Silence of the Lambs: Review

The film which launched Sir Anthony Hopkins into fame, Silence of the Lambs is yet another movie which almost everybody has heard about. Released in 1991, it is by far my favourite thriller I have seen. Combining disturbing imagery with intense psychological fear, Silence of the Lambs stands out as a movie which lives up to it's years of hype.

The story revolves around a novice FBI agent by the name of Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), who has been sent to speak with the notorious Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in order to hopefully catch a rampant serial killer known only as Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine), who kidnaps size 14 females and eventually dumps their bodies, with large areas of skin missing. The reasoning for this is revealed, delving deeper into the twisted mindset of his character. 

In case this very short synopsis hasn't allowed you to work it out, Silence of the Lambs is a very dark film, exploring deep childhood traumas and their resulting effects. The character of Hannibal is left considerably vague through most of the movie, increasing the uneasy feeling whenever agent Clarice converses with him. This lack of depth to Dr. Lecter does not detract from the enjoyment of the film however, quite the contrary, as Anthony Hopkins' role is one of my very favourites I have ever seen; enveloping a sociopathic twisted mind with an almost respectable level of education and intelligence. Every scene he features in stand out as the best within the movie. 

Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) 

My only complaint with the movie, if it's even acceptable to call it a complaint, is that due to the incredible acting provided by Anthony Hopkins and Ted Levine, other characters seem slightly less in comparison, such as Clarice's FBI superior Jack Crawford (Scott Glen). It would be difficult to refer to this as a negative though, as when taken by themselves, no member of the cast particularly brings the movie down, with the majority of the actors being a joy to watch. 

Verdict 

Silence of the Lambs is a movie which keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. With phenomenal acting, a likeable protagonist and an interesting and intriguing plot, it's well worth watching, even 22 years after it's release.   9/10

"A census taker once tried to test me, so I ate his liver with some

fava beans and a nice chianti."