20 Horror Films Where The Hero Teams Up With The Villain

There's no question that the standout of The Silence of the Lambs is the liver-guzzling inmate, Hannibal Lecter, especially while he's interacting with FBI trainee Clarice Starling. 

Desperate to catch the serial killer known as Buffalo Bill, Clarice interviews Hannibal, hoping his gift for profiling will help her crack the case. However, Hannibal dismisses Clarice within minutes, convinced she has an agenda.

The charming cannibal does eventually come around to helping Clarice, under the condition that he's transferred to a more comfortable cell. Clarice isn't aware of this deal and feels like Hannibal has played her when she finds out about it, and those suspicions are warranted since Hannibal only wants to be moved to a less secure facility so he can escape, which he does. 

At the same time, Hannibal wasn't pulling the wool over Clarice's eyes purely for his own gain. His insights are crucial, giving Clarice what she needs to track down and kill Buffalo Bill. Even though Hannibal enjoys toying with Clarice, he has a profound respect for her, even contacting her after he goes into hiding.

Hannibal Lecter may be a man-eating lunatic, but Clarice would've never solved the case without him.