5 baddest Thai movie villains of all time

Featuring the instant-classic Red Suitcase Killer, "Chuan" is now causing screaming fits in Thai cinemas.

Movie villains tend to be one-dimensional, stereotypical and forgettable. Not these hard cases, who stand out in the mind of Bangkok-based blogger and Thai film fan Wise Kwai.

Movie: "Chuean" ("Slice"), 2009

The horror: Repeatedly stabs and hacks victims with large knife -- taking extra care to slice off their genitals -- then packs bodies in large red suitcase. Mysterious killer is draped in red rain poncho to protect his street clothes from blood spatter.

Heinous atrocity: Kills dozens at high-society sex-club orgy, then takes bleeding corpse of main target -- a prominent property developer -- and drapes it over one of his condo-development billboards.

Redeeming quality: Victims are criminals or corrupt officials.

Evil quote: None. The killer doesn't speak, which, along with red poncho, hides identity until the time comes for the shocking twist in this audacious thriller directed by Kongkiat Komesiri. It's playing in Bangkok cinemas now. See it!

Preeda Panaya, a k a 'Bakin'

Movie: "Insee Thong" ("Golden Eagle"), 1970

The horror: Trained in psychic powers by none other than Rasputin, Bakin (Ob Boontid) kills by beaming his thoughts and visage through red ceramic Buddha statues. Can split himself into three images. Can hypnotize his own soul and move his heart out of his body into a vessel for safekeeping.

Heinous atrocity: Massive head job on enemy crimefighter Red Eagle (played by Mitr Chaibancha) causes him to fall off a rope ladder dangling beneath a helicopter during attempted escape.

Redeeming quality: Bakin is just a funny old man and his goatee is fake.

Evil quote: "How can you kill me? I'll never die. Ha ha ha ha ha! I'll never die!"

Note: The film has a real-life tragedy. Mitr died on October 8, 1970, while filming the final scene near Jomtien Beach, Pattaya. He was 36 years old and had been featured in 266 movies. In October, the Film Archive (Public Organization) Thailand marked 39 years since Mitr's death.

'The Black Hand'

Movie: "Mue Puen" ("Gunman"), 1983

The horror: Vain, fame-seeking police inspector Thanu (Ron Rittichai) kills defenseless people and takes credit for policework of subordinates. Ostentatiously dons black leather glove on gun hand -- you see the black glove, you're dead meat.

Heinous atrocity: Melts down in heat of battle in the Laos Secret War and leaves army buddy Sergeant Sommai behind. In a helicopter liftoff (that predates the iconic scene in Oliver Stone's "Platoon" by three years), Sommai has his leg blown off and is left on ground while then-Lieutenant Thanu makes hasty retreat into the air.

Redeeming quality: His weakness. Thanu is actually a coward who harbors huge guilt over what he did to Sommai.

Evil quote: "I don't want the soot of gunfire to dirty my hand. I want to be a clean-handed policeman."

Tiger Fai

Movie: “Fah Talai Jone” (“Tears of the Black Tiger”), 2000

The horror: Fai (Sombat Metanee) is the ruthless leader of a gang of thieves in 1950s Thailand who ride horses, wear black hats,  shoot sixguns and generally maraud the plains of Saraburi.

Heinous atrocity: After pretending to give a foe a coin-flip's chance of sparing his life, Fai shoots at the hole in the center of the coin while it's in midair -- the bullet penetrates the coin and burrows into the man's brain, which riotously explodes into jelly on impact.

Redeeming quality: Robin Hood-type who steals from rich and looks out for poor. Looks after dwarf gang member who rides a pony.

Evil quote: "My law is simple: Whoever betrays Fai dies!"

Mae Nak

Movie: “Nang Nak,” 1999

The horror: Enduring ghost of Bangkok folklore, Mae Nak (Inthira Charoenpura) hangs from ceilings, stirs up violent storms, possesses people and has long, infinitely stretchy arms.

Heinous atrocity: Stirs up a foul wind and causes a tookay gecko to shriek, scaring an old woman so badly she has a heart attack and dies. Biddy's body left to decompose in hut, where monitor lizards feast on her flesh.

Redeeming quality: Devoted mother and wife, tending to husband's every need. She'll even share her betel nut chew with him.

Evil quote: "Today you harm me first. You burn my house. I will show you what I can become."