Perfumer: The Story of a Murderer (2006)
4. 4 American Psycho (2000)
5. 5 Natural Born Killers (1994)
6. 6 Halloween (1978)
7. 7. Vice (2001)
8. 8. Saw: The Game of Survival (2004)
9. 9 Peeping (1960)
10. 10 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
11. 11. Maniac (2012)
12. 12. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
13. 13. Seven (1995)
14. 14. From Hell (2001)
15. 15. Identification (2003)
16. 16. Monster (2003)
17. 17. Psycho (1960)
18. 18. The House That Jack Built (2018)
19. 19. Joker (2019)
20. 20. Imitator (1995)

Horror, thrillers, detective stories, terrifying biographies - all this you will find in our selection of the 20 best films about maniacs and serial killers. They are breathtaking, interfere with sleep at night and give reason to think about life in general. Want to tickle your nerves with a bucket of popcorn? Join us!

1. Silence of the Lambs (1991)

The film has long been recognized as a cult classic, and Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins, is considered the best movie villain of all time. Dr Lecter loves classical music and gourmet food...

2. Zodiac (2007)

The story of the Zodiac is based on a real case about a maniac who operated in the sixties in San Francisco. In addition to an outstanding plot, the film boasts a brilliant cast - Robert Downey Jr., Jake Gyllenhaal, Mark Ruffalo and others.

3. Perfumer: The Story of a Murderer (2006)

Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw) is an unremarkable poor man who miraculously survived childhood. Nature gave him a fantastically delicate scent, and now he is already trying to collect his deadly collection of fragrances.

4 American Psycho (2000)

Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) is obsessed with his image of the perfect businessman without flaws. But with the onset of the evening, it becomes more and more difficult for him to control himself, and he arranges a real bloodbath.

5 Natural Born Killers (1994)

Meat peddler Mickey (Woody Harrelson) meets Mallory (Juliette Lewis), who is suffering from her father's harassment. The couple immediately fall in love, steal a car, get rid of Mallory's hated parents and go on a journey, leaving a trail of blood everywhere.

6 Halloween (1978)

It is believed that this particular film is one of the progenitors of slashers as a genre. A mysterious maniac in a mask starts a series of serial murders of teenagers on Halloween. The film, starring Nick Castle, Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis, spawned a whole series of sequels, parodies, books and comics.

7. Vice (2001)

The FBI is looking for a maniac nicknamed "The Hand of God". One day, a stranger Fenton Meiks (Matthew McConaughey) comes to agent Wesley Doyle (Powers Booth) and he has something to tell!

8. Saw: The Game of Survival (2004)

A story that began as an inconspicuous short film has become one of the best psychological thrillers and horror. John Kramer (Tobin Bell), aka Saw, considers it his mission to teach people to appreciate life and make decisions.

9 Peeping (1960)

In the sixties, an English thriller about a maniac-killer shocked viewers and critics. Because of this, director Michael Powell was practically unable to work further, and received recognition only in the future. The story follows assistant cameraman Mark Lewis (Karlheinz Böhm) who kills his victims with a camera and films the process.

10 The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)

The horrific activities of the cannibal maniac nicknamed Leatherface have inspired many masters of horror. This is how Tobe Hooper's story about a group of teenagers who decided to visit the farm of a deceased relative appeared.

11. Maniac (2012)

A remake of the eighties movie of the same name, but this time with Elijah Wood as a bloody maniac. Frank Zito hates women and goes hunting every night, and then scalps the victims and hangs them on mannequins. But one day he meets Anna (Nora Arnezeder) and things don't go according to plan...

12. A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Everyone must have seen the image of Freddy Krueger (Robert Englund) at least once. And this is the same film in which a terrible maniac in a striped sweater and blades on his fingers appears for the first time. First - in the dreams of Tina Gray (Amanda Weiss).

13. Seven (1995)

John Doe (Kevin Spacey) is a big fan of the Bible who decided to turn the Holy Scriptures into a manual for life. Police officers David Mills (Brad Pitt) and William Somerset (Morgan Freeman) take over the case.

14. From Hell (2001)

Fred Abberline (Johnny Depp) smokes opium, has prophetic dreams and investigates the brutal murders of women in London. Another version of the Jack the Ripper story is waiting for you. By the way, the film is based on a graphic novel by famous masters of their craft Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell.

15. Identification (2003)

A group of strangers, due to an accident and bad weather, are stuck in a gloomy roadside motel. But a series of strange murders begins, and the ending of the film will surprise even seasoned thriller fans. Starring: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Ray Liotta, Clea Duvall and others.

16. Monster (2003)

Based on a true story, the film tells the story of serial killer Eileen Wuornos, who shot and killed seven of her clients. Looking at the screen it's hard to believe, but Eileen played Charlize Theron.

17. Psycho (1960)

Despite its advanced age and black-and-white shooting, this film by Alfred Hitchcock is still considered one of the greatest psychological thrillers. Norman Bates (Anthony Perkins) suffers from a domineering mother and runs her motel. At least, that's what he tells his guest Marion (Janet Leigh).

18. The House That Jack Built (2018)

Lars von Trier's dark thriller made a splash at Cannes with its combination of twisted brutality and graceful metaphors. Serial killer Jack (Matt Dillon) turned out to be disgusting, but at the same time very aesthetic in his own way.

19. Joker (2019)

Arthur Fleck, played by Joaquin Phoenix, will take his place in the ratings of the brightest psychopaths in cinema for a long time. "Joker" by Todd Phillips is not just another superhero action movie, but a real tragedy of the collapse of the personality of a simple "little man".

20. Imitator (1995)

A series of brutal murders step by step repeats the crimes of various maniacs described in the work of psychologist Helen Hudson (Sigourney Weaver). No wonder Detectives MJ Monahan (Holly Hunter) and Reuben Goetz (Dermot Mulroney) turn to her for help.