12 of the Best Female Villains in Mystery & Thriller Movies

Portrayed by the inimitable Glenn Close, Fatal Attraction's Alex Forrest is one of the most iconic female villains to date.

Discontent with keeping things casual, Alex stalks her married lover after their one night stand. Her crimes of passion don't end there, however, causing a flurry of chaos and destruction for Dan's (Michael Douglas) family.

Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) is a modern wonder of villainy.

Unhappy in her marriage, Amy isn't the kind of woman who's just going to ask for a divorce. She's going to get even—and beyond. Framing her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) for her murder, she sneaks off to start a new life. But her twisted plot only grows more complicated as Nick fights for the truth.

While she's not the only baddie in Double Indemnity, Phyllis Dietrichson (Barbara Stanwyck) is definitely the mastermind.

Phyllis is motivated by cold hard cash, and she's not inclined to share it, even with those who aid in her schemes. Though she's nastier in the novel the film is based on, this manipulative seductress of the screen is still a villain of great note.

Captivating seductress? Remorseless murderer? Cunning liar? Check, check, check.

The stunning Kathleen Turner portrays Matty Walker in Body Heat, another deadly tale of inheritance. This 1981 erotic thriller is still one for the books, thanks to Turner's electric performance.

While she's not the main antagonist of the Kill Bill duology, O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) is the most iconic.

From her time as a member of the elite Deadly Viper Assassination Squad to her rule as the queen of Tokyo's underworld, O-Ren is an indisputable badass. A multilingual swordswoman of superior skill, it's hard not to be a fan.

Okay, I know I'm throwing the word “iconic” around a lot on this list, but come on!

It's Annie Wilkes (Kathy Bates)! This adaptation of the famous Stephen King novel proves just how far readers are willing to go to ensure a happy ending in their favorite series.

Kathryn Merteuil (Sarah Michelle Gellar) is a fascinating villainess because her cruelty operates without any solid motive.

Using seduction and manipulation largely as a means to chase away boredom, she's all genius and no empathy. Is she complex and tortured or just cold and heartless through and through? Either way, we love to hate her.

Though a good portion of her crimes are motivated by money, we can't deny that Emily Nelson (Blake Lively) gets amusement out of destroying people.

The only time a conscience seems present in her is in regards to her young son, Nicky. Otherwise, anyone else—friends, family, strangers—is on her chopping block of personal gain.

Based loosely on the true story of Pamela Smart, who manipulated her teenage lover into killing her husband, To Die For proves just how deadly the desire for stardom can be.

Suzanne Stone-Maretto (Nicole Kidman) isn't afraid to play dirty. She doesn't hesitate to throw her co-conspirators under the bus, and she's happy to pour salt in the wound by tarnishing her late husband's good name.

Everything Octavia Spencer touches is a masterpiece, and her portrayal of Sue Ann Ellington in Ma is no different.

As a result of trauma in her teen years, Sue Ann is driven by her emotional instability and her hunger for revenge. Though she has a sweet, unsuspecting appearance, her crimes are some of the most gruesome on this list…

Bridget Gregory (Linda Fiorentino) is one nasty character.

She has a strategic mind for staying out of trouble, and there's no scheme too underhanded for her. While she starts her journey as a mere theif and adulterer, she takes to murder and manipulation like a pro.

It's time to dive into the villainess I know you've all been waiting for: Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone).

Catherine is the very definition of a femme fatale, using sex not only as a means of manipulation, but as a backdrop to murder. Overflowing with arrogance, this crime novelist isn't afraid to put every sordid detail of her crimes onto the page.