Ranking the Black Zodiac: Who are the Scariest Ghosts in THIRTEEN GHOSTS?

The remake of THIRTEEN GHOSTS has the deluxe ghost package. Which phantoms are the scariest in the film?

By Dolores Quintana · @doloresquintana · October 26, 2023, 4:35 PM EDT
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Image Credit: Warner Bros.

Who are the scariest ghosts in Thirteen Ghosts? Director Steve Beck and screenwriters Neal Marshall Stevens and Richard D'Ovidio broke out the characters of the ghosts in the 2001 remake of the William Castle film. Each ghost had a distinctive look, and while the film did not explicitly tell their stories, their scenes echoed what caused them to become scary specters. The film's DVD release gave the fans what they wanted: the Ghost Files special feature that details the ghosts' tragic lives and deaths and gave them their ghost names. But we're here to rate the fright factor of each of the thirteen ghosts, so let's get to it! Read more: 13 Ghosts: The Series Producers Hope To Expand The Mythology.

1. The Juggernaut - Played by John De Santis

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

While The Juggernaut (John De Santis) doesn't have an intricate costume, the fact that he reportedly has a kill count of at least 40 people goes a long way towards convincing us that he is the scariest ghost. Born Horace 'Breaker' Mahoney, he was an abandoned and angry child who became a seven-foot-tall serial killer who would literally rip people apart. Mahoney also has a baleful stare that sticks with you. Brr, he gets the top spot in part because he is one of the ghosts responsible for the character Dennis Rafkin's (Matthew Lillard) brutal death.

2. The Angry Princess - Played by Shawna Loyer

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

The Angry Princess (Shawna Loyer), formerly known as Dana Newman, was a woman who couldn't accept how beautiful she was and was so tormented by fear, self-hatred, and body dysmorphia that she died by her own hand after trying to perform surgery on herself. She doesn't have a high kill count, but her stare is chilling, and the intent with which she carries her knife says a lot about what she would do to anyone she has her hands on. She's a fan-favorite ghost with good reason. Dana, as played by Shawna Loyer, has the looks that kill. Read more: INTO THE VOID: Dark Castle Should've Remade More William Castle Movies.

3. The Jackal - Played by Shayne Wyler

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

The Jackal (Shayne Wyler), the former Ryan Khun, is slightly less evil than The Juggernaut. While he is a hostile and violent predator and rapist with a penchant for going after the most vulnerable women, he realized he needed help on some level because he committed himself to an institution. But don't be lulled into a false sense of security; he's the ghost that nearly killed Kathy Kriticos (Shannon Elizabeth). Kathy was only saved because Kalina Oretzia (Embeth Daviditz) stepped in to help.

4. The Hammer - Played by Herbert Duncanson

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

The Hammer (Herbert Duncanson), formerly George Markeley, was a blacksmith in life and wronged by a man in authority, Nathan, who accused him of stealing and then murdered his family. While Markeley was peaceful, that was too much, and it drove him to pursue Nathan and his posse of killers, beating them to death with his blacksmith's hammer. The people of the town killed him unjustly, and he remains one of the angriest ghosts among the Thirteen. The Hammer and The Juggernaut beat poor Dennis Rafkin (Matthew Lillard) to death, which accounts for their high placements on this list. Read more: The Best of the Best: Ten Essential Vincent Price Horror Movies.

5. The Bound Woman - Played by Laura Mennell

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

The Bound Woman (Laura Mennell), who was Susan LeGrow in life, was a rich beauty who flirted and fooled around with many boys in high school. When her quarterback boyfriend caught her cheating on him with another student, he killed them both and buried Susan under the football field at the 50-yard line. She was found strangled and bound in rope, hence her name. While she cannot hurt people because she will spend eternity tied up, she does lure Arthur's son Bobby (Alec Roberts) to the house's basement, so she has unearthly powers.

6. The Great Child - Played by C. Ernst Harth

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

The Great Child (C. Ernst Harth), also known as Harold Shelburne in life, is underrated among the ghosts but pretty dangerous. The catch is that he's only dangerous when someone hurts his beloved mother. After Margaret Shelburne and Harold were relentlessly mocked, they sought refuge in a freak show. But even the freaks and carnies showed no mercy and kidnapped Margaret, who died of suffocation. When Harold found his mother, he went on a killing spree with an axe. Yes, he's frightening and more sinned against than a sinner. Read more: Want To Try Casket-Aged Wine? Yes, We're Serious.

7. The Pilgrimess - Played by Xantha Radley

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

The Pilgrimess (Xantha Radley) was known as Isabella Smith during her life and was a colonist in the early days of the United States. An orphan who was ostracized by the other townspeople, she was accused of witchcraft and blamed for crop failures and the illness of the local leader. She claimed that she was innocent, but no one believed her. After being chased into a farmhouse that was lit on fire, the final verdict was pronounced on Isabella when she escaped the barn unharmed. The main reason she ranks so high despite not being as vicious as some other ghosts is that the actress Xantha Radley's work makes her character seem scary.

8. The Torn Prince - Played by Craig Olejnik

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

The Torn Prince (Craig Olejnik), formerly known as Royce Clayton in life, was a star baseball player murdered by his scheming opponent in a drag race. One of the less aggressive ghosts, he still carries his bat, which is still a weapon. He's more of a tragic figure than a murderous force but still a restless ghost among a crowd of dangerous spirits.

9. The Torso - Played by Daniel Wesley

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

The Torso (Daniel Wesley) is another ghost whose scare factor is underappreciated. Jimmy, 'The Gambler' Gambino, was a man who risked the wrath of organized crime when he couldn't pay his debts and was gruesomely murdered by the Mafia. While his spirit is entirely benign, he cannot harm anyone; since he's just a torso, we rate his scare factor at number nine for one crucial reason. You can't tell me that if you turned around and saw a torso and head wrapped in plastic before your eyes, you wouldn't be frightened. Stop playing.

10. The First Born Son - Played by Mikhael Speidel

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

The First Born Son (Mikhael Speidel) is one of the least scary ghosts because he's a small child named Billy Michaels, and while he does pick up a weapon, he mostly asks people if they want to play. But he gets the eleventh spot because he is a ghost and could potentially do some damage if he wanted to. He doesn't seem to be interested in killing or scaring anyone, so he's rated as benign.

11. The Dire Mother - Played by Laurie Soper

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

The Dire Mother (Laurie Soper), known as Margaret Shelburne during her lifetime, is another neutral spirit. Yes, she is scary because she is a ghost but she is unlikely to harm anyone. She is constantly in the company of her son Harold, The Great Child, and spends time feeding and caring for him. Again, she is a spirit mistreated by others during her lifetime, and she exists only for her son's sake.

12. The Withered Lover - Played by Kathryn Anderson

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

One of the least scary ghosts is The Withered Lover (Kathryn Anderson) or Jean Kriticos, the deceased wife of Arthur Kriticos and mother of Kathy and Bobby. Her spirit isn't angry and is, in fact, the only benevolent ghost who wants to help her husband and family. It's not her fault that she was captured as part of Cyrus Kriticos's plot to harness the energy of the thirteen ghosts to power a machine that would allow him to see the past, the present, and the future.

13. The Broken Heart - Played by Tony Shalhoub

THIRTEEN GHOSTS (2001)

Image Credit: IMDB

Arthur Kriticos (Tony Shalhoub) was the person Cyrus Kriticos intended to become the all-important thirteenth ghost. Since Arthur stays alive and doesn't become a ghost after realizing that his uncle betrayed him, wanted to sacrifice him, and wasn't dead after all, he is the least scary of the ghosts because he never became one in the first place. If you aren't a ghost, you fortunately become the least frightening future ghost on the list.

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