Silence of the Lambs
The main settings that we see within the film are the prison and the house where the killer has kidnapped and is holding the woman. Firstly the prison setting has more obvious connotations of danger especially since it contains more of the psychopathic cold-blooded murderers, including Hannibal Lector. And secondly the home setting again has a surface of a sanctuary however instead of being a place that you can’t get into (protection from the outside world) in this it’s a place hat the victim cannot get out of. Its like a prison disguised by the form of a house.
The props that Hannibal uses to kill the two policemen are unusual because they involve handcuffs and a policeman’s baton with which he beats them to death. Also the fact that he mechanically murders them, his gesture is so calmed yet aggressive when he bites the tongue off one of the policemen’s mouths.
We get a medium shot of the prison cell of Hannibal Lector and this allows us to see both him and the setting. The setting is cold and lifeless something we cannot relate to as an audience which links in with Hannibal as he is a person that the audience cannot relate themselves to. We see only Hannibal’s body in one part as his face is submerged in darkness making him appear sun-human. This is both a frightening image but it could also represent that in and around his mind are dark areas, especially since he kills people by eating them (with his mouth.
STOCK CHARACTERS;
PSYCHOPATHIC KILLER – Two characters fill this role. One Hannibal and the other Buffalo Bill who murders victims and skins them to make a dress from their skin. This is an horrific type of murder its not just a bullet to the head its actually a sickening prospect for the audience.
FBI – Theres usually somebody from the FBI on a case however the unusual and less fitting part is that she is female and also that she is a trainee FBI agent.
NARRATIVE THEORIES APPLIED TO SILENCE OF THE LAMBS;
Todrov…
EQUILIBRIUM – Young woman in FBI training
DISRUPTION – Buffalo Bill kidnaps a politician’s daughter
RECOGNITION – A plea from the girl’s mother is broadcast and Starling is took to the scene where the woman was kidnapped.
QUEST –Starling begins investigating/interviewing suspects and looks to Hannibal for help.
NEW EQUILIBRIUM – Case is solved, girl is saved, buffalo Bill is shot and killed. However Hannibal has escaped and is now out in the public somewhere…
Propp…
HERO – STARLING
VILLAIN – BUFFALO BILL
PRINCESS – KIDNAPPED GIRL/WOMAN
DONOR/MENTOR – HANNIBAL LECTOR
HELPER – FBI TEAM
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