There are some horrifying creatures in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings universe, spanning beyond what’s seen in the films. The Lord of the Rings books defined the contemporary fantasy genre, establishing creatures and races that would have inspired numerous subsequent fantasy books, video games, and films. Aside from the overwhelming beauty of Middle-earth, a land of quaint Hobbit-holes, majestic Elven palaces, and breathtaking mountain peaks, Tolkien also created some terrifying, nightmare-inducing beings that haunt his world.
While The Lord of the Rings tells a beautiful tale of humanity and friendship, it can’t be understated how much the horror aspect of his world influenced pop culture. Dungeons & Dragons, in particular, is notably inspired by The Hobbit’s Smaug and The Fellowship of the Ring’s Mines of Moria. It’s crucial to Middle-earth to have both an alluring beauty and a dreadful evil that lurks in the deep, often shrouded in mystery. The Lord of the Rings movies have explored some of these creatures, but some still remain in Tolkien’s books.
5
Nâzgul
Tolkien’s Scariest Humanoid Creatures
The Nâzgul are the first antagonist threat the heroes have to deal with in The Lord of the Rings as they pursue the Hobbits on the road from the Shire to Bree. What makes the Nâzgul horrifying in a different manner to Tolkien’s other creatures is that they’re humanoid beings, adding a sense of realism to their terror. The Nâzgul, also known as Ringwraiths, were the nine Men granted Rings of Power by Sauron, placing them under his control.
Since Sauron does not have a physical body in Tolkien’s primary story, the Nâzgul are perhaps the best representation of his ever-present grasp on Middle-earth. The Nâzgul pursue the heroes in the forests, from the skies, and on the battlefield, and their darkness knows no bounds. They’re the epitome of Men’s greed for power, existing as a dark reflection of one’s most innate and awful desires. The Rings of Power season 3 could offer some interpretation of their origins.
4
Watcher in the Water
A Threat Submerged In The Dark Waters
Those with thalᴀssophobia wouldn’t do all that well in Middle-earth, as the fear of the Watcher in the Water would keep anyone from dipping their toes in a lake. The western entrance of Moria is where the Watcher settles in Middle-earth and prevented Óin and other Dwarves from escaping the mines after it was overrun with Orcs. The beast also attacked the Fellowship upon their entrance, leaving them no choice but to take the underground path.
Anything that Gandalf doesn’t fully understand is worth being afraid of in and of itself
Similar to Durin’s Bane, the Balrog below Moria, the Watcher has nested itself in the waters outside Moria after being drawn out from the deep. At least, that’s what Gandalf seems to believe. Anything that Gandalf doesn’t fully understand is worth being afraid of in and of itself, and it doesn’t help that the Watcher has kraken-like tentacles and is partially submerged to not reveal the extent of its body.
3
Nameless Things
Even Gandalf Doesn’t Want To Talk About Them
A mᴀssive element of what makes Middle-earth so timelessly compelling is the unknown. Beyond the intrigue of what Tolkien tells his readers, numerous aspects of his world-building are left unspecified, allowing fans to speculate for decades about the secrets of Arda. The Nameless Things are one of those mysteries, and even Gandalf doesn’t have much wisdom to offer about what they are in The Two Towers.
These creatures exist in such a dark and deep place of Middle-earth that even the Dwarves of Moria didn’t unearth them. They had dug tunnels deep below Moria that Durin’s Bane learned to navigate, suggesting they were larger than a Balrog. The most terrifying aspect of the Nameless Things is that Tolkien ceases to describe anything about what they are, with Gandalf simply saying that he won’t reveal anything more about them as it would “darken the light of day” and that “Even Sauron knows them not.”
2
Balrogs
Morgoth’s Demons
The Balrog is one of Tolkien’s most iconic creatures, represented chiefly by Durin’s Bane, the menacing demon that kills Gandalf in The Fellowship of the Ring. Their existence dates back to the creation of Arda, and were originally Maiar who Morgoth corrupted. Balrogs served as Morgoth’s leaders during the War of Wrath, with one of the most notable being Gothmog, Morgoth’s primary captain.
Balrogs are the closest thing in Tolkien’s universe to demons, covered in flame and wielding a fiery whip as their weapon. Encountering one in the War of Wrath was undoubtedly terrifying, but experiencing one in the Second Age or Third Age of Middle-earth, when they had all but pᴀssed into legend, was far worse. The Dwarves of Moria, who dug too deep into the Misty Mountains, unearthed Durin’s Bane, releasing one of Middle-earth’s most evil beings.
1
Ungoliant
The Mother Of All Giant Spiders
Shelob is the iconic spider of The Lord of the Rings, but there’s another creature who’s even more horrible: her mother. Ungoliant was the monstrous spider of the First Age with uncertain origins. Originally under the control of Morgoth, Ungoliant was powerful enough to become her own master, even managing to capture Morgoth (in a weakened form) in a web at one point, forcing him to call Balrogs to his aid to fend her off.
Spiders are animals that terrify humans in the real world, even as small arachnids. To pile on the idea by making them enormous with Shelob was one thing, but Ungoliant is far bigger and inherently more terrifying. She may not be the most powerful being in the Lord of the Rings universe, but she’s the most horrifying creature Tolkien created.
