I'm surprised Warden Norton doesn't appear on more Best Movie Villain lists. He's just as evil as Darth Vader, The Joker, and Hannibal Lecter IMO. Unlike Vader, Joker, or Lecter, who often have more overt and flamboyant displays of villainy, Norton's evil is more insidious and grounded in a harsh reality that's terrifying in its own right.
It’s a pity that he committed that at the end of the movie. I feel like he got off too easy.
Maybe I’m just being obtuse?