*Warning: This article contains spoilers for Guillermo del Toro's films.*
Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro has always been known for his legendary monster-making, but some would argue that the monsters he creates within the human characters of his films are just as dangerous and frightening as the creatures he designs for them. Del Toro often picks the perfect casting for his films' villains, as most of the actors often become the shining roles in his films. Although his newly Best Picture-nominated film Nightmare Alley doesn't have a defined villain—but honestly, almost everyone in the film could be considered—most of his other films do have that predominantly villainous character. So, in the spirit and celebration of Guillermo del Toro's movies, we take a look at the best villains from his films.
8
Jared Nomak - Blade II (2002)
In the first and only collaboration between Guillermo del Toro and Marvel, English actor Luke Goss took on the role of genetically-altered super-vampire Jared Nomak to face off against Wesley Snipes' Blade. Being patient zero for the "Reaper Strain" virus in Blade II, the audience feels a level of empathy for the character due to the constant burning pain he feels as result of the virus. He's physically opposing and genuinely scary looking, but the level of sadness inside, and the fact that he went out on his own terms keeps Nomak from being higher up on this list. As of now, it is unknown whether the villainous bloodsucker will make an appearance in the upcoming MCU Blade film starring Mahershala Ali.
7 De la Guardia - Cronos (1993)
Probably the least physically imposing villain on this list De la Guardia from del Toro's scientific vampirism film Cronos, was all about his own interests. Claudio Brook did a fantastic job portraying the uncaring gangster, only interested in procuring the vampiric scarab statue that grants eternal life at the expense of making its host feed on blood. De la Guardia routinely abuses his own family, breaking his nephew's nose on multiple occasions when he fails, and completely disregarding the lives of an elderly man and his granddaughter in hopes to get what he wants.
6
Lucille & Thomas Sharpe - Crimson Peak (2015)
In the drab and gothic tale Crimson Peak, Lucille & Thomas Sharpe (Jessica Chastain & Tom Hiddleston) are a scandalous and conniving brother and sister due that use trickery to get close to the scheme Edith Cushing (Mia Wasikowska) out of possible riches her manor holds after her and Thomas are to be married. The siblings' relationship ranges from incestuous to betraying, with Chastain's Lucille being the more deeply manipulative and malicious of the two. They both contribute to each other's demise when Lucille ends Thomas' life with knife in a jealous rage, and Thomas' ghost distracts Lucille just long enough for Edith to bring a shovel down on her. A fitting end to this moody ghost story.
5
Grigori Rasputin - Hellboy (2004)
It doesn't get much more evil than Nazis, and Hellboy's Grigori Rasputin (Karel Roden) is working right alongside them. Rasputin was nearly immortal, and with every death, the God of Ogdru Jahad (a dragon of Revelation, destined to bring on the end of the world) inside him got more powerful. In fact, he got his name because the real Rasputin was so hard to kill. Grigori almost succeeded in ending the world with God's release, but was stabbed by one of Hellboy's horns, causing the tentacled beast Behemot to explode from his body, crushing and killing him.
4
Nuada Silverlance - Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)
The Crown Prince of the Bethmoora Clan, or "Sons of the Earth", the Elvin Nuada Silverlance is without doubt the coolest looking villain on this list. Luke Goss returned to del Toro villainy to portray a delightfully evil dark elf prince in Hellboy II: The Golden Army. After living for thousands of years, Nuada hated the human race for the greed and corruption that ran through it, and planned to destroy humans with an army of golden mechanical indestructible soldiers. He's challenged by Hellboy to control the army and loses. Showing no honor, he tries to kill Hellboy anyway, but is killed when his sister sacrifices herself to kill him, as the only way he can die is through her death
3
Jacinto - The Devil's Backbone (2001)
In one of the most effective ghost story films of all time, The Devil's Backbone, Eduardo Noriega appears as a conniving child murderer and thief, Jacinto. He's the epitome of someone who lies, cheats, and steals. Not only does Jacinto murder the child who haunts an orphanage during the Spanish Civil War, but in attempt to steal hidden gold, burns down part of the orphanage, killing beloved characters and children in the meantime. Jacinto seems uncaring and reckless with many of his kills, but strangely intimate with others, defining him as a true psychopath. His holds a power dynamic over weaker characters both physically and emotionally, and uses them until he gets what he wants. Jacinto meets a fitting end when he returns to the orphanage, only to be stabbed by the same group of children he tried to murder, and the gold he tries to steal, weighs him to the bottom of the cistern where he drowned a boy before.
2
Captain Vidal - Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
Sergi López's Captain Vidal is an absolutely brutal villain in Guillermo del Toro's dark fantasy film Pan's Labyrinth. Vidal is tasked with hunting down Spanish rebels, taking his job so far that he sickeningly murders two local farmers that he believes are betraying him. Vidal hold contempt for his step-daughter Ophelia, and relishes the power he holds over her and her mother. Unfortunately, Vidal murders Ophelia as she's trying to complete her tasks for the Pan, but he soon dies after being surrounded by rebel forces and gunned down, knowing his newborn son will never know his name.
1
Colonel Richard Strickland - The Shape of Water (2017)
In Guillermo del Toro's Best Picture-winning film The Shape of Water, Michael Shannon plays Colonel Richard Strickland, the man that captured and brought in the Amphibian Man for experimental purposes in hopes to gain ground on Russia in Space-race type competition. He is routinely abusive to the creature, and is pretty much the definition of toxic masculinity. He has a strange and absuive power dynamic with women and with the creature. He forces his wife to be silent during sex while he fantasizes about the main character Elisa (Sally Hawkins) while wiping blood on her. He belittles both Elisa and her friend Zelda (Octavia Spencer), and tortures the Amphibian Man with a cattle prod for fun. Shannon was just horribly nasty in this film, and many believe he was snubbed for a Best Supporting Actor nomination. This is another film where the villain shoots the main character, before getting his throat slashed by the Amphibian Man. Luckily, Elisa is healed with the creature's healing powers.