A Deadly Valentine's: Cinema's 17 Most Dangerous Couples

Rapturous admissions of love – with all their rose-colored dressings and happiest endings – are not strictly reserved for the purest hearts. Even those most wicked, villainous souls can experience companionship in any form required (human, demigod, demonic ruler, etc). Society doesn't normally classify these "nightmare" stories as "romantic," but cinema operates to argue otherwise. Love stories come in all moods, genres, and methods of display – or, at the very least, double as a facade for even more unspeakable damnation than previously believed.With St. Valentine's influence in the February air, I thought it might be fun to ruin the mood once again with something dark and twisted. An ode to anyone who'd steal Cupid's bow as a way of extending their ongoing murder spree. To honor those we dub our partners in crime, I've compiled a list of *literal* partners in crime who've tallied relationship goals and body counts in tandem. The most dangerous cinematic couples that prove "those who slay together, stay together" – in a matter of words. The good, the bad, and the ugly.

"My mother always said love was supposed set you free. But that's not true, Chucky. I've been a prisoner of my love for you for a very long time. Now it's payback time." – TiffanyI, for one, will always ship the voodoo union of Charles Lee Ray and Tiffany Valentine – better known to horror audiences as "Chucky" and "Tiffany." Pre-transformation, they were immoral troublemakers who pushed one another deeper into heartache and madness. In doll form, their slasher rampage (with the help of Jade and Jesse) includes Las Vegas grifters, John Ritter, Hollywood effects gurus, Redman – literally *no one* is safe. Their danger level is through the roof, assuring certain death for anyone who might trip over these knee-high nasties.The volatility between Chucky and Tiffany makes these two infinitely more dangerous than stable lovers who kill because mood swings provoke slasher tendencies. One minute Tiffany dons her best "Martha Stewart" impersonation in the kitchen, the next she's hurling fresh baked cookies at Chucky's head. Like short-fuses and serial aspirations weren't enough? Dash in unpredictability and I'd argue Bride Of Chucky introduces *the* banner relationship for horror coupling. Proposal and all.

"You know, you're like me. You want different things. You got somethin' better than bein' a waitress. You and me travelin' together, we could cut a path clean across this state and Kansas and Missouri and Oklahoma and everybody'd know about it. You listen to me, Miss Bonnie Parker. You listen to me." – Clyde BarrowBonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow blazed a trail for themselves as lovebird public enemies during the Great Depression era, but it took until 1967 for Arthur Penn to immortalize their renown lawlessness on film. Warren Beatty as the pretty-boy vagrant, Faye Dunaway as his "bored" waitress sweetie who chooses a life of crime over bussing restaurant tables. They rob, flee and kill their way across the US until an ambush riddles 'em full of bullet holes; their historic travels now household whenever romantic renegades are discussed. Like you need further analysis from me? Bonnie and Clyde belong on *any* list that involves the words "dangerous" and "couples."

"It's just murder. All God's creatures do it. You look in the forests and you see species killing other species, our species killing all species including the forests, and we just call it industry, not murder." – Mickey KnoxNatural Born Killers - a no-brainer. Woody Harrelson as Mickey Knox, Juliette Lewis his better, equally trigger-happy half Mallory. A relationship bonded by traumatic childhoods, responsible for the deaths of too many "innocents" worth counting. Oliver Stone's satirical black humor lends to a skewering of American media exposure and family archetypes, with all-time performances by Harrelson and Lewis taking center stage. Psychedelic lensing objectifies the Knoxs' overly-violent, rabid lust for gruesomeness, always juxtaposed against (intentional) sitcom romantics that continually frame Mickey and Mallory as an All-American couple – countless confirmed kills and all.It's a blood-drenched road trip only Quentin Tarantino could dream up – which Stone's team *heavily* edited after Warner Brothers purchased Tarantino's original script. Even with just a "Story" credit to QT's name, this still explains the placement of Mr. and Mrs. Knox on any list about slaying together forever.

"I'm Mum. He's Dad. You live with us now." – MumNo, not Brian Taylor's Mom And Dad - a recently released parents-hunt-kin midnight sendup. We're talking about Steven Sheil's Mum & Dad, a reasonably straightforward survival flick about two crazed parental units who kidnap new children to increase family ranks. Their newest addition, a Polish immigrant being taught the household rules, opens our eyes to the malformed horrors that await. Cannibalism, toolshed tortures, sexual assault – this is a mature couple who prey on the underage with cruel intent. Think The Loved Ones but from a flipped generational perspective – a sick slice of innocent endangerment that'd take more than marriage counseling to right.

"It is time to clean house! Total... spring... cleaning." – MommyEvil parents and cannibalism – a fitting segue into Wes Craven's The People Under The Stairs. "Mommy" (Wendy Robie) and "Daddy" Robeson (Everett McGill) are believed to be a landlord couple who oversee Los Angeles real estate plots, but Poindexter "Fool" (Brandon Quintin Adams) exposes them for the kiddie-snatching, brother-sister-inbreds they are. Turns out the pale-faced kids under the titular stairs are all "naughty" prisoners who didn't abide by household rules. If that doesn't scream "power couple" as far as danger goes, I'm not sure what other evil deeds might be needed to bolster one's cred.

"I'll tell you what. How about you and I go in there right now and show her who's running the show? Come on, Evie. That's why she's here. Let's make the most of her. Together. Like we always do..." – JohnJohn White (Stephen Curry) is the charismatic guy-next-door whose secret hobby is a ticket-punch straight to Hell, but even worse is wife Evelyn (Emma Booth). She dreams of the "normal" life that John continually promises and helps tidy up his messes *despite* knowing her husband seeks sexual pleasures from these tied-up houseguests (even if she ignores the notion or convinces herself otherwise). Together, these two will pluck a family to shreds all in the name of "love" – a dangerous ingredient dashed into an already boiling pot. Serviced monstrously by both actor's downright unspeakable performances (yay!).

"Oh, you know I'd do anything for you. By the way, I've got some grape soda on ice and a bear skin rug waiting." – Joker"SUICIDE SQUAD?" Listen – I'm just as upset as you are to see Jared Leto's Joker on this list, but in context with Quinn, he's all I got. I refuse to deny Margot Robbie's pin-up punisher her rightful spot because Leto's Hot Topic misfit was a dud. The fact is, these two are diabolical together because – like with Hounds Of Love - feelings lead to manipulation. Harley Quinn will do anything for "Mr. J" and he acknowledges/weaponizes these emotions in terroristic ways. Together, these two clowns are smokin' wildcards who'd burn the world given proper access. Joker will never let this relationship die for that very reason, even if the hugs and kisses aren't mutually enjoyed (they most certainly are re: goopy industrial tank plunge).

"Is she a good girl? You love her? That's too bad." – BuddyIn Edgar Wright's Baby Driver we're introduced to a pair of crushin' thugs who accompany Baby on Doc's jobs – Jon Hamm's Buddy and Eiza González's Darling. Even without the constant action choreography timed to a beat-perfect soundtrack, these two lovey-dovey badasses are cooler than a cucumber grown in Antarctica. Buddy alone is this mad-crazy criminal who probably shouldn't ever see your backside, but with Darling around, he's tempered. Together – especially during that "Tequila" warehouse gunfight – they're a couple with enough ammo and chutzpah themselves to rob NYC blind. Of course, that's before Darling bites the dust and we learn the true extent of Buddy's non-existent "chill."

"I've always wished for more artistic talent. Well, murder can be an art, too. The power to kill can be just as satisfying as the power to create." – BrandonIf you trace back the inspiration for Alfred Hitchcock's Rope, you'll find it based on the actual convictions of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb – two lovers who killed a 14-year-old out of intellectual hubris. This scenario serves as a similar setup for Brandon (John Dall) and Phillip (Farley Granger), who murder an "inferior" Harvard classmate right before a dinner party they're hosting. Why? To prove superiority by committing the "perfect" crime (permitting they get away squeaky-clean).It's not *explicitly* noted that the two penthouse inhabitants are an item, but there are few lines to read between. This is a story of enamored partners who channel superiority and end a life because it's justified by ego. Is this not one of the most dangerous attributes of any couple? To hide behind academic reasoning while prematurely ending lives?

"I'm not apologizing for what I did. I'm apologizing for what I didn't do." – VioletIs there anything more unstable than a couple who are willing to risk exchanges with mob gunmen for riches? In the Wachowski sisters' debut Bound, Gina Gershon and Jennifer Tilly do just that. Two women entangled in their own blistering affair; Joe Pantoliano's mafioso launderer bamboozled by his cheating girlfriend Violet. With $2 million on the line and the threat of death constant, I'd say Gershon and Tilly's on-screen couple is one dangerous step forward in representation (especially for 1996).

"[Indiscernible MUTO screeching.]" – Male MUTOTo honor a /Film voice from not long ago – the effortlessly talented Angie Han – I submit to you Mr. and Mrs. MUTO from Gareth Edwards' Godzilla reboot. Two creatures held in captivity by humans, experimented on and studied far away from one another. They must break the literal shackles of society to reunite once again, which makes for a surprisingly touching moment when their stumpy snouts bump with animalistic acknowledgments of togetherness. How tragic a sci-fi Shakespearean romance.They're also *incredibly* dangerous based on the fact that each MUTO breaks out of a heavily armored government facility, topples buildings out of misunderstanding and cares not for human life because *they are scared and alone.* We made them into monsters, goddammit. Poor, dangerous MUTOs.

"Boy, if I could sing a song like that. If I could sing a song about the way I feel right now... it'd be a hit." – KitTerrence Malick's Badlands nods a slight Bonnie And Clyde vibe in that Kit Carruthers (Martin Sheen) and Holly (Sissy Spacek) find themselves on the lam as delinquent lovers. Kit starts their relationship by murdering Holly's father, which leads to their fleeing towards Montana's "Badlands." Acquaintances and other folk are killed along their travels in the name of infatuation, until Holly finally gives herself into police custody. A short and fleeting relationship, but one that builds up a body count with danger in every public interaction.

"We could have a life we two, maybe not like you remember. Maybe not like I imagined. But we could get by." – Mrs. LovettA one-sided relationship is still a relationship, no? In Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street, Helena Bonham Carter's Mrs. Lovett finds herself remarkably more smitten by Johnny Depp's throat-happy barber than the reverse – but their teaming is still a vile London institution. Sweeney swipes his razor with one clean cut, a corpse goes tumbling into Mrs. Lovett's kitchen and voila – a fresh batch of meat pies for the masses! Blood running down cobblestone gutters, appendages fed into a pulverizing grinder. I know how it ends, but at the height of Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett's profitability, any man looking for a quick trim finds himself in far more danger than expected.

"I'm gonna go jump in the tub and get all slippery and soapy and then hop in that waterbed and watch X-rated movies 'till you get your ass back in my lovin' arms." – AlabamaWhat is it about Quentin Tarantino scripts and this list? Tony Scott's True Romance - Tarantino's pulpy riff off melodramatic romance novels – sends a call-girl and Elvis Presley fanatic on the run from underworld nogoodniks. This, of course, is after Christian Slater's lovesick Clarence Worley kills a dreadlocked Gary Oldman as a means of freeing Patricia Arquette's Alabama Whitman. So, *so* many people die as a result of their foolish acts, which makes them dangerous by proxy – but still dangerous. That's what you get for murdering a pimp and stealing unmarked narcotics in a brash blaze of glory.

"Shut up! That Russian cannibal creep is telling everyone he did 50 plus. That reflects badly on both of us, Patty. This record should be held by an American." – Johnny Charles BartlettLovers of the flesh can be stopped if dangers spiral too out-of-control, but what about an undead couple? In Peter Jackson's The Frighteners, Jake Busey embodies a mass murderer who poses as Death himself in the afterlife. Patricia, played by Dee Wallace, acts as his Earthly lover – making them a killer couple with navigational capabilities across our world and spirit realms. A crazy ghost who imitates The Reaper, his still-alive sweetheart and countless lives for the taking? Quite the fatal love connection, even by horror standards.

"[Hiding with John in a display shed in a Cost Mart store] There's nowhere I'd rather be than here with you." – Jane SmithBrad Pitt and Angelina Jolie – at the height of their stardom – kicking ass as married super-assassins. Hidden weapons caches, secret missions, steamy fight sequences with sexual climaxes...the whole shebang. These two Smiths have enough firepower to take down entire nations and the expertise to do so. What could be more dangerous than a domestic disturbance between military-grade spec ops agents?

"Neo, I'm not afraid anymore. The Oracle told me that I would fall in love and that that man... the man that I loved would be The One. So you see, you can't be dead. You can't be... because I love you. You hear me? I love you." – TrinityTogether, Neo (Keanu Reeves) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) rebooted Hollywood's action genre landscape with newfangled bullet-time dodging and simulation-loaded fighting styles. Between her slow-motion gliding and acrobatic wall-jumping, Trinity dared the action genre's most agile. With Neo at her side – the series' prophesied "chosen one" – this couple was dangerous enough to save the remaining human race from mechanized overlords who aimed to destroy Zion. Agent Smith – an almighty antagonistic program – faced more than his binary could handle when stacked against this black-leather resistance couple.