Robert Louis Stevenson once said, "The Devil, can sometimes do a very gentlemanly thing." In the movie Silence of the Lambs directed by Jonathan Demme, ex-psychiatrist Hannibal, the Cannibal, Lector acts as a poise gentleman to FBI agent Clarisse Starling. Armed with his psychiatric and manipulative background, Hannibal helps Clarisse with both her childhood past and tracking down the elusive serial killer, Buffalo Bill. Despite being a horrific killer, audiences are drawn to Hannibal Lector’s strange appeal of brilliance, artistic ability, and brutality.
The audience is introduced to the brilliant Doctor Hannibal Lector at the end of the basement of a mental asylum. The descending scenery of gates and doors is painted red depicting the image of hell. Ironically at the end of the line, the audience expects to see a beasty devil yet a calm and poised man is revealed behind the glass. Unlike his rambunctious neighboring inmates Hannibal speaks with intelligence as he questions agent Starlings about her visit, knowing right away that he would be able to play cat and mice games with this fresh meat. “May I see your credentials? That expires in one week. You're not real FBl, are you? Jack Crawford sent a trainee to me?”
Hannibal uses his keen scene of smell to scare Clarisse by telling her the beauty products she uses. He next starts to dissect Clarisse’s past with her West Virginia accent, breaking down Starling’s self-esteem in the process. Lector’s passion to is to get into people’s heads, anyway way necessary, by force or the use of mind manipulation.
“I'll give you a chance for what you love most.
- And what is that?
- Advancement. Listen carefully. Look deep within yourself, Clarice Starling.”
sophisticated for the standard tests.
A pretty, young woman to turn him on.
I don't believe Lecter's seen a woman in eight years.
And are you ever his taste! So to speak.
Most serial killers keep some sort of trophies from their victims.
- I didn't. - No. No, you ate yours.
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