Movies - TV
Silence Of The Lambs' Torture Pit Was Inspired By A Real Serial Killer
By CAROLINE MADDEN
In "The Silence of the Lambs," the torture pit where Buffalo Bill (aka Jame Gumb) holds his victims was inspired by the real-life actions of serial killer Gary Heidnik.
Heidnik kidnapped six women and imprisoned them in the basement dungeon of his Philadelphia rowhouse. He ultimately murdered two of the captive women.
Though his setup lacked the elaborate well the film depicted, Heidnik's method of digging holes and covering them created a similarly claustrophobic and horrific environment.
In these dark chambers, where victims couldn't stand up or see anything, Heidnik subjected his victims to extreme cruelty, including electrocution, sexual assault, and starvation.