MOST CHILLING ON-SCREEN CHARACTER REVEALED

Dr Hannibal Lecter voted most frightening by film & TV fans

The terrifying genius Dr Hannibal Lecter from the iconic American thriller The Silence of the Lambs has been voted the most chilling on-screen character.

In a poll of over 2,000 film fans carried out by Amazon's film and TV steaming service LOVEFiLM, the articulate sociopath from one of the most critically acclaimed horror films of all time crept into the number one spot with a huge 25 per cent of the vote.

A doctor so deadly he's kept under the strictest surveillance by the prison that holds him, Lecter spends just 16 minutes on screen in The Silence of the Lambs, but even this brief turn was enough to kill off competition including Leatherface and Pinhead to take the top spot in the list.

In second place is vengeful spirit Freddy Krueger, central character in the A Nightmare on Elm Street film series and the stuff of nightmares for children all over the world. Created by Wes Craven and characterised by a clawed hand, Freddy frightened viewers sufficiently to claim an impressive 12 per cent of the vote.

Following closely behind in third place with nine per cent of the vote is Chucky, the dangerous (and foul-mouthed) doll from Child's Play. Another pint-sized protagonist appears in fourth place, as the deadly Damien from The Omen claimed seven per cent of the vote.

Here's Johnny! Film fans placed Jack Torrance, star of The Shining in fifth place, with six per cent. A writer desperately trying to put his troubles behind him, Jack is sent mad by the isolated Overlook Hotel and embarks on a murderous rampage.

In sixth place is a young man with some serious mummy issues. Norman Bates from Alfred Hitchcock's iconic horror film Psycho terrified film fans to claim five per cent of the vote. Meanwhile, slashing his way into seventh place with four per cent is Michael Myers from the classic Halloween film franchise.

In eighth place with three per cent of the vote is Jigsaw, from the gory Saw films. A mysterious figure, Jigsaw kidnaps people he sees as wasting their lives and makes it his business to save them.

Finishing the list in ninth and tenth place with two and one per cent of the votes respectively are two of the most two visually petrifying villains in the list. Leatherface of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre fame, and Pinhead, star of Hellraiser both got viewers' adrenaline going to make it into the top ten.

The top 10 most chilling on-screen characters are:

1.) Dr. Hannibal Lecter - 25 per cent

2.) Freddy Krueger - 12 per cent

3.) Chucky - 9 per cent

4.) Damien - 7 per cent

5.) Jack Torrance - 6 per cent

6.) Normal Bates - 5 per cent

7.) Michael Myers - 4 per cent

8.) Jigsaw - 3 per cent

9.) Leatherface - 2 per cent

10.) Pinhead - 1 per cent

Other - 26 per cent

Fliss Hickson, Head of Brand Marketing at LOVEFiLM, said:

We all love a good scare, and there's something about the calm demeanour and intelligence of Dr Hannibal Lecter that instantly brings a shiver to the spine. The combination of his brilliant brain, murderous appetite and terrifying mind games means this doctor truly is the stuff of nightmares.

For all those keen for a fright this Halloween, LOVEFiLM has a huge range of horrifying films and TV series to keep you hiding behind the sofa as the witching hour chimes!

LINK:	http://corporate.blog.lovefilm.com/a-press-releases/most-chilling-on-s...
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