9 Deleted Movie Sub-Plots That Changed Everything
6. Hannibal - Another Serial Killer
You may have noticed when watching the sequel to the infamous Silence of the Lambs that at one point a whole other serial killer is mentioned - a killer by the name of ‘Il Mostro.’
In real life, Il Mostro refers to the ‘Monster of Florence’ who murdered fourteen people over the 70’s and 80’s. In fiction, Il Mostro has been firmly cemented into the story of Hannibal. In the 1999 novel, an investigator is left in disgrace after arresting the wrong man accused of being Il Mostro; in the TV adaptation, Hannibal and Il Mostro are alleged to be the same person, and finally in the film they almost meet face to face.
That was until that whole bit was chopped out with Hannibal’s own surgical precision. After referencing Il Mostro, he actually makes an appearance as Hannibal murders Chief Inspector Pazzi. Working as a janitor in Florence, he encounters the titular cannibal mid-murder but manages to escape with his life, soon afterwards fleeing the city.
The sub-plot relating to Il Mostro’s similarly horrible crimes - culminating in his appearance and fleeing - clearly wasn’t top of the list of priorities. It’s a shame really, it was included in the book and TV show for a reason so you’d hope it would have more significance here.