[Jim W N]

1) Jack Palance in Shane ("the Prince of Darkness himself" as Pauline Keil once put it).

2) Agent Smith in The Matrix.

[niteowl77]

1) Jack Palance in Shane ("the Prince of Darkness himself" as Pauline Keil once put it).

A truly scary character, particularly considering the film's genre and the time it was made. Most "oaters" make me cringe at least a little these days, and Shane is no exception, but George Stevens got some performance-of-a-lifetime turns on that film, and when the opportunity arises, I always take the time to watch it.

"Prove it."

Other fave hayburner baddies:

I didn't care for the film much but Bruce Dern delivered an amoral and creepy portrayal of "Asa Watts" in The Cowboys.

Of all the performances in the original True Grit, I probably like Robert Duvall's take on Lucky Ned Pepper the most. A dangerous guy and a hard case, but not frightful.

Mr. niteowl77