The first audiences to leave theatres after watching early screenings of the much-anticipated movie HANNIBAL are branding the movie excessively "gory" and "sick".

The much-hyped sequel to SIR ANTHONY HOPKINS' smash hit SILENCE OF THE LAMBS was shown for the first time last night (30JAN01) to an audience of select media and movie industry workers. And although contracted to secrecy regarding the content of the movie's last revealing 10 minutes, viewers were visibly disturbed by the film's subject matter.

Magazine critic THELMA ADAMS admits, "There are some very gory scenes. Half way through the movie I just grabbed the people at either side of me, at one point I put my arms around them. They were grown men but everybody was terrified.

American TV presenter STAR JONES adds, "We were asked not to spoil it, but the last 10 minutes is the sickest thing I have ever seen and I have seen some sick stuff."

Even Oscar-winner Hopkins admits they've taken things to new levels. He says, "We laughed all the way through it. I told the director RIDLEY SCOTT, that it was so outrageous the next stop for us would be porno movies." (SVD/WNV/MCM)

Source: WENN