The Silence of the Lambs(1991)- User Reviews

The Silence of the Lambs is a scary movie because while it is terrifying, it is also extraordinarily spellbinding. This was the horror movie that both critics and audiences have craved for a long time back in 1991, and it had set the bar for serial killer movies despite competition from Michael Mann's Manhunter and Fritz Lang's M.

The story has since become classic: it is the one about a vulnerable but ambitious FBI trainee asking for insight from the worst teacher/partner in the world, Hannibal Lector. Anthony Hopkins gives a classic performance because he pulled off the most difficult scene in the movie, which is in the beginning where he first meets Clarice. His performance could have fell completely flat with all that weird standing still and reminiscing of fava beans...(still gives me the chills) but somehow he did it and the audience became his for the taking. Jodie Foster is also absolutely wonderful as Clarice, who is on one hand so smart yet so stupid as well...we totally sympathize with her though because we are as stupid as she is in regard to such a case.

The technical credits also deserve much credit. Tak Fujimoto's cinematography is exquisite in its lighting, especially in the scene where Clarice and Lector have their last meeting at the courthouse and the light is dramatically lite on Lector. Jonathan Demme's direction is most evident in the steady pace of the film and the climax at Buffalo Bill's house where he makes the basement look like a dungeon. Howard Shore tops it off with that strangely insightful and human score amidst all that inhumanity.

The Silence of the Lambs is a great film. A film that I have always found to walk a tightrope between true cinema and gory schlock. I am happy that it is the first one.