&gt; [Lecter] calls [Clarice] at the end of the movie, relaxed, content and ready to murder (and eat) his psychiatrist. He promises her that she’s safe from him and hangs up to follow his prey, while Clarice remains on the phone, repeating his name. The movie gives Lecter the last word...<p>&gt; [Clarice is] a reminder of just how timid mainstream film can be. In exploitation slasher films, at least the Final Girl gets to kill or castrate the bad guys.<p>So, let me get this straight - Silence of the Lambs isn&#x27;t &quot;feminist enough&quot; because Lecter survives? Even though Clarice _does_ kill Buffalo Bill and rescue the Senator&#x27;s daughter?<p>The entire premise of this analysis is absurd because Clarice isn&#x27;t meant to be invincible. Silence of the Lambs is a scary movie, so it needs characters to be vulnerable... Characters that are afraid when a sociopathic killer escapes, knows where they are, and calls them. Also, it would be rather hard to write the sequel &quot;Hannibal&quot; if Lecter doesn&#x27;t escape.