THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)

Country: U.S.A.

Genre(s): Drama / Horror

Director: Jonathan Demme

Cast: Jodie Foster / Anthony Hopkins / Scott Glenn

Plot

FBI trainee Clarice Starling is assigned to interview imprisoned serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter regarding his knowledge of fellow psychopath “Buffalo Bill.”  Can Starling get the information she needs from the clever Lecter before Bill claims another victim.

What I Liked

Back in the 1990s, it seemed like there was always some serial killer-based psychological thriller in the theater.  “Seven,” “Kiss the Girls,” “The Bone Collector,” “Fallen,” “Copycat,” the list goes on.  With its clever script, riveting performances, and genre-transcending production, “The Silence of the Lambs” is the film that kicked off the trend, making it one of the most influential films of the era.

His performance as Hannibal Lecter allowed Anthony Hopkins to go from highly regarded actor to full-fledged acting legend.  He also established the character as one of the great film villains and a classic movie monster on the level of a Dracula, Norman Bates, or Freddy Kreuger.   His Lecter is irresistibly manipulative, darkly amusing, and absolutely creepy in equal measure.  Hopkins (and through him, Lecter) is without a doubt the prime reason this film is regarded as a classic.

However, one cannot ignore the importance of Jodie Foster, who is equally capable in her performance of Starling, even if her character is not as juicy as the chilling, demented Lecter.  Starling is the foil against whom Lecter is allowed to shine, as well as the relatable character can be used by the audience as a conduit into Lecter’s demented perspectives.  Starling’s verbal jousting with Lecter is what separates this film’s unique power and timelessness.  Later thrillers tried to piece together similar confrontations, but is the way that Lecter and Hopkins deliver these scenes that truly set s this one apart.

Incidentally, Ted Levine is also pretty damn frightening as the skin coveting Buffalo Bill.

What I Didn’t Like

The character of Catherine Martin, while admirably resourceful and brave, is not very convincing to me as a person who has been trapped for days in a dungeon pit by a man who is clearly bent on murdering her.

Most Memorable Scene

As mentioned previously, the scenes of verbal sparring between Lecter and Starling are the most iconic moments of this film.  Nonetheless, like any good climax, the most emotionally powerful moment of the film to me is when Clarice unwittingly stumbles upon the killer and is drawn into his home.  When he initially escapes her attempted arrest and leads her on a terrifying pursuit through his dungeon-like basement, that the anxiety really starts.  Even watching this for the I-don’t-know-how-many time, I was still on the edge of my seat, gritting my teeth, my muscles reflexively tightened.  That’s because the terror on Jodie Foster’s face is completely believable and relatable.  Her entire body appears stricken with adrenaline, and understandably so.  It’s Foster’s change to show that she is every bit the actor that Hopkins is and has an equal mastery over her audience, and succeeds at both.

My Rating: 5 out of 5