Halloween is around the corner and horror films are flooding the networks to supply scary movie buffs with a plethora of petrifying nights. For those adrenaline junkies who search for a good scare year round, terrifying television does the trick.

As television continues to compete with the movie industry, audiences have been lucky enough to witness the brilliant characterization of creepy, freaky, and downright dangerous villains spanning through multiple eras, networks, genres.

10)Rumpelstiltskin, Once Upon a Time

Once Upon a Time’s Rumpelstiltskin is a creepy character brought to viewers by ABC. On the fairytale inspired drama, Rumpelstiltskin’s evil scheming and unwavering dark powers evoke utter worry within the audience. Not to mention his extremely unsettling giggle.

9)King Joffrey, Game of Thrones

What’s scariest about King Joffrey is that he, in all of his ignorant, misogynist awfulness is a ruler. King Joffrey is heartless, disgusting, and above all a preteen. This boy deserves a slap.

8)Gustavo ‘Gus’ Fring, Breaking Bad

In remembrance of one of television’s greatest dramas in the history of everything wonderful, Gus Fring comes in at number eight. Gustavo’s dead eyes and numbness to all forms of death and destruction made him one of the most fear-inducing fellas on cable.

7)Tiffany ‘Pennsatucky’ Doggett, Orange Is the New Black

A tiny, Jesus crazed, murderous meth head, those three adjectives are enough to make anyone’s skin crawl. Pennsatucky’s unpredictable and irrational behavior made every scene of Orange Is the New Black needlessly nerve wracking.

6)The Governor, The Walking Dead

The one-eyed zombie hoarding, back-stabbing governor featured on the previous season of The Walking Dead is one conniving, evil makeshift politician. The Governor’s ability to manipulate and murder simultaneously sets him as one of the scariest characters on television.

5)Arthur Miller “The Trinity Killer”, Dexter Season 4

Season 4 of the Showtime hit featured a seriously scary serial killer known as the “Trinity Killer.” The Trinity Killer, who’s on screen name was Arthur Miller was one of the series’ most terrifying murderers. Played by John Lithgow, Arthur Miller appeared to be your average older man, who enjoyed building houses for the poor and church going. That is if your average older man enjoys killing young women and draining their blood into bathtubs. I wouldn’t be lying if I said this man haunted a years worth of my dreams.

4)Tinky Winky, Teletubbies

The Teletubbies themselves are all collectively creepy as a group, but Tinky Winky takes the cake for the most cringeworthy. First of all what are Teletubbies? Does the television inside of their bellies imply robotism? Aliens? Why is Tinky-Winky so large? The uncertainty is disturbing.

3)Big Ang, Mob Wives

A big Italian, New Jersey native who’s plastic surgery procedures have all gone terribly wrong, to me there’s nothing scarier. When I watch the show I find it hard to believe this person is not a fictional character, but to my dismay she is a real person roaming the world who has been granted her own spin-off show. Help.

2)The Weeping Angels, Dr. Who

The most horrifying aspect of The Weeping Angels is their mysterious, deadly stealth. The Weeping Angels are masters of sudden movement, sneak attacks, and stony facial contortion.The Weeping Angels will forever taint any celestial or religious statues, and have changed the old age saying “anything can happen in the blink of an eye,” like for instance your death. I find myself holding my eyes open to prevent any blinking during, and after watching these episodes.

Madame Delphine LaLaurie, American Horror Story: Coven

Last Wednesday, audiences were introduced to the horror of historical fiction. Played by the acting excellence of Kathy Bates, Madame Delphine LaLaurie is a petrifying portrait of the disturbing realities that took place in the Antebellum South. The gory, gruesome nature of the award winning mini-series is fully intact this season with the introduction of Madame Delphine LaLaurie as one of the main characters. Number one out of ten, Madame Delphine LaLaurie will be sure to terrify audiences this season with her torturous and dark tactics.