The Silence of the Lambs (1991) - Review
- Mav
- Feb 13, 2018
- 3 min read

1991's The Silence of the Lambs is a study of time. No doubt revolutionary in 1991, through 2018 eyes, the innovation is rather stale. While entertaining, for a present day first watch, this psychological thriller is quite underwhelming.
In The Silence of the Lambs, FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is tapped to interview famed killer Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) in a bid to shed light on the flayer "Buffalo Bill".
Entering into this film, I knew the major beats. Fava beans and chianti, Goodbye Horses and "I'm having an old friend for dinner" are all pieces of the puzzle I had going in. Perhaps had I viewed the film cold, I would have a different appreciation for it. Though after sweeping the 1992 Oscars, those scenes in particular have entered the pop cultural ethos, making it incredibly difficult for new viewers.
There was moments of brilliance. Anthony Hopkins portrayal of Hannibal is rightfully legendary, going from cold and disturbing to charming and funny. The escape scene is the stand-out of the movie, with director Jonathan Demme executing Lecter's misdirection wonderfully. The same goes for the final scenes, with some more directorial/editorial misdirection leaving me in awe of the reveal that poor, ill-equipped Clarice is alone with Buffalo Bill. The production design of Bill's basement was labyrinthine, creating a claustrophobic tone that really put the viewer in Clarice's shoes. Tremendous stuff.
I also found the extensive use of POV shots and characters staring directly into the camera to postulate some interesting themes. First, the notion of both Clarice and Hannibal being outsiders. Hannibal is an outsider to society, locked up and branded a dangerous serial killer. He is even an outsider within the prison, kept behind glass while the rest of the inmates are merely behind bars. Clarice, while an average woman, is also an outsider - to the FBI. The male dominated field of policing views her as an anomaly. From the creepy Crawford ogling her, to the southern police staring intensely, to Hannibal pegging her as a rookie, Clarice is constantly fighting her perception as being weak. The only time we get Clarice looking directly into the camera is when she comes across as a true FBI agent. Questioning Hannibal early on, investigating files with her friend - she is confident and in control. This is played in stark contrast to the scenes where other characters are staring at her - she is not ready to be in this role.
I also took many of the POV shots to illustrate Hannibal's point of watching and being watched. The men in the film watch Clarice, just like Buffalo Bill watches his victims. While Clarice is unsettled by being watched by Crawford, Hannibal, the police and Bill, we the viewer are unsettled as well. Filmgoers are not used to actors staring directly into the camera, which Demme uses to help craft the uneasiness that purveys the feature.
Despite these great qualities, the movie mostly fell flat to me. The scares were non-existent, and the fact that this is hailed as a classic horror movie is laughable to me. While unsettling, this is hardly scary by todays standards. The costuming, cinematography (aside from the POV shots) and the hair/makeup are all dated. In a film where the time periods is of essence to the plot, this can be ignored. But while Silence is meant to be a reflection of reality, with the terror coming from the minds of the killers, not their acts, it is not a reflection of our reality. 2018 has little in common with 1991, and that is evidenced by this film.
In 1991, The Silence of the Lambs was revolutionary. However, in 2018, it feels derivative. Aside from a few brilliant shots/scenes and 1 classic acting performance, I cannot help but feel I have seen this movie before, despite never seeing it before at all. I am left to give this one a RENTAL.
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