The Silence of the Lambs director masterfully introduces Hannibal Lecter as a terrifying villain through a combination of dialogue, cinematography, and power dynamics. Before he appears on screen, the audience is told about his depravity and psychosis, creating high expectations. However, when he finally appears, he is calm, collected, and civil, subverting these expectations and making him even more unsettling.
The scene's power dynamics are also expertly handled, with Clarice, the protagonist, being physically and emotionally vulnerable, while Hannibal is in control, despite being behind a thick glass wall. The cinematography reinforces this power imbalance, with Hannibal's face taking up the entire screen, making him appear more powerful.
The video essay concludes that the key to making a terrifying villain is not about physical strength or violence but about the power dynamic between characters. The audience feels more terrified when the protagonist is vulnerable and powerless, as seen in the contrast between the films Alien and Aliens.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The text discusses the character of Hannibal Lecter in the movie "The Silence of the Lambs".
2. The director of the movie builds up the character of Hannibal Lecter before he appears on screen through dialogue.
3. The asylum warden describes Hannibal Lecter as a "monster" and a "pure psychopath".
4. The warden says that Hannibal Lecter is a rare specimen to capture alive and is the asylum's "most prized asset" from a research point of view.
5. The movie uses camera angles and framing to convey the power dynamics between Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling.
6. In their first meeting, Hannibal Lecter makes a demand that Clarice Starling bring her ID badge closer, which she abides by, showing his power over her.
7. The outcome of the scene is entirely in Hannibal Lecter's hands, making Clarice Starling powerless.
8. The cinematography reinforces the power dynamics between the two characters, with Hannibal Lecter often shown standing above Clarice Starling.
9. The movie "Aliens" is compared to "Alien", with the former being less horrifying because the characters are more competent and able to defend themselves.
10. The average watch time on the YouTube channel "The Closer Look" is 7 minutes, which is double the average watch time on YouTube.
11. The channel gets around 300 new subscribers on a bad day and has a growing number of supporters on Patreon.
12. The channel's creator is considering making videos full-time due to the channel's success.