Hannibal (2001)

Hannibal (2001), an American crime thriller directed by Ridley Scott and adapted from Thomas Harris’s novel, follows FBI Special Agent Clarice Starling. A decade after catching serial killer Jame Gumb, Starling is blamed for a failed drug raid that cost five lives. She is approached by Mason Verger, the lone survivor of cannibalistic murderer Hannibal Lecter who has been on the run since escaping custody. Verger, a wealthy predator who was left paralyzed and disfigured by Lecter, has been plotting revenge against him and enlists Starling’s help to capture him. Through his power and connections, Verger arranges for Starling to join the case in hopes of luring out Lecter. Upon discovering Starling’s disgrace, Lecter sends her a letter with a distinct fragrance that leads them to Florence where Chief Inspector Rinaldo Pazzi is interrogating ‘Dr. Fell’ about a case. Lecter has been posing as a library assistant curator and caretaker while on the run.

Verger has new information about Lecter, an X-ray, that he will only share with Starling. She is sent to his estate to retrieve it and conduct an interview. Upon arriving, Verger tells her about their past encounters. They first met when Lecter was assigned as Verger’s therapist after Verger’s conviction for child molestation. Out of all of Lecter’s victims, Verger is the only one who survived. However, he was tricked by Lecter into mutilating himself using a nitrogen ‘popper’. Due to his injuries, Verger is now confined to his secluded mansion and relies on his personal physician Cordell and other helpers to carry out a plan for capturing, torturing, and killing Lecter.