No one expects horror movie dads to be perfect, but some take parental failure to shocking levels. These fathers aren’t just flawed—they’re negligent, violent, manipulative, or outright evil. In many of these stories, their presence (or absence) is what triggers the descent into chaos and terror.
From the iconic axe-wielders to the more quietly destructive types, bad fatherhood takes many forms in horror cinema. Some are possessed, others are willingly monstrous, and a few hide behind charm before revealing something sinister. Often, their families suffer far worse than any outside threat. This list isn’t about occasional mistakes—these are dads who actively make things worse and rarely show a shred of redemption.
Across decades of horror filmmaking, one theme repeats itself: the family unit can be a source of security—or destruction. The fathers in this collection lean hard into the latter. Whether they’re possessed by demons, twisted by delusions, or corrupted by power, these men represent the darkest versions of fatherhood on screen. Here are 20 of the worst fathers ever to haunt horror movies.
1. Jack Torrance – The Shining (1980)
Jack’s slow mental unraveling is what makes The Shining so terrifying. Initially portrayed as a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic, his descent is fueled by the Overlook Hotel’s sinister influence. Though he’s a victim of supernatural forces, his capacity for violence and rage seems barely restrained even before. He lashes out at his wife Wendy and threatens his son Danny with a brutality that lingers in horror history. Isolation amplifies his instability, and instead of protecting his family, he becomes their greatest threat. Jack’s transformation from man to monster is gradual, but the signs were always there. The chilling final act proves that whatever humanity he had left was long gone. He doesn’t just fail as a father—he tries to murder his own child.
2. George Lutz – The Amityville Horror (2005)
At first glance, George Lutz appears to be a stressed stepfather simply trying to hold his new family together. But in The Amityville Horror, his dark turn is as fast as it is terrifying. As the haunted house begins to affect him, he grows distant, irritable, and cold. Though the supernatural elements clearly manipulate him, George never tries to resist. Instead, he channels his rage toward his stepchildren, especially young Amy. The transformation is emotionally violent, stripping away any sense of security for the family. By the end, he’s become a vessel of terror rather than support. His failure to protect—combined with his escalating aggression—makes him one of horror’s most unsettling father figures.
3. Louis Creed – Pet Sematary (1989 / 2019)
Desperation drives Louis Creed’s decisions in Pet Sematary, but that doesn’t excuse them. His inability to cope with grief leads to the resurrection of his dead child using an ancient burial ground. What begins as an act of love becomes a spiral into horror and death. Louis disregards every warning and sign that what he’s doing is wrong. Instead of processing his loss, he tries to undo it unnaturally, putting everyone else at risk. As the corpses rise and tragedies multiply, Louis continues to make selfish choices. His role in the destruction of his own family is haunting not just for what he does—but for how willingly he does it.
4. Damon Macready / Big Daddy – Kick-Ass (2010)
His idea of parenting involves firearms training, hand-to-hand combat, and conditioning his daughter to be a killer. While the film plays some of this for laughs, it’s hard to ignore how deeply damaging his behavior really is. He puts her in life-or-death situations without hesitation. Worse, he disguises it as love and “preparation.” The psychological toll on Hit-Girl is immense, even if she appears capable. His choices reflect obsession more than protection. It’s not nurturing—it’s militarized trauma masquerading as fatherhood.
5. Papa Jupiter – The Hills Have Eyes (1977 / 2006)
Cannibalism and murder are all in a day’s work for Papa Jupiter, the patriarch of the monstrous clan in The Hills Have Eyes. Unlike other horror dads who fall into darkness, Jupiter thrives in it. He leads his family with brute force and a primal cruelty that leaves victims broken and brutalized. There’s no moral conflict or hesitation—he’s a predator by choice. His “leadership” is built on violence, domination, and fear. Even his own children seem more terrified than loyal. Jupiter embodies the idea of the family unit twisted beyond recognition. No sense of paternal care exists—just bloodlust.
6. Chris Cleek – The Woman (2011)
Disturbing from the first frame, Chris Cleek in The Woman operates with a calm cruelty that’s more unsettling than outright rage. He finds a feral woman in the woods and chains her in his cellar, claiming it’s for her own good. Meanwhile, he involves his family in her abuse through silence and complicity. Chris maintains a façade of normalcy in public, making his behavior even more disturbing behind closed doors. His authority is absolute, and questioning it is dangerous. What’s truly horrifying is how he uses his power to corrupt his children. His version of fatherhood is dominance, not guidance. By the time he’s revealed fully, the horror has already poisoned everyone around him.
7. Man (Dad) – The Lodge (2019)
In The Lodge, it’s the father’s emotional carelessness that becomes the spark for psychological horror. After the death of his wife, he rushes into a new relationship and forces his children to bond with a woman they barely know. Instead of supporting his grieving kids, he leaves them alone with his new fiancée in a remote winter lodge. His absence isn’t just physical—it’s emotional. He underestimates the fragility of their mental states and the tension that builds between them. The decisions he makes are careless at best, cruel at worst. He wants peace but chooses convenience. And by the time consequences arrive, it’s too late to fix anything.
8. Ellison Oswalt – Sinister (2012)
Putting ambition over safety, Ellison Oswalt in Sinister jeopardizes his family for the sake of a book deal. He moves them into a house where a murder took place—without telling them why. Driven by the hope of reviving his writing career, he ignores the supernatural signs. Rather than prioritizing their well-being, he treats his family like accessories to his obsession. As his paranoia grows, he becomes more withdrawn and volatile. His lack of honesty and communication creates cracks that evil easily slips through. When the inevitable horror strikes, his decisions are largely to blame. Fame mattered more than fatherhood.
9. Frank Parker – We Are What We Are (2013)
The traditions in We Are What We Are are horrifying enough—but it’s Frank Parker’s blind devotion to them that seals his place here. He forces his daughters to participate in a cannibalistic ritual passed down through generations. Frank cloaks this violence in religious justification, acting as though it’s divine will. Any dissent is met with intimidation and fear. Rather than evolve, he enforces a horrific legacy without question. His control over the household leaves no room for choice or morality. The emotional damage done to his daughters is as permanent as the physical horror. Frank isn’t just a bad father—he’s a cult leader with a last name.
10. Armitage Patriarch – Get Out (2017)
Underneath a calm exterior, the Armitage patriarch in Get Out hides horrifying intentions. He speaks with progressive charm, but his true nature is steeped in exploitation. Rather than protect or nurture, he oversees a process that steals bodies from Black victims. His role in the family business is that of a surgeon—and an enabler. He manipulates his victims with false kindness, building trust before violating it. His fatherly warmth is nothing but a mask. The cold precision of his evil makes him even more disturbing. He doesn’t scream—he smiles.
11. Henry Spencer – Eraserhead (1977)
He struggles with the deformed, constantly wailing baby left in his care. Instead of rising to the challenge, he retreats into surreal dreams and isolation. The child becomes a symbol of burden rather than life. Henry’s fear of responsibility turns into revulsion. While not outwardly violent, his passivity and mental withdrawal are suffocating. The world around him deteriorates as he refuses to adapt. His silence becomes its own kind of horror.
12. Brad Whitford’s Character (Dean Armitage) – Get Out (2017)
When it comes to the Armitage family, it’s impossible not to double down. Dean Armitage may be friendly and composed, but that’s what makes his villainy effective. His surgical work supports a grotesque tradition of racial body-snatching. He offers tea and sympathy while preparing for violation. Every word is carefully calculated to disarm. His identity as a father feeds into the façade—presenting his family as wholesome. But his actions are anything but. Dean uses fatherhood as a cover for horror.
13. Man (The Witch’s Father) – The Witch (2015)
With good intentions and misplaced faith, the father in The Witch leads his family into ruin. Exiled for his rigid religious beliefs, he relocates them to the wilderness. Isolated and starving, the family fractures under pressure. He clings to dogma rather than addressing real dangers. His inability to protect his children—or understand their suffering—leaves them vulnerable. Even when supernatural forces emerge, he responds with lectures instead of action. His stubborn pride does more harm than any witch. His children needed a leader, but got a sermon.
14. Micah – Paranormal Activity (2007)
Dismissiveness defines Micah’s role in Paranormal Activity. Though not a father, his role as protector falls apart quickly. He repeatedly ignores his partner’s pleas for caution. When she warns him of something sinister, he mocks and challenges it instead. His toxic need to assert control invites danger into their home. Rather than trust, he chooses ego. As the events escalate, so does his recklessness. His refusal to listen ends in disaster for them both.
15. Don – 28 Weeks Later (2007)
In 28 Weeks Later, Don’s betrayal happens in the film’s first moments—and it only gets worse from there. He abandons his wife to zombies, then lies to their children about it. Later, when she’s discovered to be alive, his selfish actions trigger a second outbreak. His inability to act with compassion or accountability leads to countless deaths. Don wants to move on, but his past choices come crashing back. His cowardice is lethal. He fails his family not just once—but repeatedly.
16. The Firefly Patriarch (Captain Spaulding or Otis Driftwood) – House of 1000 Corpses & The Devil’s Rejects
Twisted families are everywhere in Rob Zombie’s The Devil’s Rejects, and the Firefly patriarch is among the worst. Whether it’s Captain Spaulding or Otis Driftwood as the head, their legacy is built on slaughter. These men raise their “children” in a world of murder, torture, and sadism. There’s no structure—only chaos and cruelty. Their fatherhood is performative, existing only to breed more monsters. Morality never enters the equation. Blood bonds are real here, but they’re soaked in violence. These are not dads—they’re devils in disguise.
17. Jerry Blake / “The Stepfather” – The Stepfather (1987)
Behind a warm smile, Jerry Blake hides a terrifying need for control in The Stepfather. He isn’t just looking for a family—he’s looking for perfection. And when things don’t meet his standards, he kills and starts again. He plays the role of doting husband and father flawlessly at first. But beneath the surface is a calculating, obsessive man with a murderous streak. Any deviation from his fantasy triggers violence. His fatherhood is conditional and deadly. You follow his rules—or you don’t survive.
18. Tommy’s Father – Sleepaway Camp (1983)
Even in just a few moments of Sleepaway Camp, the flashback to Angela’s home life reveals deep dysfunction. Her father’s hidden lifestyle and lack of stability leave her emotionally vulnerable. The trauma bleeds into her identity, creating confusion and psychological collapse. Though he doesn’t appear for long, the ripple effects of his neglect are enormous. The film uses this fractured past to build one of horror’s most shocking finales. Angela’s father might not have been violent, but he was absent when it mattered. His decisions echo through the entire narrative. Sometimes, the damage is already done.
19. Bill – Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
Finally, in Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, emotional abandonment takes center stage. Stella’s father doesn’t physically harm her—but his lack of involvement cuts just as deeply. After her mother’s death, he grows distant and cold. When strange things begin happening, he brushes them off. Stella faces the horror alone while craving his support. The absence of trust becomes its own kind of fear. Fathers aren’t always monsters—they’re sometimes ghosts. His silence is what haunts her most.
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