Personal Response
This movie really makes us think about what it means to be a serial killer. Not all serial killers are the same. The movie was spooky and very good, I enjoyed it so much. Both serial killers, Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill, are killers, but their intentions are completely different. What stood out to me is that they were not necessarily trying to cause pain just for the sake of it; the harm was almost a byproduct of their personal goals. And of course, Lecter is the smarter one.
Clarice is very perceptive and resilient. Her childhood trauma shaped her into the person she is and pushed her to build a strong character to survive in a male-dominated field, which we clearly see throughout the movie. Those scenes where she stands alone in a room full of taller men staring at her awkwardly really show what she is up against. But it’s awesome that she is the star of the movie.
As I said before, I love this movie. These are the kinds of thrillers I love to watch. It was fascinating how Dr. Lecter psychoanalyzed everyone to extract information. He understood the world through other people’s eyes and experiences. He was an absolute genius, which makes me wonder what turned him into the villain he became. He knew exactly what he was doing, so I wish I understood his reasoning behind the murders.
Something that stood out to me was his relationship with Clarice. I feel like they reached a point where they genuinely cared for each other, which is the sweetest and strangest thing at the same time. His last words to her “the world is a more interesting place with you in it” were beautiful. And based on the film’s title, I assume that the lambs finally stopped crying for her.
Also, even though it wasn’t the right thing, Jack was pretty abusive toward Dr. Lecter, so his escape was partly Jack’s fault. It was satisfying to see that backfire. Nevertheless, I think the escape scene was unrealistic. There was no way he could have stolen the pen without anyone noticing, and there is no way they wouldn’t have had 24/7 live security cameras on him. I liked the scene, but it didn’t feel believable.