The top ten movie psychopaths

[Windthrop]

Richard Widmark - Kiss of Death
James Cagney - White Heat
Robert Mitchum - The Night of the Hunter
Joseph Cotten - Shadow of a Doubt
Dicky - 10 Rillington Place
Robert Walker - Strangers on a Train
Donald Sinden (remarkably cast against type) - Eyewitness
Karl Bohm - Peeping Tom
Laird Cregar - I Wake Up Screaming
Dicky - Brighton Rock

[Third Man]

3. Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs
Brilliant, urbane and totally insane, Dr Hannibal Lecter is a murderous gourmand who combines the twin pleasures of his life - killing and eating - with admirable efficiency. Hopkins is hypnotically evil and fascinatingly calculating.

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Actually Hannibal Lector is not a psychopath, he did study psychiatry. Harris in his novel Red Dragon states that Lector has no known psychological condition it is Frederick Chiltern the irascible keeper of Lector in the asylum that refers to him as a psychopath but even in the films he shows no signs of being anti-social one of the main traits of a psychopath, in fact he goes out of his way to be sociable.

Also no way is Mitchum's, Max Cady in 'Cape Fear' 1961 a psychopath, just a very nasty violent person with a bad attitude, De Niro's portaryal was a bit more psychopathic.

Simon

[batman]

Originally Posted by Third Man 3. Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs Brilliant, urbane and totally insane, Dr Hannibal Lecter is a murderous gourmand who combines the twin pleasures of his life - killing and eating - with admirable efficiency. Hopkins is hypnotically evil and fascinatingly calculating. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Actually Hannibal Lector is not a psychopath, he did study psychiatry. Harris in his novel Red Dragon states that Lector has no known psychological condition it is Frederick Chiltern the irascible keeper of Lector in the asylum that refers to him as a psychopath but even in the films he shows no signs of being anti-social one of the main traits of a psychopath, in fact he goes out of his way to be sociable. Simon

I think that killing and eating people is anti-social! Lecter presents in the film as a narcissistic psychopath and has no sense of human compassion or empathy for anyone else .... that's the whole point of his relationship with Starling, she is the only one he connects with. Many psychopaths give the appearance of being sociable and loving towards others, but underneath they feel nothing.

[lordtednfs]

So many excellent choices, but how about Malcolm MacDowell's character of Alex in A Clockwork Orange. Now that's one hell of a psycho.

Or how about Leatherface in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, now he's for real or one of my British favourites, Ray Winstone as Carlin in the excellent movie of borstal life, Scum?

__________________
Hooked off the line

[CaptainWaggett]

Javier Bardem in No country for old men. Terrifying.

[Third Man]

Originally Posted by batman I think that killing and eating people is anti-social!

That in it's most fundamental meaning would be cannibalism, Lector was a cannibal. Lector makes conscious decisions with thought and planning he has no mental disorder.

Originally Posted by batman Lecter presents in the film as a narcissistic psychopath and has no sense of human compassion or empathy for anyone else ...

That would make him more misanthropic not a psychopath. He definately did not like man kind in general, he felt rather let down by his fellow humans, in Starling he saw some sort of personal worthiness.


Simon

[batman]

Cannibalism within a society than doesn't practice it is in itself an anti-social act. The fact that he plans and then carries out these atrocities is convincing evidence of his psychopathy. If they were impulsive acts he could be possibly be psychotic, but that is a mental illness where as psychopathy is a behavioural disorder.

Lecter presents with a grandiose view of himself and displays no empathy or remorse for his victims. His acts are purely selfish. His contact with Starling brings the first hint of empathy with another human being .... he likes her and is interested in her, but as the stories progress it becomes obvious that he wishes to posses and control her, more psychopathic traits.

Definition of psychopathy by Dr Robert Hare.
'Psychopaths are social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations, and empty wallets. Completely lacking in conscience and in feelings for others, they selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret'.

Sounds like the boy Lecter to me.

[Third Man]

The definition of a psychopath according to the Oxford dictionary is ;

a person suffering from chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent social behaviour.

Now we know Thomas Harris stated in 'Red Dragon' that Lector has no mental disorder, just because he eats people and kills them does not make him such. There are lots of people who kill one another they would not be termed as psychopaths, the heads of our country have gone to war and made Iraq a very unsociable place does that make them psychopaths.

You say 'Cannibalism within a society than doesn't practice it is in itself an anti-social act.'

Sure but that goes for anything that is abnormal to a particular group, it has nothing to do with the mental state of those people. Cannibalism is still an accepted practice with some South American tribes and what about if survival was brought into the equation, it has been known you know.

I just think Lector saw himself as some sort of God-like figure, he shows non of the tendencies or mental facets of a psychopath.

Simon

[batman]

Your own quotes describe as a psychopath Lecter perfectly!

"I just think Lector saw himself as some sort of God-like figure"

This is a common fact with regard to people with narcissistic psychopathy.

"a person suffering from chronic mental disorder with abnormal or violent social behaviour"

Violently killing people in the way that Lecter does exhibits the symptoms of a person with a chronic mental disorder.

Dr Robert Hare is the world's most respected expert on psychopathy and he has said ...

"Individuals tend to be manipulative, arrogant, callous, impatient, unreliable, superficially charming and prone to fly into rages. They also break promises, take credit for the work of others and blame everyone else when things go wrong."

That sounds like a pretty good description of a few war-mongering Heads of State to me.

We will have to disagree, but as I have spent the last 11 years working in forensic psychiatry I think my case is pretty sound.

[lordtednfs]

Originally Posted by batman Definition of psychopathy by Dr Robert Hare. 'Psychopaths are social predators who charm, manipulate, and ruthlessly plow their way through life, leaving a broad trail of broken hearts, shattered expectations, and empty wallets. Completely lacking in conscience and in feelings for others, they selfishly take what they want and do as they please, violating social norms and expectations without the slightest sense of guilt or regret'.

A brilliant definition of one.

Look around you and see who fits the bill of this description.

__________________
Hooked off the line

[scholes]

Originally Posted by Third Man That in it's most fundamental meaning would be cannibalism, Lector was a cannibal. Lector makes conscious decisions with thought and planning he has no mental disorder. That would make him more misanthropic not a psychopath. He definately did not like man kind in general, he felt rather let down by his fellow humans, in Starling he saw some sort of personal worthiness. Simon

That is an interesting point of view, but one I can't agree with.
The point is that Lector was insane, and that puts him firmly in the category of psychopath.
How else would you explain the random chewing off a young nurse's jaw?
If that's not an anti-social disorder I don't know what is.
Whichever way you put it, it still demonstrates scant regard for human life.
There are many misanthropists that exist but they don't go around taking human life.
Besides which I think the general flavour of this thread is to sound off one's own personal "favourites" in terms of disturbing poeple either real or imagined.
The term "psychopath" has been used generically in this instance and as such it's literal description should not be subject to scrutiny.
Of course you are entitled to your opinion.

[Third Man]

Originally Posted by batman Your own quotes describe as a psychopath Lecter perfectly! We will have to disagree, but as I have spent the last 11 years working in forensic psychiatry I think my case is pretty sound.

Yes definately disagree, and your case is as sound as your own psychology.

Simon

[batman]

Originally Posted by Third Man Yes definately disagree, and your case is as sound as your own psychology. Simon

I wish I could say the same for yours.

[batman]

Originally Posted by scholes The term "psychopath" has been used generically in this instance and as such it's literal description should not be subject to scrutiny. Of course you are entitled to your opinion.

Of all the characters, and a couple of real ones thrown in by me, named in this thread only one really annoys me ... Jack Nicholson in The Shining. That guy is suffering from an acute psychotic episode and doesn't strike me as being a psychopath.

[scholes]

Originally Posted by batman Of all the characters, and a couple of real ones thrown in by me, named in this thread only one really annoys me ... Jack Nicholson in The Shining. That guy is suffering from an acute psychotic episode and doesn't strike me as being a psychopath.

I would agree, which is why we didn't include him Bats.
Anyway I enjoyed the North versus South debate.