6. Nurse Ratched – One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest
There’s a reason that One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest is a classic, and Nurse Ratched is a big part of it. She’s one of the most memorable villains of all time, because she’s so perfectly written. A nurse obsessed with keeping order by controlling a group of mentally ill patients, Ratched is one of those villains that doesn’t immediately seem evil.
As new patient McMurphy continues to rile the residents of her ward, Ratched becomes harsher and harsher. Gradually exposing herself as an incredibly vindictive and passive-aggressive presence, Ratched soon reveals her true nature. However, it’s not until the film’s final scene that the depth of her darkness finally comes to light.
After Ratched’s attempt to exert total control over a young patient ends in his violent suicide, McMurphy flies into a rage. He strangles her, and as a result, she has him immediately lobotomized. No attempts at medicating him, no second chance. She permanently robs McMurphy of his faculties simply for laying a hand on her, and shows absolutely no remorse. In doing so, Ratched proves herself the queen of escalation, taking things way too far and getting her way all at once.