History NightmareFuel / StarWars

** To get an idea of how terrifyingly evil Palpatine is, Creator/IanMcDiarmid directly compares him [[SatanicArchetype to the Devil.]] Not just that, but he claims that Palpatine ''[[UpToEleven is far more evil.]]''

** He [[AdultFear resembles power-hungry, selfish politicians in the real world (past, present, and future)]], and his Force Lightning is absolutely terrifying - so terrifying that only Yoda has managed to push it off. And it's stated by him in ''Revenge of The Sith'' that it's only Anakin, Chosen One, who's more powerful than him...[[ClippedWingAngel until the latter lost all of his limbs, severely limiting his potential]] [[DarkLordOnLifeSupport and had to be in a black, intimidating life support suit for the rest of his life with the only exceptions being in special chambers meant for recuperation.]] [[LesserOfTwoEvils The fact that the sadistic and tyrannical Sith Lord with an intimidating, but crippled servant is a much reassuring notion for the galaxy than a godlike Sith Lord with unlimited potential is a scary thought on its own merits.]]

*** Even creepier, Palpatine also has such a talent for impersonating a ReasonableAuthorityFigure that he comes across to the uninformed as a nice, even likable senior. And even with that facade, there's [[UncannyValley a hint of artificialness]], almost as if it's just a latex mask hiding his true hideous face underneath. By the time the charade falls apart, it's too late for the Jedi. Indeed, his normal human appearance can be creepier than his withered and discolored appearance that is revealed from fighting Mace Windu as he looks...like an ordinary human yet is no less dangerous in battle, manipulation, and power-drunkenness.

*** Even creepier, Palpatine also has such a talent for impersonating a ReasonableAuthorityFigure that he comes across to the uninformed as a nice, even likable senior. And even with that facade, there's [[UncannyValley a hint of artificialness]], almost as if it's just a latex mask hiding his true hideous face underneath. By the time the charade falls apart, it's too late for the Jedi.

** Throughout the films, we find out that Palpatine's behind damn near every bad thing that's happened — he engineered the invasion of his own home planet, started the Clone Wars and used the start of the war to gain considerable emergency powers, nearly annihilated the Jedi Order '''including the children''', turned Anakin to the Dark Side, killed and disposed his loyal Separatist allies when he had no use for them anymore, and made the Republic into a fascist dictatorship, ruling by fear and using planet-destroying superweapons like the Death Star against any potential uprising, and personally destroying entire populations that conspired against him. He's loyal only to himself-- it's implied in Episode VI that he saw Vader as expendable when Luke defeated him, and wanted to make Luke his apprentice instead while leaving Vader to die. Even after his death, his terrible legacy still casts a shadow over the Sequel Trilogy, with his chilling laughter being heard in the teaser of ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker''.

*** ''Darth Plagueis'' states that on the day Palpatine founded the Empire, [[BeastOfTheApocalypse the Rough Beast]] woke for an instant.

** ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'' reveals a bit of his origins and, [[CharacterizationMarchesOn contrary to earlier EU materials which implies that Snoke is a greater evil that even Palpatine feared]], it's revealed that Snoke is nothing more than a Sith artificial lifeform created by the Sith Eternal to act as a PuppetKing for the resurrected Palpatine. This dreaded Supreme Leader, shrouded in mystery and fear, is ultimately a pawn for Darth Sidious, a chilling reminder that the greatest evil in the whole galaxy is still [[HumansAreTheRealMonsters a mere human from a peaceful planet]].

*** Above all, an excerpt from ''Thrawn'' reveals that Grand Admiral Thrawn somehow factors into this grand plan, with Thrawn telling Palpatine of threats lurking in the Unknown Regions, threats that could pose a threat to the Empire. All of this implies that Supreme Leader Snoke is the Dark Side presence in the Unknown Regions and that he may be a being who has been around years before the events of the main films and has been watching everyone all this time. Speaking of which...
*** The Rise of Skywalker [[RetCon retconned]] it, revealed that Palpatine created '''SUPREME LEADER SNOKE'''.
** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=btG_3HtLK5o Palpatine's theme]] (this extended one in particular) is easilly one of the creepiest's {{Leitmotif}} of all Star Wars universe. It perfectly describes the unholy and wicked monster old Palpy is. The omnimous male choir in the background humming the melody also sound like something coming out from some sort of demonic beings of hell.

*** [[spoiler:The Rise of Skywalker [[RetCon retconned]] it, revealed that Palpatine created '''SUPREME LEADER SNOKE'''.]]

* Three words: '''SUPREME LEADER SNOKE'''.
** As if Palpatine wasn't already bad enough, ''The Force Awakens'' now introduces us to Supreme Leader Snoke, who, while not a Sith, is an extremely powerful Dark Sider. He's old enough to have witnessed the beginning and end of the Empire and is implied to have been a GreaterScopeVillain. He's described as a "long-range schemer", with implies that he might be a [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] who's just as, if not more cunning than Palpatine.

** He's been said to have known Anakin/Vader's true identity, making him one of the few beings to have known so.
** Unlike Palpatine, he doesn't keep Kylo Ren's training stagnant, and instead of pulling many instances of YouHaveFailedMe, he trains Kylo further and makes him an even more powerful apprentice. He also doesn't torment Kylo as the Emperor did with Vader and seems to be genuinely fond of him. His AffablyEvil demeanor fits in with him being described as "wise" and lacks the arrogance of the late Palpatine that led to the latter's downfall. All of this fits in with his statements about learning from the mistakes of Vader, Palpatine, and the Empire, which could make him a more effective and dangerous villain than Palpatine ever was.

** Snoke's general demeanour and behaviour towards both Kylo and Rey is insanely creepy and predatory. Especially given that he had apparently been preying upon and using the dark side to corrupt Kylo since he was a small child (or possibly even while he was ''still in his mother's womb''). He takes all of the creepy child-grooming subtext between Palpatine and Anakin and dials it right up.

* [[BigBad Emperor Sheev Palpatine/Darth Sidious]] is one of the most chilling characters of the franchise and one of the definitely monstrous villains.

*** [[spoiler:The Rise of Skywalker reveals that Palpatine created Snoke in the first place so it's not him.]]

* Supreme Leader Snoke

*** His most terrifying power isn't in the Force but in his mind. He created the Empire mostly through his cunning manipulation of all sides, including those who knew he shouldn't be trusted (Dooku, Trade Federation, etc). In ''Legends'', in ''Dark Empire'', when he returned, he ''acknowledged his mistakes and nearly won''.

** ''NightmareFuel/TheStarWarsHolidaySpecial''

* [[BigBad Emperor]] [[GreaterScopeVillain Sheev]] [[CompleteMonster Palpatine/Darth Sidious]] is arguably one of the most chilling characters of the franchise and one of the definite monstrous villains.

** Oh, and by the by...recent trailers for Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker reveal that Palaptine is [[BackFromTheDead very much]] ''[[OhCrap alive]].''

** He [[AdultFear resembles power-hungry, selfish politicians in the real world (past, present, and future)]], and his Force Lightning is absolutely terrifying - so terrifying that only Yoda has managed to push it off. And it's stated by him in ''Revenge of The Sith'' that it's only Anakin, Chosen One, who's more powerful than him...[[ClippedWingAngel until the latter lost all of his limbs, severely limiting his potential]] [[DarkLordOnLifeSupport and had to be in a black, intimidating life support suit for the rest of his life with the only exceptions being in special chambers meant for recuperation.]]

* [[BigBad Emperor]] [[GreaterScopeVillain Sheev]] [[CompleteMonster Palpatine/Darth Sidious]] is arguably one of the most chilling characters of the franchise.
** He [[AdultFear resembles power-hungry, selfish politicians in the real world (past, present, and future)]], and his Force Lightning is absolutely terrifying - so terrifying that only Yoda has managed to push it off. And it's stated by him in ''Revenge of The Sith'' that it's only Anakin, Chosen One, who's more powerful than him...

** The ExpandedUniverse shows us that he also killed his own parents and siblings, showing how monstrous he really is.

* ''NightmareFuel/StarWarsJediFallenOrder''