20 Baddest Movie Villains of 2012

Curated by Village Voice film editor Alan Scherstuhl.

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20. The Engineer, Prometheus
Read Prometheus: The Tree of Death

20. The Engineer, Prometheus
Read Prometheus: The Tree of Death

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19. Polio in Hyde Park on Hudson
Read In Hyde Park on Hudson, It's Patriotic to Pleasure a President

19. Polio in Hyde Park on Hudson
Read In Hyde Park on Hudson, It's Patriotic to Pleasure a President

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18. Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) in Lawless
In Prohibition Drama Lawless, Looks Trump Drama

18. Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce) in Lawless
In Prohibition Drama Lawless, Looks Trump Drama

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17. Whatever It Is That Is Still Vaguely Haunting in the Paranormal Activity House
Read Paranormal Activity: Old-School Scares, Refreshingly Blood-Free
Read Paranormal Activity 3, reviewed
Read Paranormal Activity 4, reviewed

17. Whatever It Is That Is Still Vaguely Haunting in the Paranormal Activity House
Read Paranormal Activity: Old-School Scares, Refreshingly Blood-Free
Read Paranormal Activity 3, reviewed
Read Paranormal Activity 4, reviewed

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16. Steve Hadley (Bradley Whitford, on right) in Cabin in the Woods
Read Cabin in the Woods Can't See the Forest for the Trees

16. Steve Hadley (Bradley Whitford, on right) in Cabin in the Woods
Read Cabin in the Woods Can't See the Forest for the Trees

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15. Every male lead in The Master
Read The Master: From the Window to the Wall
Read Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master's Master

15. Every male lead in The Master
Read The Master: From the Window to the Wall
Read Paul Thomas Anderson, The Master's Master

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14. Eric Byer (Edward Norton) in The Bourne Legacy
Read The Bourne Legacy: Who's the New Guy?

14. Eric Byer (Edward Norton) in The Bourne Legacy
Read The Bourne Legacy: Who's the New Guy?

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13. Demon in Sinister
Read Sinister, reviewed

13. Demon in Sinister
Read Sinister, reviewed

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12. The Pale Orc and the Goblin King in The Hobbit
(Since the dragon isn't in the movie, Peter Jackson threw in a couple video game boss characters, the Goblin King and the Pale Orc.)

12. The Pale Orc and the Goblin King in The Hobbit
(Since the dragon isn't in the movie, Peter Jackson threw in a couple video game boss characters, the Goblin King and the Pale Orc.)

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11. Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon) in Premium Rush
Read Premium Rush, reviewed

11. Bobby Monday (Michael Shannon) in Premium Rush
Read Premium Rush, reviewed

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10. Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson) in Seven Psychopaths
Read Seven Psychopaths Is a Great, Nasty Time at the Movies

10. Charlie Costello (Woody Harrelson) in Seven Psychopaths
Read Seven Psychopaths Is a Great, Nasty Time at the Movies

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9. Elena (Salma Hayek) in Savages 
Read Oliver Stone's Savages Settles for Sensation

9. Elena (Salma Hayek) in Savages
Read Oliver Stone's Savages Settles for Sensation

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8. The wolves in The Grey
Read The Grey, reviewed

8. The wolves in The Grey
Read The Grey, reviewed

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7. Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian) in The Raid: Redemption
Read The Raid: Redemption, reviewed

7. Mad Dog (Yayan Ruhian) in The Raid: Redemption
Read The Raid: Redemption, reviewed

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6. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in The Avengers
Read Superheroes Bump Superegos in Joss Whedon's All-Star Avengers

6. Loki (Tom Hiddleston) in The Avengers
Read Superheroes Bump Superegos in Joss Whedon's All-Star Avengers

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5. Cid Harrington (Pierce Gagnon), who would grow up to be the Rainmaker in Looper
Read Looper Makes Time Travel Thrilling Again

5. Cid Harrington (Pierce Gagnon), who would grow up to be the Rainmaker in Looper
Read Looper Makes Time Travel Thrilling Again

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4. Osama Bin Laden, Zero Dark 30

4. Osama Bin Laden, Zero Dark 30

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3. Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) in Skyfall
Read Skyfall Lays Bare the Unknowable Spy

3. Raoul Silva (Javier Bardem) in Skyfall
Read Skyfall Lays Bare the Unknowable Spy

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2. Bane (Tom Hardy) in The Dark Knight Rises
Read Self-Important, The Dark Knight Rises Feels Like Batman Forever

2. Bane (Tom Hardy) in The Dark Knight Rises
Read Self-Important, The Dark Knight Rises Feels Like Batman Forever

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1. Killer Joe (Matthew McConaughey) in Killer Joe
Read The Lurid Pleasure of Killer Joe

1. Killer Joe (Matthew McConaughey) in Killer Joe
Read The Lurid Pleasure of Killer Joe

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