MovieChat Forums > The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Discussion > How probabal is Hannibal's escape?

How probabal is Hannibal's escape?

posted 7 years ago by Hans-Wilhelm (1356)
17 replies | jump to latest

If it was 1990 and the entire scenario they played out really happened could he have escaped? He has the same body type as the guard, he cuts off the guards face and stashes the guard on the elevator, switches clothes would have made it? What obstacles would there be? Would the paramedic not examine the face close enough to not detect it was a face on a face? Often when there is a police officer down they escort the ambulance to the hospital, would he also have to deal with following cruisers? What could have gone wrong in real life?

[–] elmacho (980) 7 years ago

I was just watching again for the nthteen time and I was thinking the same thing: chilton had to leave his pen; they had to hold him in a museum other than a prison, etc.; they had to have only two guards with him in the room (but 20 or so in the lobby doing nothing)(wouldn't there be a rule that both guards couldn't be near him at the same time); no security cameras; the guard had to put the plate of food down on the floor next to him; plus it would have taken him how long to hang the body, change the clothes, access the elevator. But, still a great movie.

[–] janelsenor (2044) 6 years ago

The pen thing was a simplification for the movie. In the book, Lecter had been collection bits for months to make a makeshift handcuff key and it goes into detail how he hides it and everything.

[–] elmacho (980) 6 years ago

thank you. I read the book a long time ago. I will have to go back and read it again.

[–] MrFilmJunkie (899) 6 years ago

no way. i can't imagine that you can just off someone's face with a simple knife and wear it like a mask.

[–] Moonglum9 (11275) 6 years ago

On a related note, I've found that you can't hollow out a dog's head, put it on your own and then cover your body with a fuzzy blanket, crawl on all fours to try to sneak into a gated doggie park. I think what gave it away was that the breed of dog I chose has a long, fluffy tail and I forgot that little detail.

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

You'd be surprised what a simple knife can do.....a knife is a knife. If it's sharp and it can cut, why would it be so hard to cut off a face? It's just tissue/flesh and blood, it's not made of metal lol. Also, Hannibal is a trained M.D.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

What did he use to attach the face? Especially around the eyes?

Okay, as I'm probably the only person on this thread who's seen an actual dead human being, I can tell you that no, corpses do not look like human faces. The moment the heart stops circulating blood all the blood drains out of the capillary bed and the face loses all its normal color. The corpses of light-skinned people are paler than anything living and look startling when compared to someone alive, so if you ever stuck some disembodied skin on your own face it'd be a much different color than living tissue.

So Lechter would not only have to find some drip-free and seamless way to attach the corpse face to his own, he'd need to put makeup on it to make it the right color! Do you think the prison where he lived issued him with blusher or something?

[–] Lord Rake (4454) 6 years ago

He had blood and water to use as blush, not to mention he covered the thing with blood so it was hard to tell what was going on.

[–] Otter (24464) 6 years ago

FYI blood only stays red for a very short time if not treated with anti-clotting agents, and if spread thin on a surface it shortly dries to a dark brown color, plus it doesn't spread evenly because it's trying to clot at the cellular level.

So fresh human blood would make shitty blusher, in case anyone ever asks.

[–] Lord Rake (4454) 6 years ago

I know that fact but everything was cut up. Hannibal wasn't trying to impersonate a living talking guy, he was pretending to be a near dead victim. If the face was pale, they'd think he severed an artery or if the blood was dark, they'd assume it was not fresh. He did not move the face and the eye sockets were covered in goop; so I don't know why that would give him away.

[–] Who (5146) 3 years ago

Not sure the faceless guard was dead when they found him. He was certainly close to it. Even if he passed, it was too soon for rigior mortis to set in.

(Been to many open casket wakes so have seen my fair share of corpses)

[–] [deleted] 6 years ago

Hannibal Lector's escape was completely unrealistic and unbelievable. Suddenly Dr. Lector becomes superhuman and he manages to overpower and kill some dim witted cops, he then phydically arranges their bodies in high and awkward areas. Then some other doofus cops and dumb paramedics don't realize that Hannibal cut off a dead cop's face and placed it on his own face to hide his identity. Lector fools everyone, he ends up unnoticed and unharmed on an ambulance. He conveniently escapes. So dumb. Completely ruined the ending of the movie.

[–] TheReccher (344) 3 years ago

He didn't over-power the cops. He surprise hand cuffed one to the cell bar and beat the other with a baton. Pay attention next time.

[–] bobbydallas (8523) 3 years ago

movie magic.
the more times you see the film the lousier the escape becomes.. also how did he ever get Chilton's pen while bound ?!

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 3 years ago

I would say impossible, given the number of things he did in such a short time.

[–] [deleted] 3 years ago

Quite probable. Shock displays of the bodies to divert attention from the face mask. Lecter could have dreamt up the scenario in a couple of seconds. Don't forget he's near superhumanly smart.

[–] Who (5146) 3 years ago

Also, how’d he get Miggs to swallow his own tongue?