Horror characters come and go, just as horror movies do. But there are some monsters so intriguing that they manage to keep re-appearing year after year. These are the classics- the monsters that capture our darkest imaginations and will continue to terrify us generation after generation.

1. The Vampire. Why is the idea of the vampire so captivating? Some people are so fascinated by Vampires that they claim to be one, even drinking blood and sleeping in coffins. So what is the allure of the vampire? The answer is simple: Vampires are sexy. They come out at night. They never get old or die. They prey upon beautiful women scantily clad in nightgowns. Many live in castles. Sometimes they fly. And they dress well. Powerful and dominating, the mysterious Vampire tops the list.
2. The Werewolf, or lycanthrope. All around the globe in many cultures, the belief in werewolves or other shape-shifters pervades, making the werewolf one of the oldest and most popular monsters. Maybe this is a way mankind explains how another human can be so evil, or it maybe it’s just due to plain hyper superstition. Whatever the reason, this monster is particularly frightening because it’s really a person who can change into a hideous and murderous creature.
3. The Undead- as in they died but came back to life. This includes mummies, zombies, and Frankenstein. Ah, the idea of life after death can be so comforting, unless referring to those who come back to kill! Practically unbeatable, because how do you kill something that is already dead?! Is there anything more terrifying than a person who just won’t die and who is intent on killing off the whole village???
4. Evil Aliens. There are those who believe there is life in outer space that is far more advanced than the human race. So what if that life-source decided to do away with humans and maybe even the whole planet earth? Thus is born the idea of evil aliens who are capable of annihilating all of humanity. Some classic movies were based on this horrific monster: Alien, Predator, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the Blob, the Thing, etc. One of the scariest monsters simply because they could be real.
5. Psycho Killers. Some of the most notable horror characters are humans. Maybe not mere humans since some seem to fit into other categories, such as coming back to life, or seem to possess inhuman capabilities. There’s Jason, and Michael Meyers, and Norman Bates- just to name a few. The crazed human killer is a popular and frightening monster that will doubtlessly continue to scare the be-jeesus out of people throughout the rest of history. And worst of all is that there really are crazy killers out there, so lock your doors!

These 5 horror characters top my list for the Top 5 Monsters of all Time. Which is your favorite and why???