Among any list of the great thrillers of all time, The Silence of the Lambs is inevitably included close to the top. It is an intense, chilling and exciting serial killer story featuring some of Hollywood's most iconic cinematic characters.
Of course, the most effective aspect of the movie is the relationship between Clarice Starling and Hannibal Lecter. Seeing two highly intelligent characters face off with each other is fascinating. In fact, the battle of intelligence is a big part of this movie, not only with the two protagonists but also with the other main characters. But who is most intelligent of all?
Frederick Chilton
Chilton may be the only character on this list who could be considered unintelligent. That seems fitting since he is also the character who is most determined to be perceived as intelligent. As the warden of the institution Hannibal is being kept in, Chilton likes to flaunt his perceived superiority to the inmates, especially Hannibal.
Not only is Chilton not nearly as clever as he likes to pretend that he is, but he also doesn't seem to understand the danger in making an enemy out of a homicidal genius. With the ending showing an escaped Hannibal stalking Chilton, it appears that will be a lesson Chilton learns the hard way.
Senator Ruth Martin
When Catherine Martin is abducted by the serial killer known as Buffalo Bill, Catherine's mother, Senator Ruth Martin goes on television to plead for her daughter's life. As the FBI trainees note, she makes the very intelligent choice to repeat Catherine's name over and over so her captor will start to see her as a human being and therefore be harder to kill.
As smart as that was, it doesn't work on Buffalo Bill, and Senator Martin's next gamble is not as clever. She makes a deal to move Hannibal to a new location in exchange for Buffalo Bill's real name. Trusting someone like Hannibal is unwise and it leads to his escape. But considering the circumstances, it's hard to blame Senator Martin for trying.
Buffalo Bill
Jame Gumb is the real name of the man who becomes known as Buffalo Bill due to his gruesome murders. With five victims already claimed, Gumb has shown he is intelligent enough to elude the authorities for this long. But he is not the criminal genius that Hannibal is.
Gumb has a sadistic intelligence that allows him to prey upon his victims, such as appealing to Catherine's kind nature. However, he is also shown to be careless with his crimes, which makes it feel like it is only a matter of time before he slips up and gets himself caught.
Barney
Barney is the main orderly working at Chilton's institution. Though he does not have a large role in the movie, his limited screen time shows him to be someone who understands the danger his job entails and operates in a way that keeps himself and others safe.
When Clarice first comes to see Hannibal, Barney is a kind and calm presence, letting her know that this is a serious situation that she is stepping into yet making her feel that she is in good hands. When it comes to Hannibal himself, Barney is smart enough to show him as much respect as he can. When Chilton is mocking Hannibal, it is apparent from the look on Barney's face that he knows this is not a good idea.
Jack Crawford
Jack Crawford is the high-ranking FBI agent overseeing the Buffalo Bill investigation and he becomes Clarice's mentor. Crawford is a fairly competent lawman, going about the investigation in a reasonable and practical way. But he also makes some clumsy mistakes, like his fake deal with Hannibal that backfires, as well as accidentally sending Clarice to Buffalo Bill's house which almost gets her killed.
However, Crawford's smartest decision was to bring Clarice into this investigation. He sees her as a trainee with potential and correctly assumes Hannibal will be more open to talking to her. He also helps guide her, encouraging her skills as an agent and giving her advice.
Catherine Martin
When Catherine is first introduced, she is lured into a van by Buffalo Bill who then abducts her. It might be easy for some to dismiss her as a helpless victim at that point, but few people would consider the danger in helping someone in the way Catherine did.
Once she is captured by Buffalo Bill, Catherine is appropriately terrified, but she keeps a level head enough to make some very smart decisions. After her attempts to bribe her captor with money fail, Catherine makes a plan to lure his beloved dog into the pit with her and uses it as a bargaining chip. While it is a gutsy move, it is also a wise decision given the dangerous situation she finds herself in.
Clarice Starling
Clarice Starling has become one of the most iconic cinematic heroes of all time, and for good reason. She is presented as a realistic hero, someone who has insecurities and fear, yet can overcome them in desperate moments. She is also someone who is very good at her job, even in the face of intimidating antagonists.
Despite being an agent in training, Clarice has a natural talent for investigation, seeing things the more seasoned agents overlooked. When going toe to toe with Hannibal, she is intimidated but also knows how to play into his ego to get what she needs from him.
Hannibal Lecter
Hannibal Lecter is one of the most effective movie villains of all time and a large part of the reason why he is so unsettling is because of his intelligence. Even though he spends most of the movie in a cell or confined in some elaborate way, he always feels like he is in control of every situation he is in.
As soon as Clarice comes to see him, he solves the crime she is wondering about. He only withholds the information so that he can toy with her. He is able to read people with eerie clarity. And when it comes to his bloody escape from prison, Hannibal shows that he is capable of twisted and brilliant strategizing.