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ooooh, this is a good discussion.

For me, there hasn’t ever really been a villain I’ve read that’s terrified me to my core in the sense of ‘that person is terrifying’. It’s more terrified me to my core with a ‘what the heck is he going to do?’ type of fear. So, situational fear. Let me explain.

When the Villain finds out a secret about the Hero and has the opportunity to spill the tea, but doesn’t instantly tell the world… that scares me. When he walks around like normal, all the while giving the Hero knowing looks throughout the story, dragging the tension along because 1. The Hero can’t really confront him without risking the secret being spilled and 2. You know it’s eventually going to come. That sick feeling that fills your stomach as you share anxiety with the Hero. The fear as the Hero tries to go about their day, all the while knowing their life could be ruined.

Especially if it’s a secret that involved other characters that the Hero is friends with.

To me, it’s not so much the characteristics that make a villain terrifying, though a sadistic streak in their personality ups the anti for sure, and I agree with what everyone has said above. Those are all super terrifying villains! But, for me it’s more so the power they hold over the main character, and what they might do said Hero, that’s the scary part. 🙂