With creators like Jordan Peele, Misha Green, and Nia DaCosta making waves in the horror world, fans are quick to acknowledge the strides Black creatives are making in the genre. However, while modern horror redefines common tropes for black characters, they were treated as a predictable stereotype for decades.

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The 1970s brought forth the blaxploitation era of film, and introduced Black leads in a new light, giving society the most memorable horror icons to date. That trend quickly died out, and characters like Scary Movie's Cindy Campbell were many people's idea of Black characters in horror. These characters were often victims, and rarely had well-developed stories, but countless iconic Black Characters helped define the horror genre and left an impact on the film industry at large.

10 Queen Akasha Changed The Way Fans Saw Vampires In The 2000s

Aaliyah in Queen of the Damned

Queen Akasha is the main antagonist of The Vampire Chronicles books by Anne Rice. In 2002 Aaliyah bought the character to life in Queen of The Damned. Akasha is the world's first vampire and many people's first introduction to the appeal of the monsters.

With such an iconic talent bringing her to life, the character has become the poster child for the allure and attractiveness vampires are known for, but it doesn't miss out on any of the sheer brutal elements. The most memorable scenes from the franchise show Akasha having the grandest concert entrance possible, eating the hearts of men, and the most unforgettable bath scene complete with roses, and a stellar soundtrack.

9 Adelaide Wilson Makes Viewers Question Their Place In The World

Red Faces Off Against Adelaide Wilson in Us

When talking about horror icons, few conversations can be had without mentioning Jordan Peele's work. Peele's second feature film showed audiences what could happen if they meet their doppelgängers. In 2019 Lupita Nyong'o's character Adelaide Wilson and her tethered counterpart left audiences on a cliffhanger that sends chills to this day.

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In Us, the tethered are a twisted version of Americans and become the antagonists when they rise to take what is theirs. Nyong'o's character reveal shows a unique relationship between the two worlds, and the range the actress shows with each character is unmatched. Between Adelaide's story and Lupita's deliverance of fear, anger, and raw emotion are contagious when watching Us, making it a modern classic immediately.

8 Georgina's Warning Was Crystal Clear

While Daniel Kaluuya's characters in both Nope and Get Out are phenomenal, few characters still send chills down viewers' spines the way Georgina does in Get Out.

As the film's plot unfolds and the sinister plot behind what is going on is revealed, Georgina is one of the first glimpses audiences and Chris Washington get at truly how troublesome things are. Betty Gabriel's "no, no, no" moment is nightmare fuel for viewers, her movements are still, and her eyes scream for help. The imagery lives on long after the film's peak popularity.

7 Dr.Miranda Grey's Story is So Weird Viewers Can't Look Away

Halle Berry looking terrified as Miranda Grey in Gothika

In 2003 the fan-favorite actress Halle Berry took a role in the psychological horror Gothika. Berry's character, Doctor Miranda Grey, is a criminal psychologist accused of murdering her husband, landing her in the psychiatric ward she previously worked at.

What makes this character so iconic is the film's "must-see" status in terms of weird horror flicks. The film combines a lot of horror tropes but creates something so uniquely odd that audiences cannot look away from, and having a Black female lead a horror is something that is still rare to this day.

6 Dick Hallorann Was An Important Player In The Stephen King Film Adaptations

Dick Hollorann and Danny in Doctor Sleep Trailer

Scatman Crothers's portrayal of Dick Hallorann in Kubrick's film adaptation of The Shining was unforgettable. While author Stephen King ultimately disliked the film, and Hallorann's fate was different in the books, the character plays a key role as he has the powers referred to as "The Shining."

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Hallorann works at the overlook hotel and is a friend to Danny Torrance, helping him navigate his powers, ultimately leading to his escape. The character is also important in Doctor Sleep, and even show's up in the book version of IT. The character's importance isn't lost amongst viewers as he returns countless times and helps the main antagonists no matter what.

5 Blacula Was a Creative Twist on A Horror Staple

William Marshall stars as Mamuwalde in 1972's Blacula.

The 70s were a wild time in filmmaking but brought forth the "Blaxploitation" movement in cinema. The era sought to drive more Black audiences to the movie theaters. While many films were questionable, 1972's Blacula took the original idea of vampire storytelling and set it in what was then modern-day Los Angeles.

In the 70s, Blacula was a progressive film and was important to Black storytelling in horror. The film even commentates on the mistreatment of Black victims at the hands of the police, which was nearly unheard of at the time. While many fans see it as flawed today and watch it for comedic purposes the vampire took a mainstream story and added an amount of culture that meant a lot to the community moving forward.

4 Preacher Pulls On Heartstrings Everywhere

Carter And Preacher Take A Break In Deep Blue Sea

Sherman "Preacher" Dudely is a chef by rapper LL Cool J in Deep Blue Sea. Preacher is one of only two characters to survive the shark attacks that plague the film's cast; he's a devoted Christian with a pet parrot and a past he has clearly evolved from.

Preacher is heroic in fighting the sharks in the film as he attempts to save numerous characters. While Cool J has played many roles in various horror franchises, Preacher evokes many emotions in a film that otherwise lacked much depth.

3 Ben Was The Original "Final Girl" Of Zombie Flicks

Ben from Night of the Living Dead

George Romero's Night of The Living Dead is a horror staple, and a significant entry in the zombie genre – one that continues to define how zombies are traditionally perceived. The film's main character is The Great Ben. Played by Duane Jones, Ben is the prime example of any other zombie-fighting-protagonist. Given the film's release in 1968, it was progressive to have a Black lead, and Jones' performance is timeless.

The character survives the night against the zombie hordes but is tragically shot down by living humans because he's perceived as a threat. This choice was perhaps one of the first instances that started the trend of all Black characters needlessly dying in horror. Yet, despite this questionable decision, Ben being front and center for a trailblazing film changed the face of horror and cinema altogether.

2 Blade Was Gritty and Iconic

Wesley Snipes as Blade

The Blade franchise is widely regarded as pivotal to the success of comic book films and society's fascination with unique vampire stories. Wesley Snipes first brought the comic-book character Blade to life in 1998, making it Marvel's first box office hit.

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The film's popularity is in no short part due to the cool factor of its titular character. Blade is a vampire hunting half-vampire half-human hybrid with virtually none of the weaknesses of vampires. The film's plot follows the character as he seeks to avenge his mother's death and end all vampires. In addition to the meaningful backstory, Blade has an absurd arsenal of weaponry and fight moves that simply make him come across as incredibly cool to audiences everywhere.

1 Candyman (Tony Todd)

candyman

When fans think of Black horror, they think of Tony Todd's performance in Candyman. Candyman is an urban legend akin to "Bloody Mary," and the characters are often consumed with its lore. Many viewers sympathize with the character's backstory as every story features a misunderstood and outcasted Black man, which is still entirely too common today.

The original film was released in 1992, and a revisiting of the story by director Nia DaCosta was released in 2021. Tony Todd reprised his role, but the story evolved to include modern fear like gentrification and police brutality. Candyman is a tragic tale that's more of a monster flick than a slasher, and Tony Todd's character is one of the most iconic movie monsters to date.

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