3. Asami – Audition (1999)

Takashi Miike’s 1999 horror film Audition, based on the 1997 novel by Ryu Murakami, has been incredibly influential worldwide, and it launched the Japanese director’s career into stardom. The film revolves around widower Shigeharu (Ryo Ishibashi) who stages an audition to meet a new romantic partner. He thinks he finds it in Asami (Eihi Shiina), only for some unspeakable horrors to unravel.

One of the primary reasons Asami is considered a terrible girlfriend is her deceptive nature. She presents herself as pure, innocent, and submissive, which initially attracts Shigeharu. However, this façade conceals a deeply disturbed and sadistic personality, and as the film unfolds, her true nature is revealed. Her treatment of Shigeharu is marked by manipulation, cruelty, and violence. She plays on his emotions, exploiting his loneliness and vulnerability after the loss of his wife, but her actions go far beyond psychological torment. The infamous scenes that involve Asami’s use of needles and piano wire to inflict pain to the widower are visceral and disturbing, showcasing not only her wickedness, but her enjoyment of Shigeharu’s suffering and her complete lack of empathy or remorse.

Asami’s backstory reveals a history of abuse and trauma, and although adding complexity to her character and providing some context for her behavior, it does not justify the extreme cruelty she inflicts upon Shigeharu. Her vicious nature, her manipulation and abuse of Shigeharu, and her complete disregard for his well-being serve as a disturbing exploration of the darkest aspects of human relationships and psychological horror.

2. Julia Cotton – Hellraiser (1987)

Julia Cotton (Clare Higgins) is a central character in Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic Hellraiser, the film that introduced modern audiences to the infamous Cenobites, an extraterrestrial species that can’t differentiate between pain and pleasure. Despite the horror viewers all over the world might feel for the Cenobites’ terrible leader Pinhead (Doug Bradley), it’s nothing compared to the much more realistic horror one might feel towards the morally reprehensible and manipulative Julia.

Julia’s moral descent begins when she becomes infatuated with her husband’s brother, Frank Cotton. She embarks on an affair with Frank, and when this is inadvertently torn apart and confined to a skeletal state, Julia’s obsession with him intensifies. She becomes complicit in Frank’s depraved quest for rejuvenation by luring unsuspecting victims to their gruesome demise. In her complete disregard for loyalty and commitment, Julia’s betrayal of her husband Larry is not only an act of infidelity but a descent into depravity and sadism. She is willing to engage in horrific acts of violence to satisfy her own desires and maintain her connection with Frank, even if it means sacrificing innocent lives. Throughout the film, Julia displays a chilling lack of empathy and a willingness to inflict pain and suffering upon others. Her moral decay mirrors her physical deterioration, underscoring her obsession with pleasure at the expense of all else.

Julia Cotton is the embodiment of the dark and destructive forces that can emerge within the context of a romantic relationship, making her a truly haunting presence (and terrible girlfriend/wife) in the horror genre.

1. Rose Armitage – Get Out (2017)

Jordan Peele’s 2017 horror film Get Out is a masterpiece within and outside of the genre for its mastery in manipulating the audience’s expectations, and the character of Rose Armitage (Allison Williams) makes no exception. While her character may not exhibit the overt violence seen in other entries on this list, her actions and motivations make her a truly repulsive human being. Rose initially presents herself as loving, understanding, and empathetic, which draws in the viewer as well as her boyfriend Chris (Daniel Kaluuya). However, her true nature is revealed as the story unfolds. Rose’s most deplorable behavior is her active role in the sinister plot devised by her family to exploit and manipulate African American individuals for their own gain. She deceives Chris into believing that her family is welcoming and accepting, but in reality, she is fully aware of their horrifying intentions. She actively participates in the exploitation and subjugation of her boyfriend, showcasing a spine-chilling lack of empathy and moral responsibility – it’s truly terrifying to see her switch from trustworthy character to stone-cold murderer in a handful of seconds.

Rose highlights the psychological horror that can emerge within the context of a romantic relationship, and her remorseless behavior is a powerful commentary to the bigger theme of the insidious nature of racism in modern society. Her character serves as a chilling reminder of the potential for evil within the confines of a romantic relationship, making her a standout figure in the horror genre and the worst girlfriend in horror history.

In horror cinema, the portrayal of terrible girlfriends warn viewers about the darkness that can thrive within the context of romantic relationships. These five characters stand out for their malicious acts of betrayal, manipulation, and violence. However, they play a pivotal role, as their presence serves as a stark reminder that within the realm of horror, the scariest monsters are often those that disguise their horrific nature behind a façade of love, trust, and affection. They provoke deep reflections on the complexities of human relationships and the malice they can explore.

Do you agree with this list? Make sure to stream May on Tubi, Get Out on Peacock, and The Loved Ones, Hellraiser, and Audition on Amazon Prime Video.