While the last 15 minutes of this film are disturbing even to someone who has seen his share of horror movies, I do question those who question the morality of such a scene. Gravely and unfortunately, this sort of cruelty has happened in reality, as a hideous act of war or some other atrocity. I believe there are indeed more good than bad people in this world. Perhaps displaying fictional acts of cruelty will cause people to get involved, preventing it from happening in real life. This movie is intended for adults.
People seem surprised that there was unnecessary killing in a movie about a psychopathic cannibal.
There is a high level of violence but it is used to tell the story line. Yes, totally offensive . However, keep in mind that this is a movie about Hannibal Lecter, psychiatrist and part-time cannibal. Devotees of Silence of the Lambs will not be disappointed by Hopkins' reprise of Lecter, nor with the new Clarice. As a television student, I was seriously impressed by the cinematography skills of the director.