Anton Chigurh
Like all Cormac McCarthy antagonists, seems like a force of nature, not entirely human. Chigurh is just like this, being a combination of the Terminator and the Grim Reaper. He doesn’t seem killable when he is under attack, and even when the protagonist has him at a disadvantage, it still seems like beating Chigurh is an impossibility. Chigurh's unrelenting pursuit of his targets instils fear. He is an unstoppable juggernaut who tracks his prey with ruthless determination. The use of a bolt pistol, a weapon typically used to euthanize cattle, adds an element of chilling irony, as he sees his victims as mere animals to be slaughtered. Chigurh's philosophy of coin flipping and chance isn’t quite as random when you think about it. His explanation of how the coin he is flipping to see if he will commit murder, has travelled all this way to be here, in this place, right now, is incredibly unnerving. It shows that Chigurh doesn’t believe in luck or happenstance, but only in the certainty of violence and death.
Judge Holden
Being a huge seven-foot bear of a man, completely pale and hairless, we are already painted a picture of why Judge Holden could be given the crown of scariest fictional character. While Judge Holden could be based on a real Native American killer in the old west, it doesn’t really matter, as how he is portrayed in Blood Meridian, is like a God among men, or, more likely, the Devil himself.
Holden has no issue with killing men, women, children, animals. He is the embodiment of cruelty in an antient era.
Judge Holden also infects the minds of others, carrying influence to those around him, feeding on their fears and demonic natures. The band of outlaws he rides with become so lost in their own humanity, that they kill for no real reason, other than because they enjoy it and have become savages, just like the world around them.
The Shrike
Firstly, the Shrike's appearance is deeply unsettling. Its form, a combination of organic and mechanical elements, is a nightmarish fusion of metal and thorns, bristling with sharp blades. This visual depiction alone is enough to send shivers down the spine, evoking a visceral reaction of fear. Its ability to teleport at any moment makes the Shrike one of the most powerful beings in the universe. And thus, makes it an incredible threat to anyone unfortunate enough to be near it. The Shrike's motives remain shrouded in mystery. It's unclear whether it is an instrument of cosmic balance, an agent of chaos, or something entirely beyond human comprehension. This ambiguity creates a sense of existential dread, leaving readers to grapple with the uncertainty of its intentions.
Jukka Sarasti What do you do when you need a half-human/-vampire hybrid on your ship to survive, but this creature could kill anyone on your ship in a moment. He is needed by humanity because of his skills, but he has no concern for their wellbeing. He is ruthless and conniving, while having an intimidating aura to him. What truly makes Sarasti terrifying is his intelligence. He possesses an intellect beyond human comprehension, capable of making instantaneous and highly calculated decisions. His ability to analyze, predict, and manipulate situations is awe-inspiring, but it also highlights the vast gap between human and post-human cognition, leaving readers to ponder the limitations of human understanding. Every time a human is around him, we’re not sure if he will just murder them because he becomes slightly annoyed. This makes him so much more than just an anti-hero or a villain. He becomes an enigma.
Annie Wilkes.
Taking the fangirl to the extreme, Annie tortures a poor, helpless writer because she didn’t like the way a character was killed off. She is petulant, irritable, and quick to violence. Throughout Misery, you learn about both characters in both circumstances. With Annie, it becomes a chilling look into the mind of a psychopath. She is kind and considerate one moment, and the next, she will be abusive and harmful. She’s not very intelligent, but she is calculating, being able to keep someone hostage for a length of time. The plain reason that she is committing such horrible acts on a man, simply for the reason of wanting another ending for a book series is almost comical, but the horrific presence of Annie doesn’t leave you laughing, she leaves you uncomfortable and repulsed by her psychology, not wanting to be near her for any amount of time. This makes her an interesting but vile woman who can’t be reasoned with or persuaded.
