Nurses are society's healers and caretakers. They're known for being kind, considerate and gentle with their patients. However, over the years, Hollywood has showcased these professionals in a slightly different light. Murderers. Psychopaths. General evildoers. The list goes on.
So who are the most memorably menacing nurses in cinematic history?
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Here's a look at seven nurses who made the cut:
Annie Wilkes – “Misery” (1990)
Former nurse Annie Wilkes is known as one of Stephen King's most famous villains. When Wilkes saves one of her favorite authors from a car accident, she decides to hold him captive to help him write his next book to her liking. However, there are painful consequences when he fails to see things her way.
Following the release of this film, Annie Wilkes became a legend. In fact, actress Lizzy Caplan brought the character back to life in season 2 of Hulu's "Castle Rock" just this year.
Charlotte Diesel – “High Anxiety” (1977)
Mel Brooks co-wrote, starred in and directed "High Anxiety," a spoof of almost a dozen Alfred Hitchcock classics. Playing the main antagonist of the film, Nurse Charlotte Diesel brings increasing levels of hilarity to the screen throughout. Her curtness and menacing sneer are enough to make her performance stand out. Anyone who has seen the movie may also remember her as an undercover dominatrix.
Abby Russell – “Nurse 3D” (2014)
"Your pain is her pleasure" is the tagline from the 2014 horror film "Nurse 3D." Medical professional Abby Russell is a sweet and dedicated nurse by day and a dangerous femme fatale by night. Russell's only goal? To punish cheating men and expose them for their dishonest ways.
While the movie received mixed reviews, there are a few actors you might recognize while watching. Boris Kodjoe, Judd Nelson and Niecy Nash are some familiar faces that you might want to look for. But beware – this film is rated R.
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Laura Harriman – “The Nurse” (1997)
Vengeance is the name of the game for Nurse Laura Harriman. After her father's suicide, this accidental villain goes after the man she holds responsible. Along the way, several members of the man's family also get bumped off by association. Oops.
Though "The Nurse" was never critically acclaimed, the movie gives audiences all of the deceit and drama of a classic Lifetime movie. And Nurse Harriman is at the center of it all.
Nurse Ratched – “One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest” (1975)
No list of evil nurses would be complete without mentioning the infamous Nurse Ratched. Even today, Nurse Ratched's truly heartless nature makes her stand out as one of the most memorable nurses in movie history. This character was so compelling that Louise Fletcher, the actress who played the role, won an Oscar for Best Actress in 1976.
While the original Nurse Ratched still has her own cult following, Netflix has selected Sarah Paulson to take on the role in the new Netflix series, "Ratched," set to premiere later this year.
Nurse Bridget and Nurse Miranda – American Horror Story: Roanoke (2016)
Credit: YouTube
Credit: YouTube
Evil nurses aren't only on the big screen. Fans of "American Horror Story" might remember the 2016 episode that introduced us to Nurse Bridget and Nurse Miranda. These homicidal hospice care workers teamed up to play a murderous game with their elderly patients. Even more chilling than the show itself is the true story behind the episode. In the 1980s, two real nurses were charged with the murder of several of their patients in a dark story of love and homicide.
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