Sometimes, you wake up in the dark and hear the screaming of the lambs.

Rating: 7/10 (27 August 2015)

Film is basically divided, unevenly, into three sections: Starling interviewing Lector, for clues about the identity of a killer at large, referred to as Buffalo Bill; Lector's manipulation of Starling, in attempt to escape custody; and the case of Buffalo Bill himself, a truly frightening villain, moreso than Lector himself, in my opinion.
Buffalo Bill holding the girl captive in the well in his basement are terrifying, especially when he speaks to her, referring to her as *it*. "It rubs the lotion on its skin. It does that whenever it is told", in such a booming, baritone voice, only makes it sound even more intimidating. He is one of the creepiest killers in film, vaguely similar to Leatherface, and leaves quite an impression, despite precious little screen time. I found him to be more intimidating and terrifying even than Lector, who, while also chilling, was more of a gentleman in his speech and mannerisms. Even when Lector was beating the guard with his nightstick, he did it with such elegance and finesse, he made it seem almost poetic. A counter to Buffalo Bill's crudity.
The climax was taut and suspenseful, as Starling gropes around in the pitch black basement searching for Buffalo Bill, a light, and a way out, but it was negated when he committed such an obvious, stupid mistake (loudly pulling the hammer back on his gun, and basically announcing his presence to Starling) Or, was that the purpose of that action, to show us he really wasn't a very smart man?