MovieChat Forums > The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Discussion > Ways that you have to "suspend your disb...

Ways that you have to "suspend your disbelief" in Silence of the Lambs!

posted 8 years ago by PeachMelba
16 replies | jump to latest

In 2016, this is still holds up as a great movie!

However, there were a few things that I picked up through my critical eyes... Slight flaws in the plot, if you will, or little details that you have to suspend your disbelief about to get the dramatic effect of the film. Thread started for fun and is not intended as a major criticism of the film.

1. Lector has a small tape recorder in temporary holding cell (just before big escape). Could he not have pulled it apart to get tools for escape? I am aware that he already had the pen, but being the opportunist that he is, you'd think he would have leveraged it.

2. Lector was always clean shaven, yet he wouldn't have been allowed any type of electric or hand-held razor in is cell. Maybe he was on some special hair reductive medication.

3. How did Buffalo Bill get the girls down into the well in the first place? How did Buffalo Bill get them out at the end?

4. Would Clarice not have smelled Buffalo Bill when he was so close to her in those final scenes before shoot-out? Given he was messing with human flesh, and looked fairly unkempt, you'd think he'd give off a stench.

[–] zumannaruto 8 years ago

Well im not sure how Buffalo bill took the girls down to the well but he could have shot them.I mean no one said they have to get out alive and then get killed?

Didn't think about the fourth one.Good thinking ;p

[–] PeachMelba 8 years ago

Well, he "starved" them down there... Even if he had shot them down there, how could he get them up?

"Suspending disbelief" is a term used for viewers to "ignore" normal realities for the sake of dramatic effect! When I first saw the film as younger, i didn't even think about those things, however, now... I look at the practicalities!

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] rmoriarty97 7 years ago

The whole house would have had that stench. In my line of work we sometimes have to enter houses where squalor prevails, I've literally had my nostrils continue to burn for the whole day after coming out of one of these. The smell permeates everything - you can't even ascertain what exactly it is, if it's more intense in certain areas (as you may argue that a human should smell more strongly than the environment), it's just THERE.

[–] Rockhound6165 8 years ago

I think you're misunderstanding suspension of disbelief. The points you make can all be explained away:

1) The tape recorder would be inspected and considering they have knowledge of it, the 2 cops assigned to guard him would see him screwing with it and put a stop to it. The reason why he was able to escape is because they didn't know he had the piece of metal from the pen and "got the drop on them".

2) Again, same situation. Lector is given grooming items and no doubt is under constant supervision while shaving.

The above 2 points I speak with nearly 13 years of experience in corrections and I know how certain things are handled.

3) It really wouldn't take much to tie a rope around someone and lower them into the pit. As for getting them out, my guess is that he gets them out first then shoots them. There isn't any blood and brains in the pit so it stands to reason he gets them out first.

As for suspension of disbelief, none of your points require that. An example of suspension of disbelief would be petite Scarlett Johansson kicking the asses of guys 3 times her size by the score. That is suspension of disbelief.

[–] PeachMelba 8 years ago

3) It really wouldn't take much to tie a rope around someone and lower them into the pit. As for getting them out, my guess is that he gets them out first then shoots them. There isn't any blood and brains in the pit so it stands to reason he gets them out first.

Tie a rope around them, however, they'd need to "untie" it once they're in the pit. I really couldn't see some of those female victims willingly doing that, unless he threatened him with a gun, in which case, he'd have one hell of a mess to clean up, which would also mean that he would have to get into the pit to try to clean it up himself.

[–] tonyismad 8 years ago

Take a rope, bend it in half around their back, under their arms. Lower the person into the well holding both ends of the rope. When they are at the bottom, let go of one end of the rope and pull the other up.

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[–] Rockhound6165 7 years ago

however, they'd need to "untie" it once they're in the pit.

For the love of...really? You can loop a rope under someone's arms then pull it out with ease. Please tell me you're not this obtuse.

[–] kobrakai1 8 years ago

2) The guards/administration would have arranged a specific supervised time for Lecter to bathe and preform other personal hygene duties. He didn't have a shower in his cell so he was probably taken to another room where he could shower and shave with the apropriate amount of armed guards supervising him while he did.
3) he probably used the same pully system he used to lower the basket just with a harness on it. When he lowered the women to the bottom he either tipped them out or pulled the harness out from under them.

[–] rascal67 7 years ago

Suspending belief that teeny tiny Jodie Foster has come to your rescue and to feel safe in her itsy bitsy presence.

Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪

[–] 7 years ago

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[–] PreachCaleb 7 years ago

Suspending belief that teeny tiny Jodie Foster has come to your rescue and to feel safe in her itsy bitsy presence.

If only she'd been armed with some type of portable, handheld weapon or something.

You are sin.

[–] rascal67 7 years ago

If only she'd been armed with some type of portable, handheld weapon or something.
_________________
I think she was already struggling with the one she was holding. 😄 It was almost as big as her.

Don't eat the whole ones! Those are for the guests. 🍪

[–] liam-kelly-1 7 years ago

The only part I struggle with is Hannibal's escape. The two guards put up no resistance. Despite having weapons on his person, the handcuffed guard does nothing to prevent Hannibal nonchalantly caving his head in. The other, while getting his face chewed on, doesn't fight back but just waves his arms around.

Not a complete deal breaker, but it is a bit too clean.

Assuming Direct Control

[–] PreachCaleb 7 years ago

4. Would Clarice not have smelled Buffalo Bill when he was so close to her in those final scenes before shoot-out? Given he was messing with human flesh, and looked fairly unkempt, you'd think he'd give off a stench.

I doubt he smelled any worse than the rest of the basement.

You are sin.

[–] pepetoony (1534) 4 years ago

I'd like to know how Buffalo Bill got all that lipstick & makeup off his face quickly enough to answer the door whilst also changing into male clothing. Quite a speed record there!