Author Brian Raftery joins us to explain how Silence of the Lambs didn't just give us a scary villain—it invented a whole new type. Before Hannibal Lecter, horror villains were mostly slashers in masks. Lecter changed the rules: he was clever, charming, and used his mind as a weapon. That's why this movie—and this character—still haunts us decades later.

We break down what made Lecter different, why he's scarier than a guy with a knife, and how this film changed scary movies forever. Brian also shares secrets from his new book, Hannibal Lecter: A Life.

📘 Buy Hannibal Lecter: A Life: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Hannibal-Lecter/Brian-Raftery/9781668070581

CHAPTERS

Introduction [00:00]
Welcome to Cinema Psychos Show [00:45]
First Experiences with Silence of the Lambs [08:38]
Why Silence of the Lambs Endures [08:56]
The Realism and Grounding of the Film [14:37]
Buffalo Bill as the True Villain [19:21]
The Terrifying Basement Scene [25:00]
Development and Rights Issues [27:59]
Favorite Scenes from the Film [37:13]
The Book: Hannibal Lecter, A Life [44:16]
Research and Writing Process [56:27]
Horror vs Thriller Debate [01:04:03]
Wrap-Up and Where to Find the Book [01:08:33]

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