50 Infuriating Horror Movie Characters We All Secretly Wanted To Die

38. The Silence Of The Lambs - Dr. Frederick Chilton

Wendy Prom Night
Orion Pictures

This absolute classic of horror cinema concludes with one of the most legendary closing lines of them all, spoken by Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins): "I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner."

Some audience members might've discreetly punched the air when it turned out that that "old friend" was none other than Dr. Frederick Chilton (Anthony Heald), the director of the sanitorium where Lecter was formerly imprisoned before his legendary escape.

This guy is a pompous slimeball from the moment he first appears on-screen. Whether he's mistreating his patients or clumsily trying to flirt with Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), he is a head-bangingly tiresome guy, and it's clear that none of the other characters can stand him, least of all Lecter himself. 

Speaking of which, Chilton regards Lecter as his most prized possession but also arrogantly underestimates him, believing that he's so much smarter than Lecter. He was proven fatally wrong in the end, although that wasn't the last time viewers had to endure this git. He returned in 2002's prequel Red Dragon, where he proved as annoying as ever. 

 
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Film Studies graduate, aspiring screenwriter and all-around nerd who, despite being a pretentious cinephile who loves art-house movies, also loves modern blockbusters and would rather watch superhero movies than classic Hollywood films. Once met Tommy Wiseau.