From the dawning of cinema, the Devil has captivated and frightened audiences world wide. With the very first film incarnation being in 1896 in The House of the Devil (by Father of the cinema Georges Méliès), I could have easily done a top 20, but in the hundreds of diabolical depictions of the mythical Mephistopheles 5 leapt immediately to mind.

 

5) Harvey Keitel in Little Nicky (2000)

Movie Devils

I’m not going to lie, a big part of me wants to believe that if there was a Devil, he’d hang out in velour monogrammed pajamas and listen to metal with his kids. As demonic Dads go, he has my vote. Harvey Keitel is an acting favorite, and falls in at number 5 as one of the most memorable portrayals of Ol’ Scratch on the Silver Screen.

 

4) Tom Waits in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009)

Movie Devils

The Devil as a gambling man is nothing new, but no one rolls the dice quite like Tom Waits in The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. Having played both ends of the spectrum, also playing the role of the big man upstairs in Wrist Cutters: A love Story, Waits knows how to play the game with the best of them.

3) Al Pacino in The Devil’s Advocate (1997)

Movie Devils

No one knows better than Keanu Reeves in The Devil’s Advocate what it’s like having the boss from Hell, which coincidentally isn’t so bad, as long as you stay on his good side. Nothing like a good mentor to nurture your finer traits, pride, greed, ambition, whatever you choose, he’ll be right by your side cheering you on.

 

2) Peter Stormare in Constantine (2005)

Movie Devils

Though the story may have left behind one of the greatest elements of the Hellblazer comic, Peter Stormare’s Lucifer packed the punch of 3 devils in Constantine. Dripping with the charm of a used car salesman with a serious grudge, it’s hard not to place him higher on the list, but this beguiling Belial holds firm at number 2.

 

1) Tim Curry in Legend

Movie Devils

In the number one spot is none other than the most literal interpretation of the Lord of Darkness, Tim Curry as..well…Darkness.  An actor who has played some of the most memorable and off beat characters in filmdom, from Frankenfurter to Pennywise, Curry reigns supreme as the high ruler of the underworld. Playing the role bigger than life and then some, when you think of the Devil incarnate, it’s hard not to think of Tim Curry.

 

That wraps up this Fiendish Flicks Friday, feel free to weigh in on who you think should rank on this diabolical list of Sons of Perdition. Until next week my devilish darlings. -Ruby