Hannibal Lector (Silence of the Lambs) vs Jigsaw (Saw)
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VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
WRITTEN BY: Mimi Kenny
They're both terrifying, but one has the edge! We're going to compare the two killers in terms of their smarts, character journeys, and overall influence as movie characters. Our categories include origins, morality, cultural impact and more!
Welcome to WatchMojo, and in this installment of Versus, we have two of the best bad guys in movie history squaring off: Hannibal Lecter and John Kramer, A.K.A. “Jigsaw” We’re going to compare the two killers in terms of their smarts, character journeys, and overall influence as movie characters. How would you try to escape from Hannibal Lecter or Jigsaw? Let us know in the comments!
Round 1: Origins
Hannibal Lecter wasn’t born as a hungry villain. In the prequel ‘Hannibal Rising,” we learn that as a boy, he lived in a castle in Lithuania. Unfortunately, invading German troops forced his family into exile. He ends up orphaned with his sister, Mischa. Hannibal is eventually forced to watch his sister lose her life in a gruesome way. This leads to him exacting revenge that's equally brutal and personal. As it does in many horror films, trauma creates a monster out of Hannibal Lecter. Speaking of trauma, Jigsaw certainly went through a lot before making it his life’s mission to make people play sick games. When engineer John Kramer learns that he is terminally ill, he decides the only solution is to end his life. Although he tries to drive his car off of a cliff, he miraculously survives. Kramer then decides to test how far others will go in order to stay alive by creating absolutely diabolical traps with very severe consequences, even for survivors. Jigsaw has a pretty interesting backstory. We particularly like how his engineering knowledge explains why he’s able to create such complicated contraptions. However, Lecter’s backstory has historical context and consists of a more complex tragedy. We have to give the “best origins” round to Hannibal Lecter. Winner: Hannibal Lecter 1/Jigsaw 0
Round 2: Intelligence
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What makes these nightmarish men so scary is just how smart they are. Hannibal Lecter possesses the kind of mental power that would make the greatest thinkers in the world feel dumb. Not only does he have recall so strong he can draw the Florence Cathedral from memory, but he is also a truly master manipulator. Despite being an acclaimed psychiatrist before his incarceration, Lecter only holds animosity for his field and its legitimacy. But he’s able to use what he’s learned to manipulate and otherwise play mind games with anyone he can. Jigsaw also has a lot of smarts that help him put his victims in life-or-death situations. As we mentioned, he has technical and scientific knowledge. Jigsaw’s able to create devices and games that can deliver brutal punishments in as little as a minute. The villain also has an uncanny knack for testing others’ mental weaknesses. Sometimes it almost seems like he’ll know exactly how his victims will behave before they even arrive in the trap. So, just because you’re only having a nice conversation with Jigsaw, don’t assume you’re not already stuck in one of his games. Jigsaw is an incredibly smart man. But Hannibal Lecter is something else entirely. His mind is so powerful and so dangerous, it should be considered a weapon. For the “intelligence” round, we have to give it to the twisted genius that is Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Winner: Hannibal Lecter 2/Jigsaw 0
Round 3: Morality
Hannibal Lecter is described by FBI profiler Will Graham as having “no remorse or guilt at all” and as a “monster.” This has led Lecter to be labeled as a "sociopath". The villain’s lack of empathy is apparent when he breaks people down by forcing them to face their past trauma. Audiences witnessed this in “Silence of the Lambs” when he has FBI agent Clarice Starling recount uncomfortable memories to receive pivotal information about the villain Buffalo Bill. Lecter’s ability to put her through that and seeming lack of empathy make him feel more sinister and distant from humanity. Jigsaw says he’s not a killer because his subjects ultimately choose whether or not they live or die. But that logic can feel more than a little suspect. In some cases, the odds of survival are just too random for the victims to have a fair chance. Other traps have required one subject to take out one or more other people. However, some have emerged from Jigsaw’s games victorious and gained a new lease on life. Underneath all his twisted acts, he clearly believes that his methods help people. Though neither villain is what we would call “good,” we have to give Jigsaw the title of “more moral,” relatively speaking, of course. Winner: Hannibal Lecter 2/Jigsaw 1
Round 4: Evasiveness
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Hannibal Lecter and Jigsaw wouldn’t be able to get away with their crimes for so long if they weren’t so good at keeping people off their trails. Though they’ve each been captured at least once, it takes more than some handcuffs or a cell to keep these two in a safe spot. Hannibal avoids having anything pinned on him in “Hannibal Rising” and soon makes his way to America to study at Johns Hopkins Medical School, as well as continue his vicious practices. Although he’s in captivity for much of “Silence of the Lambs,” he escapes and makes his way to Italy, where he poses as museum curator "Dr. Fell” for a while. But he does manage to get captured by Gary Oldman’s Mason Verger. And while Lecter does escape again, he’ll need to stay on his toes to avoid getting captured once more. Jigsaw lived through multiple films without seeing the inside of a cell or being officially brought into a station for criminal charges. He has come close. Jigsaw was nearly caught in the first film, and a SWAT team discovers him in “Saw II.” However, he’s able to use his brain, or if we’re talking about the first “Saw,” his brawn, to avoid getting locked up. Jigsaw’s even able to elude authorities while he’s on his deathbed. He’s always thinking several steps ahead of those who would contain him. Catching this puzzling villain is practically impossible. Jigsaw might not be quite as intelligent or cultured as Hannibal Lecter, but he definitely has a much better track record for avoiding capture. We have to give this round to the “Saw” villain. Winner: Hannibal Lecter 2/Jigsaw 2
Round 5: Cultural Impact
There was a time when you could hear the name “Hannibal” and not automatically think of the vicious villain...and then Anthony Hopkins came along. He was so good at playing Lecter that he won a “Best Actor” Oscar for “Silence of the Lambs. And he was only on screen for less than 20 minutes! Hopkins dominates the screen with his cold, calculated, but frighteningly charismatic performance. He showed us that terror can be created not just with supernatural ghouls and monsters, but through a real person’s lack of any empathy and continued desire to cause harm. While none of the Lecter films reached the height of “Silence of the Lambs,” that doesn’t change how much of an impact the character’s made. Jigsaw’s impact has also been pretty major. He has all kinds of iconography, including the terrifying puppet “Billy,” as well as the animal themed masks worn by him and his co-conspirators. Part of the reason the character achieved horror movie fame is because of actor Tobin Bell’s portrayal. While it didn’t get him any Oscars, he’s often the best part of many of the “Saw” films. Bell is able to turn Jigsaw into a strangely logical madman. Hearing him talk is sometimes even more exciting than watching his victims struggle through his traps. Jigsaw’s brand of gruesome horror seems to have inspired several imitators. But most of contemporaries lack his distinct personality. Both Jigsaw and Lecter made big impressions since their debuts and have become extremely memorable pop culture villains. However, we think that the biting doctor has a slight edge here. Not only has Lecter remained influential for decades, but one of his portrayals was awarded with one of acting’s highest honors. Winner: Hannibal Lecter 3/Jigsaw 2 With a score of 3 to 2, Lecter narrowly managed to slay his competition and take the versus match.
