Hell Is Empty and All The Devils Are Here

Written by Lia (Kru’23)

Yes, you are correct. The majority of you are probably familiar with the title of this review, which is one of William Shakespeare’s well-known quotes from one of his plays The Tempest that states the exact same line, or maybe to some metalhead, you might recognize it as the title of Anaal Nathrakh’s fourth album which is also inspired from the former. Nothing in this review is about the poet or the metal band, though.

While Shakespeare did not intend it to be a literal saying, but rather a poetic way to express cynicism about how unhappy someone can be with people who have hurt them, I mean it both literally and theoretically to portray the anti-hero of Jonathan Demme’s masterpiece: The Silence of the Lambs (1991). You may be wondering why I refer to him as an anti-hero rather than a villain, despite the fact that I described him as the devil’s incarnate in the previous line. Please allow me to explain.

The plot of this film revolves around FBI Academy Student Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), who is assigned to team up with a gifted psychiatrist–as well as a serial killer who loves to devour his victims’ flesh and kidneys–Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), under Jack Crawford’s (Scott Glenn) supervision as the head of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. Crawford made this decision to further investigate Buffalo Bill, another serial killer who has been skinning and murdering people. To sum up, his wish to capture Bill was fulfilled, but little did he know that his decision would set off a chain reaction of chaos. All hell breaks loose when Lecter slips out of his fingers, causing damage to all the people involved during the hunt, mostly Starling.

Now, as for Hannibal Lecter the Cannibal, I will describe him as an eccentric character. He is omnipotent. He speaks as if his tongue generates only raw, sophisticated words; and his palate is so refined that only human flesh would satisfy his desire for nourishment.

“Most serial killers keep some sort of trophy from their victims.”

“I didn’t.”

“No…you ate yours.”

I’d say he is fully aware of what he does and to him, it occurs as cannibalism only when both parties are equally diabolical. He places himself at the top of the hierarchy when it comes to condemning crimes, showing his narcissistic behavior. And because of this exact reason, Bill is easy to him. Bill, from one criminal to the another, is an open book to Lecter.

In this film, Lecter and Starling successfully perform a symbiotic mutualism. This is why I called him an anti-hero rather than a villain: he actually assists Starling in fulfilling Crawford’s wish, in exchange for Starling’s own all-about and his own freedom, though Starling did not precisely help him for the latter. He becomes intrigued by Starling as she attempts to dissect his mind, and this intrigue eventually turns into an obsession of control. To him, Starling is like a little lamb: pure, vulnerable, and in need of guidance. He does nothing but express his opinions, and yet it is enough to push Starling to her limits because being manipulative is his natural tendency.

“I’m having an old friend for dinner.”

Lecter’s obsession of controlling Starling did not last that long though, because after he is freed, he seems to be in pursuit of another victim. I will not spoil you who, but that last line from him is enough to send shivers down my spine. Exactly why hell is empty and all the devils are here!