Ukudutshulwa kwale filimu kudluliswa ngumlingisi osemusha akukaze kudluliselwe ukungaphatheki kahle, futhi izimo ezidumile zokuphenya ngomhlaka. Kuhlobo lokugcina lokufakwa, izilaleli zibona ukuthi i-ejenti ye-FBI kanye ne-maniac zihleli ekulweni, empeleni, ngenxa yokuba yinkimbinkimbi, futhi omunye wabadlali wayengezwa izwi . "Uma ubuyekeza i-movie, uzobona ukuthi abalingisi babukeka bangenawo amalensi, hhayi kumlingani wabo ngemuva kwezigcawu. Lapho ngifaka inkanyezi kulezo zigcawu noDkt Lecter, angibonanga ubuso bakhe, kodwa ngazwa izwi lakhe elishaqisayo, "kusho umlingisi. Ngokusho kwakhe, ukungakwazi ukubona umuntu alingani naye kwenze konke okuhlangenwe nakho kokuthola amafilimu kungathandeki.
Ngosuku lokugcina lokudubula, uJody Foster wavuma eHopkins, ebimesaba ngempela. Ngokumangazayo, kepha umlingisi waphendula ngokuthi uzizwe enjalo. Kodwa-ke, ukungezwani kwezinzwa kube nentshisekelo - "Ukuthula kwamawundlu" kwaletha abalingisi ku-Oscar. Ngaphezu kwalokho, i-Thriller ye-Psychological yaphawulwa ekuphakanyisweni kwe- "Best Film", "umqondisi omuhle kakhulu" kanye "nesithombe esiguqulwe kangcono".