5 Steps to Crafting a Bone-Chilling Evil Laugh

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Photo Source: “Joker: Folie à Deux” Credit: Niko Tavernise

The most delectable villains find joy in their nefarious plots. They relish in other characters’ anguish, delighted by the destruction they’ve wrought. And if they’re really twisted, they find it funny. Mastering a good evil laugh is paramount for any actor hoping to play a character audiences love to hate. Ready to get diabolical? Join us as we laugh our way to world domination.

What is an evil laugh?

Muahahaha! An evil laugh is the maniacal laughter let loose by a fictional villain. Much of what makes a laugh evil has to do with context, genre, and character.

If a villain’s laugh is used to illustrate their seeming invincibility, a small amused scoff may be all that’s required. But if it’s meant to give them a big introduction, you’ll likely want a louder prolonged cackle.

Finding the right wicked chortle also depends on genre. A terrifying musical theater villain’s laugh will probably be much more over the top than the titter of an antagonist in a quiet film drama.

Finally, the laugh should come naturally out of character work, since an all-powerful and manipulative mastermind’s laugh should be different from a sniveling prankster’s.

How to nail an evil laugh

1. Find references.

While you’re working on your hooting and hollering, it can be helpful to hear laughs or sounds you want to emulate. This can be another cinematic villain, a figure in pop culture, a friend or family member, or even an animal. Chris Hemsworth modeled his vocals as Dementus in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” (2024) after, among other inspirations, a seagull.

2. Get into character.

Finding a perfect evil laugh begins with embodying the villain. You should have a firm understanding of your character and their motivations before you start thinking about their laugh. Get into their wicked mindset to find sick and twisted thoughts the character would find funny and let the chuckles build from there. This will enable you to laugh on cue so that, while distinctive, it also feels natural. A great villain doesn’t force a laugh.

3. Deconstruct the noise.

Once you’ve landed on a laugh that feels appropriate to your character, listen closely to it. How are the noises being generated? Are they coming from the diaphragm or are they more nasal? Are they ear-splitting or just barely audible? Practice achieving these sounds so they become second nature.

4. Practice body language.

A great laugh isn’t only aural, it should also come with a distinct physicality. Stand in front of a mirror and experiment with different ways your guffaw presents itself physically. Once you decide on what works, practice it so that the body language comes naturally to you.

5. Have fun!

Above all else, a great evil laugh contains a bit of playfulness. Your character is having fun (well, usually), so you should also be having fun with it. Think about what makes a scene comical for your character and lean into the vibe.

Notable evil laugh examples

Maniacal laughs have been around since the beginning of theater, so there are countless examples of sinister giggles and titters. Some of our favorites both terrify and delight us, so evil that they’re fun.

Dr. Strangelove (Peter Sellers) in “Dr. Strangelove” (1964), dir. Stanley Kubrick

Sellers’ performance shows that an evil laugh doesn’t need to be loud to be effective. Instead, he opted for a strained and choked chuckle for Strangelove, a man desperately trying to hide the fact that he’s a villain.

Professor Ratigan (Vincent Price) in “The Great Mouse Detective” (1986), dirs. Ron Clements, Burny Mattinson, John Musker, and David Michener

Price plays crime boss Ratigan as charismatic yet demented, suave yet savage (and certainly the world’s greatest criminal mind!)—a characterization cemented with his truly diabolical laugh. That’s not the only role Price brought his wicked cackle to: He essentially defined the evil laugh in cinema, employing it in countless roles as various villains. His evil laugh is simultaneously singular and universal, making it no wonder he’s the source of the iconic devilish one in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” (1983).

Dracula (Gary Oldman) in “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” (1992), dir. Francis Ford Coppola

Oldman’s laugh as Dracula is used judiciously, but when he gets to cackling, it packs a punch. His performance is at once tragic hero and campy old-school villain, with a laugh firmly planted in the latter category. You could practically transcribe it as “Muahahaha.”

The Joker (Mark Hamill) on “Batman: The Animated Series” (1992–1995)

It should surprise absolutely no one that the Joker is on our list. The notorious Batman villain finds evil things funny—that’s his whole deal. While there have been many famous Jokers, none have matched the cackling heights of Hamill’s turn. His howling, terrifying laugh is the stuff of legends.

Cruella DeVil (Glenn Close) in “101 Dalmatians” (1996), dir. Stephen Herek

Close had big shoes to fill when she decided to take on the wicked yet beloved Cruella in the live-action remake of the animated Disney classic, and there’s no doubt that she filled them. Her turn as Cruella is epitomized by her absolutely spot-on cackle. It’s cartoonish, yes, but it’s also insidiously intimidating.

Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) in “Joker” (2019), dir. Todd Phillips

Yes, we have to add just one more Joker to our list. Phoenix’s approach to the supervillain is distinct in that his laughter is an affliction. Unlike other great villain laughs, where the antagonist finds mirth in others’ pain, Arthur’s laughter comes from his own deep pain. The result is something very unsettling.

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