The 30th anniversary of Mortal Kombat has been quite the ride for fans: not only did they get a new animated movie with Mortal Kombat Legends: Snow Blind, but NetherRealm Studios announced Mortal Kombat: Onslaught as their next game.
Both projects contain a plethora of iconic characters, including some scarier ones. Mortal Kombat has always been known for being adjacent to the horror genre, even featuring several characters from horror movies. However, they have their own share of terrifying characters from the Mortal Kombat canon.
Scorpion
Hanzo Hasashi has gone through a lot of changes over the years due to being the poster child of Mortal Kombat. However, in his more villainous phases as a specter, Scorpion can sometimes be a scary opponent since he is empowered by his own rage which can transform him into a fiery skeleton.
Even the iconic catchphrase, "Get over here" can be as scary as it is thrilling to hear. It's actually a good thing that Scorpion would eventually evolve into one of the franchise's greatest anti-heroes because he had the potential to be on the same level as Shang Tsung.
Kollector
Many characters got their chance to shine in Mortal Kombat 11 but sadly, one of the new characters made for that game known as the Kollector was neglected. It's a shame because this six-armed being obsessed with greed has a genuinely off-putting design which factors heavily into his brutal moves.
He's always creepily cherishing each item he grabs and is terrifyingly skilled with his many arms, as shown when he broke out of his bonds. His arms also play a part in one of Mortal Kombat 11's most brutal fatalities. If given a chance to be in the spotlight more often than being Shao Kahn's thug, Kollector could be on the same level as Mileena or Reptile in popularity.
Ermac
Part of what makes Ermac so intimidating is the mystery of how they think. They aren't just one person but a collection of mortal and immortal souls fused together into a mummy-like body. At first, they seem like nothing more than a mindless drone until they betrayed Mileena for Kotal Kahn.
There is no telling who or what their loyalties are and what kind of motives they have. It's also the idea that they are stolen souls of people, and it's heard in their voice that sounds like many people talking at once. Plus, when he uses soul magic, the screaming voices of the souls can be heard as he delivers some of the goriest fatalities and attacks in the franchise.
Corrupted Shinnok
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Despite being the big villain of the Netherrealm, Shinnok himself is not that imposing until Mortal Kombat X introduced what happens when he is empowered by Earthrealm's lifeforce known as the Jensei. It transforms him into a giant skeletal demon known as Corrupted Shinnok.
Not only is his design effectively creepy, making him look more akin to a villain from Blizzard'sDiablo franchise, but it finally shows why Shinnok is a genuine threat to Earthrealm. The skies turn red, and he starts turning Earthrealm into a place more akin to the Netherrealm.
Dark Raiden
It turns out that the developers at NetherRealm Studios like to see heroes become villains. Not only do they have the Regime Superman from the Injustice games, but they also have Raiden in both timelines of the Mortal Kombat universe.
In both cases, they become evil under circumstances but both end up being terrifying because it's a powerful thunder god with a mentality not that dissimilar to Shao Kahn. He's willing to conquer realms, torture for information, show no mercy, and fight his own friends if they don't follow commands. It's just as scary as an evil Superman since he can kill anyone with one lightning bolt.
Mileena
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Mileena is the epitome of an evil twin or clone; she is what happens when Kitana's DNA is mixed with that of Tarkatan blood, Baraka's race. The result is a flesh-eating sadist whose only goals in life are to kill and replace Kitana as heir to Shao Kahn's throne, making for an iconic Mortal Kombat rivalry.
Within seconds, she will suddenly turn into a ravenous animal who can devour a human in seconds and this has resulted in her having many bloody and brutal fatalities over the years. Mileena is just a creepy character, especially since she is always so giddy and playful when she's murdering others.
D'Vorah
This sinister queen of the Kytinn insectoid race is one of many characters introduced in Mortal Kombat's second timeline. Unlike Kollector, D'Vorah definitely had her chance to shine, and some fans would agree on a little too much since she is the killer of multiple iconic characters.
With acidic moves, powerful spear-like ovipositors, and control over insects, D'Vorah is akin to David Cronenburg's The Fly but to an even more extreme, even down to a disgusting vomit attack that is likely to turn some stomachs. She's an expert and plays all sides, serving her needs above all else which makes her unpredictable.
Shao Kahn
While gamers and viewers love villains that can be dissected to see how they became the way they are, Shao Kahn is not like that. This Emperor of Outworld is practically evil incarnate with no care for others, even his own followers.
All that matters to him is conquering every realm including Earthrealm, and he's shown he can do it. Shao Kahn remains one of the most powerful villains, able to defeat Lord Raiden and even Elder Gods such as Cetrion. He's more than just a villain in a chair giving orders, he backs up his bark with a strong bite.
Havik
One of the more obscure Mortal Kombat characters, Havik comes from Chaosrealm, and he is essentially a zombie with the desire to spread anarchy and destruction. Similar to Shao Kahn, there is no grand motive or tragic backstory; he just wants to see the realms burn.
What makes him even scarier is that he is practically indestructible thanks to his undead state, allowing him to contort in any way; where other characters usually have some kind of iconic weapon, Havik's body is his weapon. He can even snap his own neck to look backward and charge at great speeds that way, making for a terrifying opponent that deserves more attention in future games.
Shang Tsung
He may not be the most physically powerful villain, but Shang Tsung is the smartest villain in Mortal Kombat. This is best shown in the second timeline when Shang Tsung was able to orchestrate so many events, even after his own death, and prepare for time travel that would allow him to achieve a godlike status.
Shang Tsung is also a villain that is rather unpredictable: he can be helpful to both heroes and villains alike, and then he could betray one or both factions to suit his needs. The portrayal by Cary-Hiroyuki Tagawa has become iconic due to his charisma which can immediately become twisted as he absorbs the souls of dead fighters with glee.
Source:gamerant.com