12 Fearsome Movie Villains Who Didn't Actually Kill Anyone

In terms of out and out villainy, they don't come any more evil than Warden Norton from The Shawshank Redemption. From his very first speech to the new batch of prisoners at Shawshank State Penitentiary, it is evident that the Warden isn't a nice guy. 'Put your faith in the lord, your ass belongs to me,' is not exactly the warm welcome you'd be hoping for.

The hard nosed persona seems partly understandable to begin with, especially with the setting of a 1960's prison containing a stack of hardened crims. Any potential sympathy or ability to at least accept Norton as a man going about his job, is blown away by his shocking actions in the film's second act.

The warden and Andy Dufresne, the film's protagonist, make a deal of sorts that sees the prisoner undertake some shady bookkeeping tactics for Norton, with Andy receiving the odd favour in return. However this all changes when young buck Tommy Williams arrives at Shawshank and reveals that he knows of Andy's innocence.

This is where the true awfulness of Norton's character comes to the fore, organising for young Tommy to be 'disposed' of by the captain of the guards. When Andy protests further, the Warden simply moves him to solitary confinement...for two months.

Norton may get his deserved comeuppance when Andy breaks out and reveals the Warden's tax dodging to the authorities, but it doesn't take away from the magnitude of evil he imprints on the film.