History Main / EvilSoundsDeep

* Budzo from ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresInZambezia'' has a very deep voice courtesy of Creator/{{Jim Cummings|1952}}.

[[ObviouslyEvil An easy way to tell if someone is evil]] is if their voice is much deeper than a good character's, often artificially so. If someone undergoes a FaceHeelTurn, then along with their EvilMakeover, their voice will either drop a few octaves, get put through a voice modulator, or be combined with another voice speaking in a much deeper tone. If an AntiHero decides to move a few notches down the SlidingScaleOfIdealismVersusCynicism, then he will start talking in a deeper, more serious tone of voice. Male characters almost always get an unapproachable, commanding cadence. Villainesses usually get a [[EvilIsSexy sultry, suggestive one]], unless they're supposed to be in command or ''scary'', in which case their cadence will be dismissive and forbidding.

Because deep voices are [[ArousedByTheirVoice often considered attractive]], this may overlap with EvilIsSexy. If it's to do with the character having great power it can be related to PowerMakesYourVoiceDeep.

* The drug dealer who [[spoiler: may have ordered Becket's mother's murder]] in Season 3 of ''Series/{{Castle}}'' has a deep, scary voice.

A deep voice makes the character sound strong, mature and competent, so it is a common trait for major villains that the audience is supposed to fear and respect. Consequently, such villains will usually speak in baritone register (or in villainesses' cases a contralto register), more rarely in [[BassoProfondo bass register]]. It also provides a contrast for the more youthful [[TenorBoy]], especially in vocal music.

A deep voice makes the character sound strong, mature and competent, so it is a common trait for major villains that the audience is supposed to fear and respect. Consequently, such villains will usually speak in baritone register (or in villainesses' cases a contralto register), more rarely in [[BassoProfondo bass register]].

* In Gounod's ''Faust'', the basso gets to play Satan. He has a terrific aria toward the end, with one of the best {{Evil Laugh}}s ever in opera.

* ''Film/{{Lifeforce}}''. The male vampire at the end when he talks to Col. Caine.

** Judge Claude Frollo from ''WesternAnimation/TheHunchbackOfNotreDameDisney'', voiced by Creator/TonyJay.

** Nobody has a manlier baritone than Gaston (Richard White) in ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast''! Except maybe the eponymous Beast.

* KingKoopaCopy

* In the ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' movies, instead of Creator/FrankWelker's [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers screechy, gravelly]] delivery as Megatron, we get a deep, growly performance by Hugo Weaving. The sequels also gives us [[TheManBehindTheMan The Fallen]] in ''Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen'', and [[spoiler: Sentinel Prime]] in ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon''. In ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'', Welker comes back with a much deeper voice for [[spoiler: Galvatron]], and along with some reversal of three movies' worth of VillainDecay, it's pretty intimidating. In ''Film/TransformersRiseOfTheBeasts'', instead of Megatron, we get Unicron and Scourge. Scourge, played by Creator/PeterDinklage, has a dark, gravelly timbre that shows intimidation. Whereas the voice of Scourge's dark master, Unicron, provided by Creator/ColmanDomingo, is reminiscent to the voice of Creator/OrsonWelles in the original animated film in 1986. Scourge's voice is reflected on intimidating his victims and shows no faliure whereas Unicron's is considered a resonating, devil-like cavernous basso profondo reflecting on his quest of devouring entire worlds and the multiverse.

* In the ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' movies, instead of Creator/FrankWelker's [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers screechy, gravelly]] delivery as Megatron, we get a deep, growly performance by Hugo Weaving. The sequels also gives us [[TheManBehindTheMan The Fallen]] in ''Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen'', and [[spoiler: Sentinel Prime]] in ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon''. In ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'', Welker comes back with a much deeper voice for [[spoiler: Galvatron]], and along with some reversal of three movies' worth of VillainDecay, it's pretty intimidating. In ''Film/TransformersRiseOfTheBeasts'', instead of Megatron, we get Unicron and Scourge. Scourge, played by Creator/Peter Dinklage, has a dark, gravelly timbre that shows intimidation. Whereas the voice of Scourge's dark master, Unicron, provided by Creator/Colman Domingo, is reminiscent to the voice of Creator/Orson Welles in the original animated film in 1986. Scourge's voice is reflected on intimidating his victims and shows no faliure whereas Unicron's is considered a resonating, devil-like cavernous basso profondo reflecting on his quest of devouring entire worlds and the multiverse.

* In the ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' movies, instead of Creator/FrankWelker's [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers screechy, gravelly]] delivery as Megatron, we get a deep, growly performance by Hugo Weaving. The sequels also gives us [[TheManBehindTheMan The Fallen]] in ''Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen'', and [[spoiler: Sentinel Prime]] in ''Film/TransformersDarkOfTheMoon''. In ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'', Welker comes back with a much deeper voice for [[spoiler: Galvatron]], and along with some reversal of three movies' worth of VillainDecay, it's pretty intimidating.

** Lampshaded with [[BigBad Xykon]]. In ''[[Recap/TheOrderOfTheStickStartOfDarkness Start of Darkness]]'', we see his (somewhat less evil) human form, which has a normal speech bubble; it becomes black when he becomes a lich, and he ''comments'' that his voice sounds deeper, [[Franchise/StarWars comparing]] [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 it]] [[Creator/{{CNN}} to]] Creator/JamesEarlJones's.

* According to Characters/{{Deadpool|WadeWilson}} of Creator/MarvelComics, GeniusCripple [[Characters/{{AIM}} M.O.D.O.K.]] makes Terrence Stamp sound like Music/MichaelJackson. A tad ironic, considering how high most adaptations take his voice.

** In ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'', Bruce Wayne invokes the trope by affecting a [[GutturalGrowler deep growl]] while he's being Batman.

** ''Film/TheHobbit'': The dragon Smaug has a deep, growling voice provided by Creator/BenedictCumberbatch, and on top of being one of the main antagonists is a really malicious piece of work. There's also another major villain, Azog the Defiler -- a GutturalGrowler who speaks exclusively in the harsh-sounding Black Speech and who is a total psycho.

* ''Series/BreakingBad'': Walter White eventually develops a deep, intimidating baritone (often to GutturalGrowler levels) as he completes his ProtagonistJourneyToVillain.

* Inversion: the predominant vocal style in DeathMetal consists of a low, menacing, and almost completely incomprehensible [[GutturalGrowler growling]], while in BlackMetal, mid- to high-pitched shrieking and screaming tend to be used. The inversion becomes apparent when you learn of the violence (church burnings, murders, and one particularly infamous suicide) that was part and parcel of the BlackMetal scene around the time of its inception. Additionally, the death metal growl as a style is much-derided in many circles, pejoratively referred to as [[Series/SesameStreet "Cookie Monster vocals"]].

** Obadiah Stane, StarterVillain of the franchise in ''Film/{{Iron Man|1}}''. His voice even sounds deeper when he wears the Iron Monger-armor in the finale movie.

** Nobody has a [[RatedMForManly manlier baritone]] than Gaston (Richard White) in ''WesternAnimation/BeautyAndTheBeast''! Except maybe the eponymous Beast.

* King Dragon from Creator/ProZD's '''King Dragon''' videos hits the voice actor's lowest pitch.

* In the German dub of ''Anime/DragonBallGT'', Super 17 apparently had an echo filter - probably due to being a fusion of Android 17 and his Hell Fighter counterpart.
** As a result of this, Merged Zamasu in both the English and Japanese dubs of ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' had an echo filter as well.

** [[GreaterScopeVillain Kars]], [[FairPlayVillain Wamuu]] and [[ImplacableMan Santana]] in ''Manga/BattleTendency''.
** [[MasterActor Captain Tennille]], [[TheGambler Daniel J. D'Arby]] and [[TheDragon Vanilla Ice]] in ''Manga/StardustCrusaders''.
** [[SerialKiller Yoshikage Kira]] in ''Manga/DiamondIsUnbreakable''.
** [[TheDon Diavolo]], [[FatBastard Polpo]], [[ConsummateProfessional Prosciutto]], [[MagnetismManipulation Risotto Nero]] and, oddly enough, [[MonsterClown Cioccolata]] in ''Manga/GoldenWind''.
** [[SinisterMinister Enrico Pucci]], [[BlindWeaponmaster Johngalli A.]], [[InvisibleMonsters Sports Maxx]], [[TheGuardsMustBeCrazy Viviano Westwood]], [[DirtyCop D an G]] and [[BastardBastard Donatello Versus]] in ''Manga/StoneOcean''.

** The most significant occurrence is that of [[spoiler:Tobi. While in his initial persona, he speaks in a light, childish voice and his actions match. However, when he is acting as Madara, his voice deepens and matures as well as his actions (he even has completely different voice actors for each).]]

** The real Madara Uchiha (especially in the English Dub) has a fantastically chilling tone. His voice oozes authority, as if everything he says, comes from the mouth of an utterly torn individual (which is mostly truth). It's no wonder [[spoiler: that he convinced Obito to succeed him.]]
* In ''Manga/OnePiece'', the character Rob Lucci [[spoiler: could at first only "speak" through his high-pitched pigeon Hattori. However, when he is unveiled as the immensely powerful evil leader in [=CP9=]'s plot to capture Nico Robin, his 'real' voice is revealed to be much, much deeper. Interestingly, this was not done through the use of any synthesizers -- the [[Creator/TomokazuSeki same seiyuu]] performed both parts]].
** [[ThreateningShark Arlong]], [[TheChessmaster Crocodile]], [[BigBad Blackbeard]], and Hody Jones also have rather deep voices.
* Giovanni of ''Anime/PokemonTheSeries'' has a very deep, echoing voice every time he appears on a television or computer screen in the earlier episodes. This appears to be the result of computer editing. However, even when he appears in person, his voice is still quite deep.

* Creator/TypeMoon ''loves'' this trope, or, to be more specific, Creator/JojiNakata. An interesting example is seen in Archer; [[spoiler: his voice is much deeper than Shirou's, even though they're the same person. Proof that your moral alignment directly influences your tone!]]

* According to ComicBook/{{Deadpool}} of Creator/MarvelComics, GeniusCripple ComicBook/{{MODOK}} makes Terrence Stamp sound like Music/MichaelJackson. A tad ironic, considering how high most adaptations take his voice.

* Budzo from ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresInZambezia'' has a very deep voice courtesy of Creator/JimCummings.

** When people are tripping on the Scarecrow's drug, they perceive others (including the Scarecrow himself, of course) as evil monsters with inhumanly deep voices. While the Joker's voice is usually high-pitched and nasally, he goes surprisingly low for his choice lines, such as, '''"Look at me!"''' Bane zigzags the trope, in that the mask over his face does lower and distort Tom Hardy's rather nasally voice, but not very much. The only character to play it constantly straight is Henri Ducard, [[spoiler:a.k.a. the real ComicBook/RasAlGhul]], portrayed by Creator/LiamNeeson with his usual deep, husky voice.
* Played with in ''Film/BurnAfterReading'', when Creator/BradPitt's character attempts to act menacing by [[ClintSquint narrowing his eyes]] and lowering his voice. Unfortunately, he keeps forgetting and reverting back to his normal speech. HilarityEnsues.

* ''Film/DWar''. The evil dragon's human [[TheDragon Dragon]] (no pun intended) is the ''best example'' (check it out at 7:12 [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvUCINe0sK0&feature=related here]]).

** Emil Blonksy´s voice in ''Film/TheIncredibleHulk'' becomes deeper when he got transformed into the Abomination.

** Ronan and Nebula in ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014''. Ronan later reappears - save for his deep voice - in ''Film/CaptainMarvel''.

* Khan Tusion, the sadistic BreakingSpeech-prone director of the ''Meatholes'' series of porn, often has his voice shift in and out of the electronically deepened range while he's verbally abusing the performers.

* Played with in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'', wherein Dark Helmet's voice is deep and impressive when his helmet is down, but when it's up, he sounds like a whiny Rick Moranis.

* Inverted in ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit''. The main antagonist, Judge Doom, doesn't have an extremely deep voice, but when [[spoiler: he's revealed to actually be a toon, [[CreepyHighPitchedVoice he talks in a really high-pitched voice.]]]]

* Magneto in the original ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'' trilogy, courtesy of Ian [=McKellen=].

* ''Literature/TheSwordOfTruth'': Emperor Jagang is described to have a "deep, grating voice". Averted with Darken Rahl, who has a "clear, almost liquid" voice...and a trope-fitting [[TheDragon right hand man]].

* PlayedForLaughs in an ''Series/AllThat'' sketch called Bridget's Slumber Party; the goth girl Claudia, who has supernatural powers, would often talk in a demonic voice especially if she was angry. Also, in the Poetry with Claudia short which had her read poetry to children, she would alternate the lines of the rhymes to sound creepy -- at the end, she would scare the kids by saying the final line in a demonic voice.
* ''Series/{{Angel}}''

** The pitch of his voice is sort of a gauge on his emotions. When his voice is high and Sebacean/Humanesque, he is his usual five-steps ahead of you, eloquent MagnificentBastard, tightly-controlled self. When things start to go wrong, he starts to slip into his Scarran side and his voice drops about four octaves and picks up some teeth. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldUqV6gceeM Discussed in this interview, around 3:20]].
* On ''Series/GameOfThrones'', Tywin Lannister is played by Charles Dance and has [[EvilSoundsDeep a deep voice]] that makes him sound twice as serious and menacing as he would be otherwise. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47MazYDnmaU See here]]. His [[TheBrute biggest henchman]], Ser Gregor Clegane, is even deeper, nearing BassoProfundo territory, especially when played by Ian Whyte, who seems to be channeling Creator/ChristopherLee.

* On ''Series/KnightRider'', Michael Knight's EvilTwin Garthe Knight had a noticeably deeper voice than Michael (as well as a [[BeardOfEvil goatee]], of course.)

* In ''Series/{{Smallville}}'', the phantom that borrowed Clark's DNA and made a clone body out of it (becoming the show's incarnation of Bizarro [[note]]In classic ''Smallville'' NotWearingTights and NotUsingTheZedWord fashion. "I'm ''you''. Just a little more... bizarre."[[/note]]) has a deeper voice than the real Clark, though it's not always obvious and can be turned off at will, apparently (he impersonated Clark for some time with the viewers and other characters unaware).

** In Season 10, [[spoiler:Godfrey's voice gets deeper when possessed by {{ComicBook/Darkseid}}, but if he doesn't want to reveal it, only people with superhearing could notice the extra deep voice. Oliver and Lionel's voice is also turned much deeper when possessed.]] Also, [[spoiler:Lois's voice gets deeper when possessed by Isis]].

* In Gounod's ''Faust'', the basso gets to play Satan. He has [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLAPsKoOV4g a terrific aria]] toward the end, with one of the best {{Evil Laugh}}s ever in opera.

* ''Theatre/DerFreischuetz'' gives us one straight-play and three subversions. Kaspar, the main antagonist, is a basso, but so are the kindly old hermit and Kuno, the protagonist's {{Mentor}} and father-in-law-to-be. Samiel is a speaking role, but generally high-pitched.

** The rare case of this trope in Puccini's operas. His other low-voiced characters, like Colline in ''Theatre/LaBoheme'', Timur in ''Theatre/{{Turandot}}'' and Sharpless in ''Theatre/MadamaButterfly'' are nice, or at least sympathetic, like Michele in ''Il Tabarro'' and Rance in ''La Fanciulla del West''. And ''Theatre/GianniSchicchi'' is a LoveableRogue.

[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
* For ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'''s "Scars of Mirrodin" block, they did trailers for the two main factions -- the heroic Mirrans got a medium-high voice speaking English, while the [[AssimilationPlot evil Phyrexians]], communicating in BlackSpeech, sounded like [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7ixdHQj3O4 this]].
[[/folder]]

* ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' plays this straight with the gate keepers, with their speech in a different font (until they were told not to). The subversion is used for psychological advantage with [[http://www.schlockmercenary.com:8080/2006-01-09 TAG]].

* In AllYourBase videos, CATS is usually voiced by Microsoft Sam at his lowest pitch setting. Other characters usually get higher-pitched, and less robotic sounding voices.

* King Dragon from ProZD's '''King Dragon''' videos hits the voice actor's lowest pitch.

* Website/ThatGuyWithGlasses:

** Lampshaded with [[BigBad Xykon]]. In ''Recap/StartOfDarkness'' we see his (somewhat less evil) human form, which has a normal speech bubble; it becomes black when he becomes a lich, and he ''comments'' that his voice sounds deeper, [[Franchise/StarWars comparing]] [[WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994 it]] [[Creator/{{CNN}} to]] Creator/JamesEarlJones's.

** Lady Tremaine from ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'' and Maleficent from ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'' are vintage examples of deep voiced women, with both originally being voiced by Eleanor Audley, and by Creator/SusanneBlakeslee in many of their later appearances.
** Shere Khan from ''WesternAnimation/TheJungleBook1967'' has a purring, urbane baritone provided by Creator/GeorgeSanders, with Creator/TonyJay taking over in later appearances.

* In the ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' movies, instead of Creator/FrankWelker's [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers screechy, gravelly]] delivery as Megatron, we get a deep, growly performance by Hugo Weaving. The sequel also gives us [[TheManBehindTheMan The Fallen]] and [[spoiler: Sentinel Prime]].
** Then in the fourth movie Welker comes back with a much deeper voice for [[spoiler: Galvatron]]. Along with some reversal of three movies' worth of VillainDecay, it's pretty intimidating.

** The dark elve Malekith in ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld''.

* Played with in ''Film/{{Spaceballs}}'', wherein Dark Helmet's voice is deep and impressive when his helmet is down, but when it's up he sounds like a whiney Rick Moranis.

** Darth Vader, whose voice is provided by Creator/JamesEarlJones. The original actor, Creator/DavidProwse, has an almost laughably nasal voice and nonthreatening accent in comparison.

* In the ''Film/{{Transformers}}'' movies, instead of Creator/FrankWelker's [[WesternAnimation/TheTransformers screechy, gravelly]] delivery as Megatron, we get a deep, growly performance by Hugo Weaving. The sequel also gives us [[TheManBehindTheMan The Fallen]] and [[spoiler:Sentinel Prime]].

* In the {{Crossover}} ''Fanfic/AKnightsTaleAsInquisitor'', [[RedBaron the Elder One]], the BigBad of this story, has a voice that's specifically described as ancient and foreboding. Canonically, it is a British accent, so it is comparable to TheProtagonist's own ContraltoOfDanger.

** Lady Tremaine from ''WesternAnimation/{{Cinderella}}'' and Maleficent from ''WesternAnimation/SleepingBeauty'' are vintage examples of ContraltoOfDanger, with both originally being voiced by Eleanor Audley, and by Creator/SusanneBlakeslee in many of their later appearances.

A deep voice makes the character sound strong, mature and competent, so it is a common trait for major villains that the audience is supposed to fear and respect. Consequently, such villains will usually speak in [[BadassBaritone baritone register]] (or in villainesses' cases a [[ContraltoOfDanger contralto register]]), more rarely in [[BassoProfondo bass register]].

* [[AffablyEvil Tyki Mikk]] from ''Manga/DGrayMan'' reinforces this trope. Creator/ToshiyukiMorikawa gives him a normal voice in his human form but when in his Noah form, his voice drops to a calm [[BadassBaritone baritone]] [[DissonantSerenity even if he is]] [[AxCrazy killing someone horribly]].

* On ''Series/GameOfThrones'', Tywin Lannister is played by Charles Dance and has a BadassBaritone voice that makes him sound twice as serious and menacing as he would be otherwise. [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47MazYDnmaU See here]]. His [[TheBrute biggest henchman]], Ser Gregor Clegane, is even deeper, nearing BassoProfundo territory, especially when played by Ian Whyte, who seems to be channeling Creator/ChristopherLee.