The SILENCE OF THE LAMBS sequel HANNIBAL is so gruesome that it's causing some fans to faint.

The movie, which contains cannibalism, opens nationwide in America next Friday (09FEB01) but has been seen by select media and industry insiders already through special screenings. But British director RIDLEY SCOTT admits some scenes are proving too much for fans.

He explains, "Two people were in a screening recently and one of them fainted during the dining table scene. "She had become very tense watching JULIANNE MOORE running in the woods and also when she was alone in her house. Those are both suspenseful scenes." (MB/LAT/KW)

Source: WENN