Fearing the cold weather this week, I decided to kill some time by watching a series of horror movies to take my mind off of the cold climate. Although I don't recommend eating a steak while watching someone getting skinned, the horror movies did help me size up some of this genre's classic killers, from which I compiled a dream team list for your enjoyment. Spoiler warning: It gets messy--there are movie spoilers all over the place so consider yourself warned.

Killer Facts: Silent but deadly. Leatherface doesn't speak, but that's probably good because his nasty face says it all. The characer is based on Edward Gein, a necrophiliac serial killer in the U.S. who was known for skinning his victims.

Killed It: It doesn't take a brain scientist to figure out that if you want to kill someone effectively, use a chainsaw.

Killer Facts: As long as you play by the rules, YOU TOO have a chance to survive one of Jigsaw's rusty-nailed head-coffin tests that hyper-extend your jaw and snap your head open like a melon. But wait, there's more! Saw IV comes out on Halloween 2007, breathing new life into a series most fans thought would end after the apparent deaths of Jigsaw and his apprentice.

Killed It: Jigsaw's apprentice did everyone a favour by killing Donnie Wahlberg's character. It doesn't happen until Saw III, but watching a New Kid die was well worth the wait.

Killer Facts: This supernatural killer is known for slaughtering children while they sleep. No wonder the kids of Springwood were jacked up on caffeine.
Killed It: Revolutionized the Michael Jackson one-handed glove Halloween costume by adding leather, five blades and bits of flesh to the mix.

Jason Voorhees (Friday the 13th)

Killer Facts: Yields a machete and wears a hockey mast--Ooh. The unofficial winner of Jason vs. Freddy, although Freddy's wink at the end leaves the ending ambiguous.
Killed It: I'm 99.9% sure the dude from Bon Cop, Bad Cop was loosely based on this character, showing a modernized version of the classic struggle that mixes hockey with horror.

Killer Facts: Don't trust anyone whose name rhymes with cannibal. Even when he's behind bars in a fool-proof maximum security prison, you're still in trouble if you're his prey. 

Killed It:  Made Joe Rogan proud by indulging in mind over matter, Fear Factor style with Ray Liotta's brain. Damn!

Killer Facts: Here's your clue--Michael likes to kill with a knife, in overalls, at the hospital. Jamie Lee Curtis starred in a couple of the films in the series. Her mother was Janet Leigh of Psycho whose film was supposedly also based on Gein (see "Leatherface").

Killed It: Undeniably the best theme song to complement slaughter noises.

Some new releases are sure to add some classic killers to the list. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning is now out on DVD, Bloody Mary is released on March 27th and the Living Dead will be released on DVD soon.