‘The Silence Of The Lambs’ House To Become Museum: Wear The Flesh Of Your Favorite Animal

The Silence of the Lambs endures to this day as one of the most successful horror thrillers of all time, spawning two sequels and a television adaptation, but it seems the house in which serial killer Buffalo Bill, aka Jame Gumb (Ted Levine), tormented and killed his victims hasn’t been as fortunate. The owners of the Pennsylvania home have been seeking to sell the house, but their real estate listing only managed to draw fans of The Silence of the Lambs, until P.E.T.A. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) recognized the house as a unique opportunity to promote their causes.

Everyone Wants To See The Silence Of The Lambs House, But No One Wants To Live In It

Scott and Barbara Lloyd first found out just how problematic their home’s history really could be, when the couple tried to sell the house. Beginning with an asking price of $300,000 for the three-story Victorian house, the Lloyds have since chopped down that number by $50,000. While Realtor.com confirmed that the house’s listing was their second most-clicked property, the Lloyds say that data is skewed by the fact that most of those interested in the house are only hoping for a tour of Buffalo Bill’s former hunting grounds.

The lack of serious buyer interest may have something to do with the house’s amenities and location. First, only the foyer and dining room were depicted in the film. Everything else (including the famous basement) was filmed on a sound stage. Another black mark against the house is its one bathroom, compared against the four spacious bedrooms.

Even the location works against the Lloyd’s desire to part with the house. The home sits in a tiny village with an hour’s drive to the nearest metropolis, Pittsburgh.

“Even though it’s got notoriety, location still is a big deal,” said Erik Gunther, a senior editor for Realtor.com.

P.E.T.A. Looks To The Silence Of The Lambs For Inspiration In Turning The House Into An Empathy Museum

As it turns out, Scott and Barbara have attracted one interested party. P.E.T.A. has already made contact with the couple’s realtor, informing them of the organization’s interest in creating the museum. P.E.T.A. hopes to build on the house’s film reputation as the home of Jame Gumb, who kidnapped young, overweight women and skinned them. In The Silence of the Lambs, Jame Gumb earned the nickname “Buffalo Bill,” because, as was stated in the film, “This one likes to skin his humps.” As the F.B.I. becomes drawn into the case, Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn) sends Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) to glean information from Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) on the identity and habits of the Buffalo Bill serial killer. As Starling is drawn deeper into the case than Crawford would have liked, she ultimately finds herself alone at the home of Jame Gumb, which is where audiences are introduced to the Lloyd home. As it becomes clear that she is facing Buffalo Bill himself, Clarice finds herself in the basement, where Catherine Martin (Brooke Smith) is being held.

In an odd twist, P.E.T.A. wants to offer patrons of their empathy museum the opportunity to wear the skins of slain and mistreated animals.

“We’re always looking for ways to draw attention to the violence inherent in the production of leather, fur, and other animal skins,” Tracy Reiman, the executive vice president of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, wrote in the letter sent to Scott and Barbara Lloyd’s realtor.

“Turning ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ house into an empathy museum for these victims would serve as a way to point out that all animals are made of flesh, blood, and bone.”

It seems obvious that handling dead animal carcasses would also necessitate the use of sanitizing lotions, but just don’t forget to put the lotion back in the basket, before you leave.

[Featured image by Orion Pictures]