Not everyone takes to fatherhood. Some rise to the occasion while others fall short. This list is mostly the latter, though a few entries on this list are legitimately Father of the Year material. Spanning decades and genres, these are our top 13 dads in horror.
[customfont1]Tom and Howard (Krampus)[/customfont1]
Tom and Howard have more than their share of disagreements, but when Krampus comes to town with his holiday henchmen differences are set aside to save their families’ lives. A surprising and effective duo, these guys gave us plenty to root for.
[customfont1]Kane (Alien)[/customfont1]
You don’t always plan on having kids. Kane didn’t. After all, it’s hard to plan on an alien embryo being planted in your stomach and bursting out through your chest a little while later. He never knew his child, but I suspect Kane would be proud to know they grew up to be one of the most iconic aliens of all time.
[customfont1]Andre Toulon (Puppet Master)[/customfont1]
Andre and his late wife Ilsa were never blessed with children, but that doesn’t stop him from bringing life into the world anyway. Through alchemical experimentation he places the souls of fallen friends and loved ones into his puppets, becoming their father figure, and tending to them until his death.
[customfont1]The Drake (Hobo With A Shotgun)[/customfont1]
Sleazy, full of hate, and in love with destruction, The Drake just wants to teach his sons more about the family business. Hobo With a Shotgun is a full tilt grindhouse sendup, and Brian Downey’s fantastic portrayal of the sadistic Drake is a big part of what makes this shocking show what it is.
[customfont1]Jack Torrance (The Shining)[/customfont1]
This is easily the most iconic dad on the list. While he appears to have it all together early on in the film, Jack is slowly revealed to be an alcoholic, abusive in just about every way, and the kind to take advice from ghostly bartenders. He’s terrifying, maniacal, and unforgettable.
[customfont1]Jim Whitney (Society)[/customfont1]
Jim Whitney was instrumental in orchestrating the conspiracy at the heart of Society‘s drama, and a truly terrible father for it. His plan was to sacrifice his adopted son to his fellow members of an ancient, semi-solid, slimy race of übermensch. Whitney is a strange dad for an equally strange film.
[customfont1]Jacob Singer (Jacob’s Ladder)[/customfont1]
A Vietnam vet trying to re-establish his place in a post-war US, Jacob lost one of his sons in an accident the rest of his family in a divorce. At least that’s what he thinks. A long, complicated, and emotionally taxing road awaits Jacob on his way to reunite with his family.
[customfont1]Doctor Rendell (Dr. Giggles)[/customfont1]
Doctor Rendell may not take center stage in Dr. Giggles but his limited screen time is what gives way to the plot of the film, making him an invaluable character. He’s a dark and demented widower, doing the best he can as a father, whose impact on his son is felt throughout the film.
[customfont1]Steven (Trick ‘r Treat)[/customfont1]
Holidays can be a great opportunity for family bonding. While Steven isn’t exactly a great person, what with killing a neighborhood kid and hiding the body, he’s still a pretty good dad. He is the kind of dad who makes time for pumpkin carving with the kids, even lending a hand with the tricky parts.
[customfont1]Belial (Basket Case series)[/customfont1]
Belial, a deformed and formerly conjoined twin, becomes a father in Basket Case 3: The Progeny. The joy is cut short when the police kidnap the newborns. With the help of his non-deformed brother and a team of freaks, Belial storms the police station in a homemade mech suit, hell bent on saving his kids.
[customfont1]Harry Mason (Silent Hill)[/customfont1]
A good parent would go to hell and back for their kids. Harry Mason is a good dad. After adopting a baby he and his wife found on the roadside near Silent Hill his life turns to a surreal nightmare, but he’s undeterred as a dad. In every iteration of the character he’s loving and compassionate.
[customfont1]Steven Freeling (Poltergeist)[/customfont1]
There’s something to be said for making the best of a bad situation, and that’s just what Steven Freeling does in Poltergeist. He’s a great dad, provides for his family, and when things hit the supernatural fan he’s right there to help fight off spirits and save his family.
[customfont1]Other Father (Coraline)[/customfont1]
He’s goofy, he’s easygoing, he’s got buttons for eyes. Coraline’s Other Father is an instantly endearing and warm man. He’s loving, attentive, a great songwriter, and a lover of breakfast food. From start to finish he’s clearly the best part of Other World, and the best father on this bunch.
