In honor of the ¨spookiest¨ time of the year—and given the ever-changing state of the upcoming James Gunn/DC Studios multiverse,—I felt it appropriate to list some strange and scary characters I would love to see on the big screen in the near future and the directors I would put at the helm of their stories. While this is certainly not an exhaustive list, nor does it have any implications of what is actually taking place within DC Studios, it’s always fun to imagine what one might do at the reins. The untapped potential waiting in the comic book genre for a good horror film is vast and ready to be put to properly horrifying use. DC is rich in its horror potential and, currently, the Keanu Reeve´s fronted Constantine film is the only piece within the DC properties to attempt to dip its toe into the genre. That being said, the upcoming Swamp Thing film looks like a promising beginning to what I hope is a growing roster of comic-based horror films. 

• The Upside Down Man: First appearance — Justice League Dark #2, Aug. 2018
• Directed by: Guillermo del Toro, known for Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak, and The Shape of Water 

A cosmic horror and dark antithesis to the light which formed the goddess, Hecate, the Upside Down Man is a horror of grand proportions. With his wide grin and eyeless, pale face, it’s difficult not to acknowledge the similarities between The Upside Down Man and ¨The Pale Man¨ from Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth. As the master of monster horror, his ability to create a film that meshes science fiction, the Gothic, and the disturbing, as well as his talent to create an atmospherically intriguing film lend themselves to the magical horror of the dark multiverse. If DC Studios ever decided to make its way into the Dark Multiverse, this may be an interesting origins installment to forge fear in horror and comic fans alike. 

• Murmur (Michael Amur): First appearance — The Flash: Iron Heights #1, 2001
• Directed by: James Wan, known for The Conjuring series, and co-creating the Insidious and Saw franchises, respectively

While Flash villains are typically known for their kooky quirks and eccentric shticks, Michael Amur, later known as ¨Murmur¨ is a stark contrast from the usual rogues gallery. A respected surgeon–turned-serial killer, Amur has the makings for a proper fright fest. With a blood type so horrifyingly unique that he is incapable of being killed by lethal injection, along with his accomplished medical background and a gaggle of murderous voices in his head, it’s clear that Murmur has strong potential in the horror genre. No stranger to the DC multiverse, James Wan´s pension for the creepy would bode well for DC Studios. Wan´s film Malignant features a similar theme of a host becoming a murder machine when an inner voice takes over, giving a strong basis for a spooky portrayal of a character that is slightly more grounded in the realm of reality than other rogues in the gallery. Wan´s balance between reality and the paranormal could highlight the terrifying abnormalities of the character in a way that creates a realistic, yet uncanny horror villain.

• Jane Doe: First appearance — Arkham Asylum: Living Hell #1, July 2003
• Directed by: Ti West, known for Pearl, X, and The House of the Devil

A truly terrifying character, Jane Doe is motivated fully by her lack of identity. By murdering others and molding every aspect of herself into mimicking them in exact detail, she hopes to finally find a life where she finds comfort and happiness. Her coveting of others has entirely erased all aspects of Jane Doe´s individuality from her being—including her real name. The skinless aesthetic attributed to Jane Doe makes her a prime visual candidate to be the focus of a horror film, perhaps leading to a ¨grand reveal¨ that fully showcases the character´s intense sense of body horror. Jane Doe´s need to fill a void and become anyone other than herself feels reminiscent of Ti West´s characterization of Pearl/Maxine. His ability to create a character that is diabolical in a very raw and relatable manner has the capability to bring this detestable character to the big screen.

• Junior (Alex Merkel): First appearance — Secret Six Vol. 3 #1, Nov. 2008
• Directed by: Darren Aronofsky, known for Black Swan, Mother!, and The Whale

As haunting as she is heartbreaking, Alex Merkel is the daughter of the original Ragdoll, Peter Merkel, and the recipient of her father´s ¨favor.¨  This implied abuse, coupled with being raised alongside her father´s cult, had the makings to create the horror that is Junior. With her eyelids sewn open and mouth mutilated to prevent its closure, Alex Merkel scraped away at her outer-self—the parts her father found ¨beautiful¨—to become a crime lord from the confines of a box. While posing as a man, Junior had her henchmen gather the leaders of every rival gang before her, torturing those that did not pledge their loyalty in ways akin to how her father tormented her. When they could no longer take the torture, she turned her malice towards their families. Due to the graphic nature of this character and the gut-wrenching realism surrounding her origins, Darren Aronofsky is my prime choice to tell this story. His work focuses on the depravity of the human spirit in its rawest state, all while creating truly nauseating visuals. By combining the cinematography associated with Aronofsky´s work with the complicated carnage of Alex Merkel, DC Studios has the basis for a truly stomach churning psychological thriller.

• The Court of Owls: First appearance — Batman Vol. 2 #2, Dec. 2011
• Directed by: David Fincher, known for Gone Girl, Fight Club, and Zodiac

Unlike the other contenders on this list, the Court of Owls is not one single entity, but a very ancient and menacing villain that is sure to make viewers second-guess everything they know about the DC universe. The looming influence of the Court of Owls over a city filled with economic and political strife has the capability to create an environment that gaslights its viewers with each scene. The concept of a conspiring cult with an endless supply of assassins at their disposal with the intent to destroy the reputation and lives of their victims before brutally murdering them is enough to make any viewer nervous. David Fincher´s work blends an atmospheric backdrop with the distorted perceptions of humanity, showcasing the darkness found within a tainted soul. Fincher´s work leaves viewers questioning the motives of each scene of his work. Is the narrator reliable enough to give a valid retelling of the events or are the events being skewed to distort the viewer’s perception? His ability to create a resounding bleakness via his distinct unreliability would serve well with a hidden court focused on political and societal intrigue.  

• Calendar Man (Julian Day): First appearance — Detective Comics #259, Sept. 1958
• Directed by: Antonio Campos, known for The Devil All the Time, The Staircase, and Simon Killer

Is Calendar Man an objectively silly character? Absolutely. However, Batman: The Long Halloween proves that he is as terrifying a foe as any of Batman’s mainstream rogues. With a plot not dissimilar to that of Thomas Harris´ Red Dragon, Julian Day is the Hannibal Lecter to Batman’s Will Graham. Given the similarity in the character models, it would only make sense to create a film with a similar unsettling feeling of being one step behind the antagonist. By focusing on the concept of Batman using Day as a crime consultant rather than highlighting the campier elements of the character, Calendar Man could be grounded as a much grittier character able to instill fear in viewers. He is known for emphasizing the origins of the days of the calendar, as well as the roots behind holidays, and in doing so could create a Gotham that lives in fear of the days which many wait a year in excitement to celebrate. Perhaps one of the more unusual directorial choices on the list, Antonio Campos has a knack for creating worlds that are as comprehensive as they are malevolent. The Devil All the Time is overflowing in hopelessness and unspeakable ugliness, but is done so in a way that is highly engrossing. These immersive qualities aligned with the unnatural arrangement between Batman and the Calendar Man would be a harrowing feat.

• Biis (Carleton LeHah): First appearance — Batman: Sword of Azrael #1, Oct. 1992
• Directed by: Jordan Peele: known for Nope, Get Out, and Us

An adversary of Jean-Paul Valley´s Azrael, Carleton LeHah is a former member of the Order of St. Dumas and a thieving exotic arms dealer who murdered Jean-Paul Valley´s father, the previous Azrael. LeHah believes he is a servant of Biis, a demon, and wears his garb during hand to hand combat in order to ¨adopt¨ his master´s identity. The idea of having two characters deeply rooted in religious extremism and cults is already the basis of a strong horror film. Most people are intrigued and alarmed by the idea of dark, murderous cults and it would be a large draw for many viewers that may not be familiar with the Azrael character in a mainstream setting. Jordan Peele is a contemporary master of the craft in the horror realm and has the capabilities to depict Jean-Paul Valley´s Azrael fairly, while not diminishing the horror elements attributed to the Order of St. Dumas and Carleton LeHah. Peele´s ability to reinvent genre conventions in conjunction with the hyper-religious cult trope surrounding Azrael is sure to produce a horror film so nuanced it no longer feels as though it is simply a comic film, but a piece of commentary.