Examples:
- Norman Bates — Psycho
- Annie Wilkes — Misery
The Disturbed can be a very broad villain type. The Joker (see below) could easily be put into this category by some, however, we’re given no real insight into why he is the way he is — hence his classification below. We define The Disturbed as those with clear psychological problems. Norman Bates and Annie Wilkes are perhaps the perfect examples, both of whom are present in the horror genre. The key factor for a villain to fall under The Disturbed type is that they showcase some clear inner personality struggles. With both Norman and Annie, we see that they have a gentle and sympathetic side. We see qualities that make us sympathize for them. However, unlike the Anti-Hero type, we clearly do not find ourselves rooting for them by any means. This villain type is best represented by the horror and suspense thriller genres, because the fact that they are disturbed means that they will clash with the protagonist, often in violent and unpredictable fashion.
