Since everyone loves a classic good vs. evil movie, we decided to bring you the best portrayals of the Lord of Darkness that have graced the Silver Screen.
12. Robert DeNiro – Angel Heart (1987)
Playing Satan interested in redeeming a deal gone bad, De Niro hires a private detective Harry Angel (Mickey Rourke) to find the soul that got away. DeNiro is suave and polished, from his designer suit, long hair and goatee to the slightly yellowing uncut fingernails of Lucifer. His character’s name? Luis Cyphre.
The movie itself is weak at times and lacks sufficient character development. The plot, also, is not well-formed, but DeNiro steals the show in what little screen time he has. In his brief showing he has a “less-is-more” approach to the role as he talks less and gives us tons of evil glares. Imagine if The Godfather were actually Lucifer himself. It’s worth the watch just to see this oft-gangster in a role of more evil proportions.
11. David Warner – Time Bandits (1981)
It’s not unusual for Terry Gilliam to create colorful, fantastic worlds that—to most people—do not make a lot of sense. Time Bandits is no exception. In this good-against-evil fantasy, David Warner plays the hilarious, wicked devil opposite his moral heavenly creator.
A favorite pastime of the devil is blowing up people and things that he disapproves of and it sets up Warner to demonstrate his character’s insecurities through some flawless comedic timing. When one of his minions questions why “the Almighty” created the Evil Lord as well as humanity, he disposes of the stooge promptly. Without missing a beat, he goes on to tell us why God’s creation process is boring, using examples of “forty-three species of Parrots, nipples on men and slugs”. This is the classic portrayal of evil through humor and Warner is pure genius in the role.
10. Gary Oldman – Beat the Devil (2002)
Though not a full length feature, it still warrants a spot on our list because Oldman is so superb. The movie is a BMW Short directed by Tony Scott and written by David Fincher. The film opens when James Brown, the Godfather of Soul himself, visits Oldman with his driver Clive Owen in an attempt to renegotiate a deal he made fifty years earlier for more time on earth (and for the soul of his driver). Naturally, they decide to race for it (it is a BMW film), which causes Oldman to transform into his true, “flaming” self.
Oldman never disappoints; his style and cool make the film an enjoyable ten minutes. Be sure not to miss Marilyn Manson’s spot-on cameo at the end!
9. Gabriel Byrne – End of Days (1999)
The classic action movie on the list brings us The Governator fighting the Dark Lord (Gabriel Byrne) in End of Days. The plot follows a typical “end of the world” scenario, where Satan makes his appearance just prior to the millennium looking for a bride to create an offspring with in order to end the world.
Byrne’s Satan is calm, cool with a legendary blankness of demeanor who makes you really believe he is the ultimate evil. The famous “Satan’s kiss” scene, where the devil actually enters Byrne’s body, is classic filmmaking: all while having dinner, he goes to the restroom, gets possessed, returns to grab his associate’s wife’s breast and kisses her deeply. As he leaves the restaurant, an astonished associate blows up in a magnificent explosion. If Satan took someone over, this is what you’d expect.
8. Linda Blair – The Exorcist (1973)
Linda Blair, the 12-year-old Regan, is never actually spoken of as the Devil. But the evil in The Exorcist can only be attributed to the most evil presence imaginable. No one will ever forget the scenes when Regan turns her head around 360 degrees or when the infamous green slime spews from her little mouth.
Blair was exceptional in the role: relatively unknown as an actress, she had the look and feel of evil that you would not expect from someone so young. She was so convincing that there were reports that she became ill and suffered psychological issues from portraying such a malicious character. Still, many people consider it to be the scariest film of all time and Blair’s portrayal is a big part of it.
7. Max Von Sydow – Needful Things (1993)
When the town of Castle Rock, Maine, hears a new novelty shop is opening, the townspeople stop by to see what the owner has to offer. Leland Gaunt’s (Max Von Sydow) shop caters to…well…you! Each patron sees something in the shop that is uniquely priceless to them and the cost is unbeatable, yet leads to frightening and terrible results.
In Needful Things, Von Sydow never gets mentioned as the devil, but the implication is undeniable. With a quiet confidence he takes the town and turns it upside down by offering items for favors, preying on our selfish desires over any consequence. As Ed Harris and Bonnie Bedilia (Ms. John McLaine herself) struggle to figure out how the town has plunged into chaos, Gaunt plans an devilish climax.
6. George Burns – Oh God, You Devil (1984)
Next, we come to a comedic turn on the list. While many have tried (Hurley in Bedazzled or Keitel in Little Nicky), none accomplished it better than the legendary George Burns in the “Oh God” series. His raspy voice, squinted eyes and trademark cigar all lent to the genius of the character. When an aspiring musician wants to sell his soul to make it in the music business, who shows up but George Burns and–George Burns? That’s right: in double billing, Burns plays both God and The Devil as only he could.
The movie itself is not that great, but Burns is always entertaining, especially in the scenes with himself. The current generation may not be as familiar with Burns, but this film shows what made him a comedy legend until his death at age 100.
5. Viggo Mortensen – The Prophecy (1995)
The Prophecy is a classic war-in-heaven movie, with Lucifer sparking dissension between man and the angels while hoping to come out on top of the contest. Arguably the darkest Lucifer on the list, Viggo Mortensen takes on the role with a creepy gusto that leaves you wanting more. His character boasts lines like “I can lay you out and fill your mouth with your mother’s feces, or we can talk”.
But more than anything the the look of the Devil that Mortensen created is spot on. His beard, long slicked-back hair, black clothes and creepy voice make his Satan memorable. The always-entertaining Christopher Walken (as Gabriel), Virginia Madsen and Eric Stoltz round out the cast of an occult movie for the ages.
4. Al Pacino – Devils Advocate (1997)
We at the Pulp List have a true love/hate relationship with Pacino. He was the Godfather, true, but these days he tends to some pretty bad roles: he has now been in a few straight to video releases, e.g. People I Know. Who would have thought? Plus, his tendency to overact even in good films make matters worse.
Still, in Devils Advocate his flaws serve him in admirable fashion. His portrayal of Satan gives us a glimpse into what Lucifer would be like if he had a job in the professional world: if you are the devil, where better do you find your heir than in the legal profession? Alongside Keanu Reeves, Pacino plays John Milton, a senior corporate lawyer who has another job that brings him more satisfaction. He delivers with an over-the-top yet appropriate rendition of the Dark Lord, since we imagine that the Devil would be all about showmanship and grandiosity.
When he is not on the screen, we anticipate his return only to be pleasantly satisfied when he does arrive. There are a few exchanges that will go down in Pacino lore with other revered classics:
John Milton: Y’know, boy, guilt is like a bag of fucking bricks: all you gotta do is set it down. Who are you carrying all those bricks for anyway? God? Is that it? God? Well, I’ll tell ya, lemme give you a little inside information about God. God likes to watch. He’s a prankster. Think about it. He gives man instincts! He gives this extraordinary gift and then–what does he do? I swear–for his own amusement–his own private cosmic gag reel–he sets the rules in opposition. It’s the goof of all time! Look. But don’t touch! Touch. But don’t taste! Taste. Don’t swallow! [laughs] And while you’re jumping from one foot to the next, he’s laughing his sick fucking ass off!! He’s a tight ass, he’s a sadist, he’s an absentee landlord! Worship that? Never!
Kevin: Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven, is that it?
Milton: Why not? I’m here on the ground with my nose in it since the whole thing began! I’ve nurtured every sensation Man has been inspired to have! I cared about what he wanted and I never judged him. Why? Because I never rejected him. In spite of all his imperfections, I’m a fan of man! I’m a humanist.
3. Jack Nicholson – The Witches of Eastwick (1987)
He has played a werewolf, the Joker and the President, so why not Satan? Jack Nicholson is immortal as Daryl Van Horne, a wealthy bachelor conjured up by three bored and lonely women (Sarandon, Cher and Pfeiffer) after their husbands are gone. With his riches and unusual powers he captivates the women… who only later realize the evil of Van Horne and attempt to stop him.
Nicholson makes every role memorable and playing Daryl Van Horne was no exception. He uses his trademark downward glare and in his normal smooth self, captures the hearts of the ladies and the fears of the audience at the same time.
2. Peter Stormare – Constantine (2005)
In Constantine, Peter Stormare gives us a portrayal of Satan that we have wanted for a long time: new age, snakelike and just pure evil. In only about nine minutes of screen time Stormare gives us the willies by oozing black goo and slithering around the screen. Yet he is witty and humanistic, as when he tells Keanu Reeves’s Constantine that he was “the one soul he would come and get himself.” After agreeing to Constantine’s offer, he whistles like a workman–only to learn it was the sacrifice that would prevent him from taking his soul.
1. Tim Curry – Legend (1985)
The look, the voice, the huge horns–Tim Curry’s “Darkness” is the consummate depiction of the Lord of Darkness. Suspend your disbelief a moment and you’ll be convinced he is evil incarnate, the likes of which few have portrayed with such eloquence and fervor. Even with a young Tom Cruise as the protagonist, Curry takes over with his brooding voice and imposing makeup. In his quest to kill the unicorns and bring forever darkness to the world, he still manages to light up the screen in memorable fashion.
Ridley Scott directs a film with all the elements of those fantastic worlds that we usually read about only in novels–fairies, ogres, goblins, elves, maidens and heroes supply the majority of the characters. But Curry steals the show as the devil. Despite his modest stature (5′7″), Curry employs a vigor that blows his devil portrayal to epic heights. The way he speaks is mystifying and entrancing, yet somehow he never fails to embody the evil that resonates inside him.
Curry is most famous for playing a transvestite in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and if you see Curry in real life, he is one of the least imposing figures imaginable: great reasons why his role is such a triumph.
