Red October: So, Ramius... Hero or Villain?

Okay horror peeps, lemme throw a curveball. I know, The Hunt for Red October isn't technically horror. But that tension, the suspense, the feeling that EVERYTHING could go wrong at any second? That's got serious thriller vibes, right? Plus, it's got Sean Connery being all intensely awesome, so automatic win. I just re-watched it last night and I'm still chewing on Ramius' motivations. Like, is he a straight-up defector from the start? Or does the possibility of nuclear war just break him while they're at sea? The scene where he tells the crew 'a new course is necessary' gives me chills. It's so ambiguous. You can see the weight of the world in his eyes, but is it guilt? Grief? Determination? And then there's the whole US intel side of things, especially Jack Ryan (young Alec Baldwin!). Do we really buy that he's the only one who believes Ramius isn't planning an attack? The whole situation is ripe for mistakes and misinformation. Even the little details, like the sub's silent running tech, add to the anxiety. So, I'm curious what you guys think! Hero? Villain? Or somewhere in between? Also, any other subs-on-the-brink movies that give you the same level of dread? Hit me with your recommendations!