Top 10 Most Preternaturally Beautiful Men

READERSHIP ADVISORY: The following post contains very subjective opinion, frivolity, and the shameless sexual objectification of highly respectable people. In other words, we are about to go totally alt-Cosmo on your ass. You have been warned.

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion. – Sir Francis Bacon

Preternatural means out of the ordinary course of nature; exceptional or abnormal. That which appears outside or beyond the natural. Extremity – an ordinary phenomenon taken beyond the natural.

10 Klaus Kinski

Bug-eyed, white-haired, rubbery-lipped Klaus Kinski was by all accounts (especially his own) an insatiable fuck machine. Open his infamously filthy memoirs to any random page and gasp at the depravity. He also happened to be gibbering batshit insane. It has been observed that sociopaths are often very charismatic. Certainly, when Kinski wasn’t foaming at the mouth, he could charm the knickers off any lady in the room. Fans of exploitation cinema adore him as the punishing playboy in Jess Franco’s masterpiece, Venus In Furs. His tumultuous partnership with filmmaker Werner Herzog yielded two of the most compelling antiheroes of all time: Aguirre and Nosferatu. Indeed, even in the most paltry cameo roles, Kinski oozed a certain fetid yet undeniable charm.

9 Miles Davis

This is the face of a sorcerer or a fallen angel. Miles Davis was of course, first and foremost, one of most influential iconoclasts of 20th century music, a ferocious talent who “didn’t take no shit off nobody” and always played his chosen tormented Dark Magus role to the hilt. That baleful stare and gorgeous bone structure lent Davis a painfully beautiful, otherworldly quality that only deepened with age. From Kind of Blue LP liner photos to Anton Corbijn’s famous portraits taken decades later, the eyes have it.

8 Adrien Brody

It isn’t often that we come across a look so naturally stylized. Adrien Brody’s elongated gaunt features look as if they’ve been rendered by the hand of Modigliani. Despite a multitude of serious on-screen roles and a spectrum of strong performances, he’s often pictured in photo spreads as as a saccharine 90210-worthy sleaze, which may or may not be a fair representation. No matter! We prefer to think of Adrien Brody as a deep-eyed, crane-necked mammal with a nose that’s capable of launching a thousand panties into space. He’s a unique combination of exaggerated equine attributes which must not be ignored, no.

7 Tim Curry

Sweet transvestite era Tim Curry is the beastly, handsome cad we all love to love. Mer chiming in here individually to say that she too had a code growing up that helped her suss out her soul sistahs in a quick and painless manner, having discerned that there is a certain ultra specific type of girl (or girly boy) who, having viewed Legend at that special, vulnerable time in their development, cites Darkness as the first giant-sized-man-thing who made them feel kinda funny…where their bathing suit covers. Zo, being a filthy Russki, didn’t have the fortune of watching this film until her twenties. It made her feel very funny and still rather does.

6 Crispin Glover

It could be said that Crispin Glover has taken great care to create his villainous persona. It certainly doesn’t take too much of an imagination’s stretch to perceive him as such. Between his theatric readings from Dada-ish collage books he created and his emotionally scarring directorial debut, he’s earned his notoriety fair and square. Glover’s deep-set perplexed eyes and meandering nose are often accentuated with a vintage-inspired hairstyle, voice creeping from thin lips above a jaw that expertly juts out of suits reminiscent of his movie roles. These vicious features, bizarre creative repertoire and outlandish public behavior have polished Crispin Glover into a quintessential madman we can’t help but, reluctantly, love.

5 Christopher Walken

Christopher Walken was a fey, stunning beauty in his youth. Who knew?! Nowadays, he’s less androgynous Puck and more a reptilian, glittering-eyed old uncle who should probably not be left unsupervised with small children, but we here at Coilhouse proudly proclaim, creepy is the new sexy. And who’s not a sucker for a funny, sharp-dressed man who can dance? Could there possibly be some among us, perhaps with a fever for cow bell, who might not protest if Uncle Chris were to touch them inappropriately?

4 Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe is freakishly hot. It’s the allure of his sinuous voice as much as those high cheekbones, craggy brow, and wide, upturned mouth. Whether he’s being figuratively martyred in ‘Nam or literally on the cross as he daydreams of bedding Mary Magdalene, insinuating bi-curious traits to John Lurie while ice fishing, or (at the risk of repeating ourselves) channeling a naked mole rat for his toothsome take on Nosferatu, we just can’t bring ourselves to look away.

3 Nick Cave


Top image © Blast Products™. Taken at Glasgow’s Nightmoves on the Birthday Party’s farewell tour c.1982.

NIIIICK THE STRIIIIIIIIIPPER.” This man could set a stage ablaze. Nick Cave’s feral eyes, unkempt hair and hyena screams make him the epitome of rabid charm. To this day, the spindly white boy from Australia channels James Brown with his moves like nobody’s business, howling with the conviction of a deranged sin hound. Despite bearing a slight resemblance to Neil Diamond recently, there’s absolutely no reason for Cave to be singing the “No Pussy Blues.” Sorry, mate. We just don’t buy it.

2 Jonathan Rhys Meyers

The cheeks, the lips, the unnaturally blue eyes – Jonathan Rhys Meyers was almost too pretty to make the list. But there is something strange in the combination of pronounced features on his narrow face, something cold and removed in his expression, something that makes him, without question, an otherworldly reptile. His role on Gormenghast as the self-serving cruel Steerpike, earned Jonathan’s character this fitting description: “His body gave the appearance of being malformed but it would be difficult to say exactly what gave it this gibbous quality. Limb by limb, it appeared that he was sound enough, but the sum of these several members accrued to an unexpectedly twisted total. ”

1 David Bowie

He almost couldn’t have #1 because it’s just too easy, but we had no choice. David Bowie simply is inhuman. And inhumanly hot. Over several decades of stardom, he’s ripened into complete perfection. Between his masterfully crafted alien image, the beak, the mismatched eyes, the feline smile he is The Ultimate Preternatural Hotness.

Honorable Mention: Jeff Goldblum (who would have made the list were we not still rinsing our eyes out with bleach after stumbling across this unfortunate image). Buster Keaton, Yamataka Eye, and Klaus Nomi (who will all no doubt receive more in depth and reverential treatment at some later date). Aforementioned Perry Farrell and Kit Stølen (fear of nepotism).

147 Responses to “Top 10 Most Preternaturally Beautiful Men”

  1. DJ Velveteen Says:

    I refuse to feel inadequate reading this post. Though maybe I should.

    Do we get a “best bishonen” post?

  2. christiane Says:

    I love Coilhouse. No longer do I feel silly for having a massive childhood crush on Darkness in Legend. Or thinking William Dafoe and Christopher Walken are hot :D

  3. Ben Morris Says:

    Herzog’s documentary about Klaus Kinski, My Best Fiend, is very much worth watching. One of my favorite parts is a clip from one of Kinski’s ‘Jesus tours’ where Kinki rants on stage as a clearly insane savior.

  4. Mer Says:

    Hooray, Christiane! We’re not alone!

    DJ V, good suggestion! We shall ponder that, for sure.

    Ben, that documentary is so nuts. That ending, with the butterfly and the Popol Vuh score? Oh, man. Gets me every time:

    I’m fanatacial about everything Herzog does, really. I think he’s one of the most underappreciated but crucially important filmmakers working today.

  5. Ben Morris Says:

    Mer: I totally agree about the importance of Herzog, he is probably my favorite director (well, tied for favorite along with Fellini, Jodorowsky, and Kurosawa). I also really like Herzog’s voice, he makes such a great narrator.

  6. Lauren Says:

    AHHH Tim Curry. So flipping amazing on so many levels. Right up there with David Bowie. I actually got my friend a print of that cigarette photo for his birthday.

  7. E. Black Says:

    Oh, be still my heart. Crispin Glover had me when he was playing the Thin Man in that godawful Charlie’s Angels movie. Something about the way his nose is aristocratically pointy and…oh, let me shut up. All the men on this list are the most amazing men in the world. I shall go off now and ponder why my man is not as amazing.

  8. Derek Says:

    Adrien Brody and Nick Cave! Woo! This is a fantastic list.

  9. Damien Says:

    Nick Cave’s Hair….

    Wow.

  10. Red Scharlach Says:

    Nick Cave, but no mention of Blixa Bargeld?

    OMG WORST LIST EVER!

  11. Mer Says:

    Bwaahaha. Red, I actually mulled over Blixa, but honestly, I don’t think his face is quite as preternaturally lovely as his voice/creative output. And we’d already filled our dapper shrieking German and indispensable Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds member quotas.

    (It’s all very subjective, of course. Paganini, Jo Shishido, Lee Van Cleef, Rasputin, Alan Moore and King Ludwig of Bavaria were also briefly considered.)

    Hey, I just realized something. Two of our top-tenners (Kinski and Glover) were featured in Cracked‘s hilarious Top 5 Most Obviously Drug-Fueled TV Apperances Ever feature. Do we know how to pick ’em or what?!

  12. Ben Morris Says:

    The great thing about that Crispin Glover’s appearance on Letterman (as shown in that Cracked link) is that with Crispin Glover its impossible to tell if a) he is on a strong psychoactive substance, b) he is just fucking with everyone (and especially with Letterman) or c) all of the above.

  13. Geoff Says:

    Unfortunately, I will forever associate Tim Curry with King Chicken in the Duckman cartoon series.

  14. Mer Says:

    Ben, I think the answer is C. Although I’m not convinced he does drugs to become so, there’s no doubt he’s genuinely weird. But he also does seem to relish fucking with people. A friend of mine who’d been enamored of him for years ended up going out on one date with him and she had some pretty horrifying things to say about it afterwards.

  15. Zoetica Says:

    Another worthy one we’ve left out is Gary Oldman but a top 10 is a top 10 after all!

    As an aside, I haven’t stopped watching Walken videos since we put this up. Oh dear.

    Mer, the clip you posted from the Kinski documentary – trance-inducing.

  16. Jerem Morrow Says:

    Here, here! But no Udo Kier???

    Darkness, in particular, sent me into a whirlwind of questions I’d never considered when i first saw Legend.

  17. Ashbet Says:

    *unf!*

    I’ll be in my bunk!

    (You forgot Jeremy Irons, though *grin*)

  18. Mer Says:

    Udo Kier, eh? What is it about those bulbous krauts?

    Jeremy Irons is really gorgeous, just not in an extremely preternatural way, in my opinion. We really tried to single out the most feral, beastly, borderline busted-up looking fellows we could find. Even when Irons is ranting about slaving over hot snatches in Dead Ringers, he looks almost textbook handsome to me. Same goes for Daniel Day Lewis, who Zo was contemplating. (It’s remarkable, how that man can be sitting in a wheelbarrow, drooling and contorted, and I’ll still marvel at how male-model-dreamy he is.)

    You’re right, Zo. Gary Oldman looks like a weasel. A sexy, sexy weasel. He should get an honorable mention. Also, maybe Harry Dean Stanton? Or is he just way too grizzled?

    Sigh. So many oddly beautiful men, so little room. We tried. :)

  19. Lauren Says:

    Jeremy Irons was amazing in Lolita.

  20. Rachael Says:

    I think in a few years (perhaps ten) Patrick Wolf would be worthy, if he fulfills his potential.

    Oh, and Gaspard Ulliel in Hannibal Rising…terrible film, but he really was so creepily beautiful it hurt. And frightened me a little.

    No one but Bowie could have been number one…I made a friend a few days ago by bonding over him in The Labyrinth and its effect on our respective professed sexual orientations.

  21. Mer Says:

    Ah saw mah baybeh. Cryin’ hard as babe could krah. What could ah dooo.

  22. Damien Says:

    This talk of Blixa has brought to my mind a call for something not Visual.

    Can we have a go at the Top Ten Voices/Sounds?

    My initial Votes go to (and please keep in mind that this is off the top of my head and in no particular order): Blixa Bargeld, Nick Cave, Tom Waits, Beth Gibbons, Jarboe, Tori Amos (popularity does not preclude one from the list), Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, David Bowie, and Salif Keita.

    Also Brian Molko.

    Mmmm.

  23. Zoetica Says:

    Damien – a great idea. I have a feeling voices will be much harder to pick from than even these gentlemen were!

  24. Ben Morris Says:

    Damien: cool idea. I second Beth Gibbons, Nick Cave, and Bowie. I would also name Captain Beefheart, Mike Patton (from Mr Bungle), Dagmar Krause (from the Art Bears and Henry Cow) and especially Nils Frykdahl (from Sleepytime Gorilla Museum, Idiot Flesh, and Faun Fables).

  25. McQueen Says:

    mmm. Adrien Brody.

    Wow. Its a relief to know that I wasn’t the only one who *liked* Darkness.

    I have one! Peter Stormare from Fargo. CALIENTE.

  26. Red Scharlach Says:

    Oh dear, voices. Far more difficult, yes. I’d say Blixa Bargeld, Saul Williams, Jarboe (Maybe Michael Gira), Björk, David Tibet, Diamanda Galás, Nick Drake, Nick Cave, Tom Waits and David Sylvian. I’d add Trent Reznor, Josh Homme, Billy Corgan and Maynard James Keanan, but I’d fear like I sound biased.

  27. Mer Says:

    Oh, wow. You know, it was difficult enough to pitch in on this fluffy alt-heartthrob post. You couldn’t pay me to quantify my favorite vocalists. Way too heavy, way too personal. Although I am pleased to see Nils, Jarboe, Diamanda, Don Van Vliet and Dagmar Krause mentioned in that context.
    Has anyone here ever heard of Ghedalia Tazartes? Experimental vocalist and sound-collage artist from the 70s. Dawn (another otherworldly singer) and the aforementioned Nils played Diasporas Tazartes for me in the truck on the way back from a rehearsal recently. I was awestruck.

  28. Stephanie Says:

    I LOVE this list!! wow, some of these men I would have never considered, but now that you ladies mention it….I get that tingly feeling as well. Although, I think Kit walks the line like Meyers does. He’s really beautiful. He doesn’t look sinister, alien, or reptilian. But I don’t know how psychotic he might be…: )

  29. Ben Morris Says:

    Mer: I have indeed heard of Ghedalia Tazartes. I have not heard Diasporas Tazartes but have heard Tazartes Transports and its an out-fucking-standing album. I have always intended on checking out his other work but just never have (so much music, so little time (and money) is my only excuse I guess).

  30. Tanya Says:

    I’ve just returned from having seen “The Darjeeling Limited” and was delighted to see Adrian Brody on this list, nestled among other notables.

    I’m very disappointed that Marty Feldman isn’t on this list, though. I mean LOOK at him!

  31. Iconoclastic Says:

    I was scrolling and hoping, scrolling and hoping to see Freddie Mercury. My heart skipped a beat when I saw David Bowie, thinking that I would finally see Mercury’s face next. Alas! But I could make do with Adrien Brody, Christopher Walken and Willem Dafoe. Swoon.

  32. Mer Says:

    Iconoclastic, our beautiful, beloved Freddie is pure beefcake. Just not quite “extreme” looking enough, I don’t think.

    Then, waaay over on the other end of the spectrum, there’s Marty Feldman.

    Tanya. Holy shitballs. That fella looks like Morla the Ancient One. O_o

  33. el Says:

    Mer and Ben: your talk of Ghedalia Tazartes made me curious, so i did a bit of searching and managed to find this; http://blogfiles.wfmu.org/KF/babble/19_Ghedalia_Tazartes_-_Reviens.MP3.
    Is this a good example of Tazartes’s sound? That loop is pretty trance inducing.

    I’ll also chime in on the voices list with Sainkho Namchylak. Anyone familiar?

  34. SteelApathy Says:

    I’m just feeling quite disturbed at how much Crispin Glover looks like my brother in one of those pictures :S

  35. Alysa Says:

    I am so bookmarking this.

    And lo, that first shot of Jonny Rhys Meyers has been my laptop wallpaper for over 7 years now. It’s too bad that as he’s aging, he’s starting to seek out masculine action hero roles. I mean, he still looks damn good, like sex on legs, but not as otherwordly and special an androgynous as before. *le sigh*

  36. Zagzagael Says:

    An inspiring and noteworthy post. Thanks for sharing these astounding images and the motivation behind finding these particular men to be preternaturally beautiful. They are, they are. However, both common sense and the fact that Baskin-Robbins has a motto, lead one to consider that this list is limited by your own lustful heart and gaze. Your individual taste is amazingly well recognized by your choices. Although I, a fellow admirer of the Unusual Male Creature, find these men to be stunning I don’t, for the most part, find myself drawn to eyeballs the way you seem to be. Noses, yes, all that white in the eye, no. Knife-edged lips, yes, yes, wide-set eyes, no.

    But, as I said, your list is astonishing and I am totally grateful for you sharing it. I am surprised at the inclusion of Cave over Bargeld, as Bargeld seems far more “type” than Cave in your personal ‘ology – the eyes, the nose, the lips. Blixa is a study in haught. Cave is, to me, the most beautiful man on Earth at the moment, but Blixa is supremely beautiful in the way that Kinski is, in that they resemble one another.

    Again, thank you.

  37. joshua Says:

    wow. how is it that this post has inspired more comments than anything else on coilhouse….?

  38. Mer Says:

    Hee hee. Joshua is not pleased.

    Thanks, Zaga. Yes yes, it’s all very highly subjective! So we heartily encourage all of you to post images of your own feral beauties of choice. Especially Marty Feldman. Aaooww. Bowm chicka bwom bwom.

    As mentioned earlier, it was Blixa vs Klaus, and Blixa vs Nick. Klaus won out because he’s a bit of an underdog. Cave won for resembling a gangly, prospector-eyed, lollipop-headed frog/wolf and because he gets the most underpants flung at him (onstage AND off I have actually seen this phenomenon for myself), of anyone else we seriously considered. Well, besides Bowie.

    El, that’s a great clip of Ghedalia, but he’s really far more versatile. I recommend picking up a copy of Diasporas Tazartes, which I believe us a compilation of various albums. It will not disappoint.

  39. D Says:

    Majakovskij, a young Marlon Brando is what I’d expected, for some reason. Fun post.

    Really, Brody and Curry? One has about 500 quirky french actors with about the same looks and more personality and the other looks like Tony Blair. Sorry, hard to buy.

    The last three have regular model faces, no? That said, only them and hr Kinski would be on my list, hehe.

  40. Molly Crabapple Says:

    Where oh where is Jude Law?

  41. Tanya Says:

    As an addendum, I’d like to mention that Marty Feldman (may he rest in peace, that brilliant bug eyed little madman) also used to get all the ladies.

    Jude Law is beautiful but I think the commonly uniting factor among all the men mentioned here is, if you saw them lurking in a dark alley in the middle of the night, you’d probably run screaming from their ominous presence. If you saw Jude Law lurking, you’d probably run screaming towards him.

  42. Mer Says:

    The last three have regular model faces, no?

    No.

    Erm… yeah, pretty much.

    Neeyoooo?

    *ponder*

    MARTY FELDMAN FTW!!!

  43. Ben Morris Says:

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=dBN4Lp-1ToE

    First four minutes of the Woyzeck, one of the five Herzog films starring Kinski (who shows up 1:30 into the clip). This film and Aguirre are probably my favorite Kinski roles.

    Fans of atonal music should also check out the excellent Alban Berg opera Wozzeck, which is based on the same Buchner play as this film.

  44. Mer Says:

    And Ben gets another MVP of the day award for mentioning a Schoenberg acolyte and lesser-known-but-totally-amazing Herzog flick in the same post! Wheee!

  45. D Says:

    Hehe, thanks Mer, lovely Nick Cave image. Re-read my comment and it came across very serious.

    Tanya – even I would probably run screaming towards Jude Law, good point =)

  46. Sue Bamford Says:

    wonderful, wonderful list! I’ll add another vote for Udo Kier though. I’ll sit through the awfulness of Revelation for that man, and Shadow of a Vampire is transcendant. If we move away from ‘preternaturally beautiful’ to ‘so damn odd they’re gorgeous’ I’ll put in my tuppence worth for Ron Perlman…what can I say, a man who doesn’t need prosthetics to play a neanderthal, and another on the list of ‘hotter than hot if you paint ’em red and give ’em horns’

  47. Mer Says:

    Ron Perlman! How could we leave him out?! The City of Lost Children is one of my favorite love stories of all time! He’s like Tom Waits on steroids! Waah!

  48. Fogus Says:

    I feel that Iggy Pop belongs…
    -m

  49. Ginny Guzman Says:

    Oh please, a featurette on klaus nomi!!

    Please!

  50. Mer Says:

    @ Ginny Rest assured, I’m workin’ on it. Love him.

    Fogus. You’re damn right. That “Nico gave me the clap” story alone earns him an Honorable Mention.

  51. el Says:

    Ben; listening to Wozzeck now and reading the libretto. Thanks for the heads up.

  52. Ben Morris Says:

    el: If you enjoy that you should definitely explore the rest of Berg’s music, my favorite is probably the Lyric Suite (the Kronos Quartet performs the best recording of it I have heard).

  53. strange but good looking men « redundant static Says:

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  54. Heather Says:

    I submit Mos Def (visual aid: http://www.evilmonito.com/008/cordner/MosDef.jpg-.jpg educational aid: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mos_Def )

    Mouth, cheekbones, strange and marvelous

  55. Laurel Says:

    What a great post. All of these men are so unconventional and so unique… and a lot of them my favorite!

    Nick Cave And David Bowie? You rock my world.

    These men were born to make an impact

  56. Elizabeth Says:

    David Bowie is my idol :] Thanks for posting him on this list.
    & that Johnathon Rhys Meyers..my oh my. I’d like a piece of that.

  57. Natasja Says:

    OMG! amazing. are you going to do this with Females also??
    xxx

  58. Nadya Says:

    @ Natasja: We actually recently had a little post along the same lines about the ladies, though it focused more on fashion models. It was called “Alien Beauty,” and here it is:

    http://coilhouse.net/2007/11/22/coilhouses-top-7-icons-of-alien-beauty/

  59. Mer Says:

    Heather! Waaah! Mos Def! Love him!

  60. Nadya Says:

    I second that. Mos Def is my favorite rapper! Except maybe for Kool Keith.

    Mos Def is a good actor, too!

  61. Cessi Says:

    I wholeheartedly agree with the whole list :) Thanks for a great post!

  62. dan mcenroe Says:

    Walken grew up in Astoria, Queens, where I live now. The woman who first taught him to dance runs my daughter’s dance school, and she has pictures of a shy, awkward and somewhat dorky 15 year old Christopher Walken up on the wall. I’ll see if she’ll let me scan one and send it along.

  63. Zoetica Says:

    Dan M, we would absolutely love that – I hope she agrees!

  64. Brad... Says:

    Mick. Jagger.

  65. Mer Says:

    Oh. Dear.

  66. Io Says:

    Good God!!! Walken was fucking sexy!!! Right with you on the others…and Bowie oh…quiver.

    Kit is indeed phenomenally hot, too.

  67. tDIYm Says:

    Adrien Brody.

  68. Clementine Says:

    For a while now, I’ve been reading Coilhouse online, I’ve read so many articles I’ve enjoyed, but none so much as this, and I entirely agree with the list all with the exception of Crispin Glover.

    My only grumble is …where’s Steve Buscemi?!

  69. myth Says:

    Thirding Ron Perlman!

    Also I’m in complete shock that I’m the first person to say John Malkovich. And personally, I’ve always said that Thom Yorke is the hottest ugly little man alive. ;)

    Other than those personal additions, great list. Bonus points for Curry and Cave.

  70. fortheloveofthestars Says:

    You should have an “up and comers” list. Like people have that other worldly kind of hotness but not yet that iconic stature. I’d definitely like to see Elijah Wood, Marc Warren, Doug Jones, Christopher Judge (oh god the beauty) and get introduced to a few I don’t know!

    Also, agreeing with a few above about Ron Perlman. God that man is beautiful.

    Great list over all!

  71. Molly Says:

    no Guy Pearce :(

  72. amanda's autopsies Says:

    Oh god, someone else has the same taste as me! Thank god! Only I would have had to add Ron Pearlman and Tom Waits, who are pretty much one and the same anyway ^_^

  73. may Says:

    yes! these are all of my favorites! so dead on. such striking features and and talented minds. thank you!
    another of my favorites would be Peter Cushing he aged so well!

  74. Marika Says:

    Bowie, Cave, Meyers, Brody, okay. Your taste is good, but I have to agree with Red Scharlach; opinion is opinion, but in Blixa’s case… This list can’t be true without him.

  75. The Ugly Crush. | Smaggle Style Says:

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  76. Morwyn Says:

    Oh, God. Yes, yes, yes. Darkness is responsible for certain fantasies about being kidnapped by some Villain and being held “against my will”… ha!

    Great list. Off to fantasize…

  77. Rafaella Says:

    Oh heavens, I was hoping see Gary Oldman on this list (WEASEL!! Hahahaha, epic!!). I love the Crispin Glover and Christopher Walken faces, so strangely beautiful. But, but, where’s Mr. Oldman?

    D:

  78. kai Says:

    It’s like I wrote that list! I knew I loved this site….. I agree with all- but probably would’ve chosen Perry Farrell over Klaus Kinski. I watched “The Gift” a lot in high school.

    My boyfriend does a spot-on Werner Herzog impersonation. He uses it to narrate the lives of our cats. it’s pretty much the funniest thing ever.

  79. alisgray Says:

    Where is our Rutger Hauer? Surely he belongs in this list too.

  80. Spotka Says:

    And where’s Peter Murphy? :P

  81. Miessa Says:

    I heart Steve Buscemi :D
    Miss him on this list, still loved it though, you’re dead on! ;)

  82. Lordsdotter Says:

    No Freddie Mercury :'(

    I like the top 5, the rest I’m not so sure of (apart from Christopher Walken which I thought deserved to be higher that many <333 :P
    Don’t understand why he is on this list.
    He is just as desirable as Johnny Depp and Julian Sands *aaaargh!* :P )

    That is just my personal opinion tho :P!

    Love the list! <333
    Love this site! <333

  83. Winominx Says:

    Ah, I love almost evey man on that list. Adrien is statuesque, just GORGEOUS. Don’t even get me started on Walken and Curry. Tim. is. fab.

  84. caroline Says:

    in reference to the grinderman link, nick cave is one of the few who actually looks less strange with long greasy hair and a moustache

  85. caroline Says:

    this is a great article – love it – rhys meyers is too classically good-looking to be on this list. now that he’s aged he looks pretty typical and boring (even when he was younger the long hair & make-up made up a lot of the mystique i think) – buscemi? maybe too goofy but i can’t think of anyone else at the moment

    wonderful post – will keep it bookmarked – great links!

  86. Gazette Angeliska › Hot Pursuits Says:

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  87. Kieran L Says:

    Great list, but I must say that Jonny Greenwood should most definitely been included. Perhaps instead of Adrien Brody. If not Jonny, then Colin Greenwood or Thom Yorke. Just one of the alien characters that make up Radiohead. Some might call them the world’s ugliest band, but here at Coilhouse I’m sure you’d call that sort of thing prenatural beauty.

    JONNY GREENWOOD!!!!! The only man I’m attracted to.

  88. Domino Says:

    I remember reading this weird article in Rolling Stone where Miles Davis got the young female reporter to massage his feet. It made an indelible impression when she described his cracked heels and horny toenails.

  89. meardearna Says:

    What a great list! It brings back childhood memories and my heart melts all over again!

    I’m up for a vocal list too! For which, I submit Sakurai Atsushi singer of Buck-Tick, owner of the most sensual and powerful voice I’ve ever had the pleasure of putting my eyes to.

    Personally, I think he should be on this list also ;P

  90. sandra Says:

    Why is Udo Kier not on this list? Fabulous selection otherwise! <3 <3 <3 Nick Cave, David Bowie, Chris Walken, Tim Curry and Crispin Glover!

  91. MissSpite Says:

    Even though Adrian had the dark-haired fabulous nose thing sewed up, I think Rupert Everett deserves honorable mention. Also, Christopher Eccleston would have been fabulous for your list.

  92. Julia Says:

    Man, I love this list. I’ve always been called weird over my taste in men (of which you have listed almost every single one), or accused of “trying to be purposefully different” because I didn’t fancy Brad Pitt and his yucky bland hamster face. Thank you!

  93. Slackety Pants Says:

    Aw Jesuz. JRM and Curry give me stomach aches. ‘Specially JRM, I admit it. He’s got a lovely Malcom McDowell-ish thing going.

  94. annon Says:

    tom waits???

  95. Mer Says:

    We’re more crestfallen at forgetting Ron Perlman than Tom Waits… same diff, basically, only one of them has about five times the muscle mass. :)

    Tom Waits is preternaturally beautiful on the inside.

  96. and falling Says:

    you missed Pierre Clementi

  97. Jenny Says:

    Great list. I think Steve Buscemi is the most glaring omission (I’d leave off Rhys Myers).

    Top 20?

  98. LeRuth Says:

    I agree, where is Steve Buscemi?!

  99. Halloween Jack Says:

    I’d nominate Dolph Lundgren; he’s got this Thor-meets-Frankenstein thing going on.

  100. Katie Says:

    And oh gosh, what about Jason Flemyng? So creepy, so sexy.

  101. John Chamberlain Says:

    also marc bolan methinks:-)

  102. B Nilsson Says:

    Blixa Bargeld.

  103. wiicita Says:

    Yeah, Blixa should be there :D But that list is quite good anyway.

  104. Jimsin Says:

    I’m afraid the list is definitely incomplete without Peter Murphy.

  105. gggggg Says:

    lol people are still commenting about blixa. but he is legitimately beautiful, not ~preternatural~ which has apparently become synonymous with “reptilian”.

    this list should be called “top ten fugly weirdos who have somehow gained a reputation for being ‘unconventionally attractive'”.

  106. Eileen Says:

    Rowland S. Howard (from The Birthday Party) should be included here! Everyone should watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyfUFMrIKnE (it’s of his lovely band These Immortal Souls). Enjoy!

  107. Eileen Says:

    And, I also urge everyone to look at this picture of Rowland S. Howard with Lydia lunch: http://www.last.fm/music/Lydia%2BLunch%2B%2526%2BRowland%2BS.%2BHoward/+images/10784069 !! I don’t know what it is about this man!!

    Also should we also include David Tennant to this list??. Not only does he look alienesque, but he is from Gallifrey afterall!

    Also what about Patrick Malahide (from The Singing Detective) or Mackenzie Crook (from The Office)??

  108. T.S. Says:

    Hell yes, I so totally agree with this list from top to bottom!!!!!!!!!!!

  109. Asher Says:

    Nice list. Rutger Hauer, Malcolm Macdowell, Peter Murphy and possibly Davey Havok would’ve made mine.

    I have a preternaturally beautiful man of my very own right now. He is tall, wiry and skinny, and has cartoonishly defined cheekbones, an exaggeratedly triangular chin and jaw, icey blue eyes, one sometimes droopy eyelid, a very Swedish snub nose, and a sweet feminine mouth prone to an archaic smile. He shaves his head, and part of the stubble on it is prematurely white (he is 25). He is ageless, genderless, slightly alien, and gorgeous. And did I mention he has the world’s cutest ass. Definitely bizarre, unconventional hotness.

  110. Evv Says:

    All is nice and preternatureal, but where is Alan Rickman?!

  111. Evv Says:

    Or Charles Baudelaire, for that matter?

  112. Teri's Digs - the cat piano Says:

    […] by the one, the only, the lovely, Nick […]

  113. kate Says:

    all of those men frighten me. creepy is DEFINITELY the new hot.

  114. Dave C Says:

    The young Peter Murphy, anyone?

  115. Disposable Darling » Blog Archive » The Badlands Says:

    […] out Coilhouse’s post on the Top 10 Most Preternaturally Beautiful Men. I agree with some of these. I still can’t see Tim Curry as very seductive, hehe, maybe in […]

  116. Rabbit Says:

    Mmmm… Miles Davis.

    Oh yeah.

    (I might have included Edward James Olmos though… particularly in Zoot Suit. El Pachuco is all that has ever been hot and feral.)

  117. Stephanie Says:

    beautiful collection.

  118. hans Says:

    This is the first time I’ve ever seen acknowledgment and /or discussion of a peculiar phenomenon I’ve seen all my adult life : men who by many accounts could ALMOST be regarded as ‘good looking’ or ‘handsome’ but oddly and paradoxically seemed somehow misshapen, slightly monstrous or creepy, with one or more exaggerated features, such as a protruding brow, eyebrows forehead or huge lips or ears. Typically one features is out of proportion and so the symmetry is askew. They’re ALMOST really good looking, but…. at the same time, sort of, well…… malformed and scary, too

  119. Polina Says:

    damn , you guys just seem to get it pretty damn spot on! Christopher Walken , Adrien Brody and Nick Cave , thats taste

  120. sunny bernard Says:

    I can’t believe it! I’ve had a crush on Christopher Walken since I was 15 years old! He’s strangely weird looking which adds to his allure. Hmmm..ummm Hmmm! At least I’m not the only one who thinks he’s a WOWie!

  121. Hestia Says:

    Just in case you didn’t know, our beloved Nick Cave has a son who is a high fashion model:
    http://blacklognz.blogspot.com/2009/05/thats-jethro-not-nick.html
    http://planeejane.blogspot.com/2009/01/mind-process.html
    http://sixsixsick.blogspot.com/2009/01/why-fight-it.html

  122. Jill Says:

    this makes me sooo freaking happy.

  123. Ian Ridley Says:

    Ooooh, yes. This list is lovely. Sad not see the inimitable Jeffrey Combs mentioned, though.

  124. Jack Says:

    Oh my god Willem Dafoe. I am head over heels in love with his calves.

  125. Tracy Says:

    What, NO Rutger Hauer, am I the only one on this train. Malcolm McDowell?

  126. mylène Says:

    I absolutely agree from 10 to 1… Thank you!!!!

  127. The One Where I Like The Ugly Ones « Alack! Cerebrophiliac! Says:

    […] primarily to women. If you’re looking for more examples of sexy-ugly, try Coilhouse’s Top Ten Most Preternaturally Beautiful Men and Verve’s Twenty Sexiest Ugly People. Once you’ve finished that, you’re […]

  128. nephilim Says:

    UGH. GOD I LOVE THIS POST. SO SO SOOO MUCH. Everyone tells me I’m attracted to rather odd looking men. Ordinary simply won’t cut it for me. David Bowie is THE SEX. Even now that he’s older…i reckon he’s actually sexier than ever. And Adrian Brody. OMG. I just don’t have enough words to describe what I feel. I just adore gaunt, lanky men. That’s how my boyfriend won me over XD I also find the older Clint Eastwood highly attractive, as well as the Kevin Bacon of now.

  129. RiverVox Says:

    I second the motion for Rutger Hauer. Also I would remove Glover and add Joaquin Phoenix. He has that almost ugly beauty with some kind of cruelty lurking.

    I’m wondering if there are similarities between these faces that we pick up on. Large eyes? “Feminine” lips? Is it the symmetry or lack thereof? And do they photograph/film better? If you saw them on the bus, what would you think?

  130. Meredith Yayanos Says:

    Heh, I love that many, MANY moons later, this post still occasionally gets sent around and giggled over. :) And I love hearing other people’s alternates! Personally, I don’t find Hauer “fugly” enough, not even close! And Phoenix just doesn’t send me one bit. It’s all so, sooo very subjective.

    There are def many similarities between several the faces above. Big glassy eyes, jutting bone structure, rubbery lips, a lizard-ish/simian quality to many of them. If we were to do a second round (doubtful), I think we’d definitely pick some folks with more varied attributes to widen the scope a bit. Some of mine, off the top of my head: Ron Perlman, Donald Sutherland, Snoop Dogg, James Coburn and Lee Van Cleef AND (of course) Clint Eastwood, John Hawkes, William Finley, Danny Trejo, Alan Rickman… mmm. So many oddly beautiful blokes to choose from.

  131. 30 Day Film Challenge – Day 9 « Peppered Thought – The Spice of Life Says:

    […] Brody is one of those preternaturally beautiful men that I just get drawn to for some reason. I loved the way he played his character in […]

  132. VPrime Says:

    I fully agree with #s1-3. Rutger Hauer would make my list absolutely. Same for Rufus Sewell for his huge, cold eyes. It’s all about the devouring gaze!

  133. livvie Says:

    udo goddamned kier!

  134. Dee Says:

    You forgot JOAQUIN PHOENIX!!!!!

  135. Kristian Says:

    Glad to see you got the order correct. Which is basically David Bowie, and then everybody else in some order after him ;)

  136. YA RLY! Says:

    I think the majority of this list is en pointe. Am I the only one that has a lifelong “thing” for John Hurt though?

    I am?

    Alrighty then…

  137. Nyx Says:

    LOVE this list.. and agree that there could be no better No.1 than Bowie.. but I too miss Udo Kier. He is oddly cold and the blue eyes are alarming.. but he is, perhaps, too classically handsome for the list? Darkness.. oh dear.. yes, I was at the “right age” to plunder the deliriously rich fantasy life conjured by both Legend and Labyrinth. Just yum yum yum.

  138. Nyx Says:

    Not sure this will post – a classic young Udo:

    http://www.google.com/imgres?hl=en&sa=X&biw=1536&bih=706&tbm=isch&prmd=imvnso&tbnid=nDhp9UjU535bZM:&imgrefurl=http://www.fanpix.net/picture-gallery/udo-kier-picture-10448564.htm&docid=o0acKG3a136EyM&imgurl=http://img1.bdbphotos.com/images/orig/6/a/6aurb6etn0gia6r0.jpg&w=300&h=211&ei=I11PUOD7Fun20gGhlYGADg&zoom=1&iact=hc&dur=7226&sig=118087048791345486918&page=1&tbnh=149&tbnw=200&start=0&ndsp=25&ved=1t:429,r:23,s:0,i:213&tx=95&ty=119&vpx=1048&vpy=302&hovh=168&hovw=240

  139. Kelly Says:

    Possible update: Benedict Cumberbatch. He’s got one of those faces that if you stare at it, you start focusing on all the weirdness – alien eyes, too-wide cupid bow mouth, odd grin, freckly forehead. But, in motion and in certain poses, he’s otherworldly and beautiful.

    Great list, btw. This is clearly my type. Odd-looking!

  140. Rekoj Eht Says:

    great list. only one i don’t agree with is nick cave. cute(ish) but not preternaturally hot, IM(not-so)HO.

    and i have to agree with kelly, benedict cumberpatch would be a great addition to the list. he looks like a hybrid of a human, a cat and one of those little grey aliens!

  141. ClaireObscure Says:

    What about Gabriel Byrne?!?

  142. Meredith Yayanos Says:

    Ooo! Nice one. :)

  143. TheItsyBitsy Says:

    Clancy Brown.

    The voice, the hulking, the chin thrust… ever since Carnivàle I just can’t unsee it.

    Admittedly my first identifiably sexual feelings were toward Liam Neeson in Darkman so I *may* have a bit of a giant craggy Irish looking dude *thing* going on.

  144. N Says:

    Davey Havok and Viggo Mortensen. They cannot be missed in this.

  145. louise Says:

    I respectfully submit JOEY RAMONE to this list. Thank you.

  146. Arianne Says:

    Javier Bardem, Mads Mikkelsen, Benedict Cumberbatch, & Jamie Campbell Bower.

  147. Arianne Says:

    I forgot Lance Reddick. Who else could make Papa Legba in American Horror Story so revolting and utterly effable at the same time?