In a recent reader survey, fans of literature and film have nominated the most despicable fictional villains, with Francis Begbie from Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting and Shakespeare's Iago emerging as top contenders. The discussion, initiated by a reader from London, asked contributors to name the absolute worst imaginary human villain excluding monsters and real people.
Respondents offered a wide range of choices, from Shakespeare's Richard III to Judge Holden from Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian. One reader described Iago as operating with 'motiveless malignity,' delighting in inflicting emotional torment on others. Another nominated Francis Begbie for his violent and unpredictable nature.
Other notable mentions included Harry Lime from The Third Man, described as 'charmingly amoral,' and Francis Urquhart from House of Cards, praised for his calculated ruthlessness. Captain Vidal from Pan's Labyrinth was singled out for his brutal psychopathy, while the six-year-old godlike child in The Twilight Zone episode 'It's a Good Life' was noted for its terrifying innocence turned evil.
The responses also highlighted classic villains such as Cruella De Vil and Captain Ahab, as well as more contemporary characters like Patrick Melrose's father from Edward St Aubyn's novels. A reader summed up Judge Holden as 'Milton's Satan...Ahab wearing the skin of Moby-Dick,' emphasizing his all-knowing and violent nature.
