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                                           The Silence of the Lambs Movie Critique

The silence of the lambs is a horror movie which was produced in 1991 and was directed by Jonathan Demme. The movie was written by Ted Tally and was adapted from a novel which had been written by Thomas Harris. The movie is of a horror, mystery and suspense genre and was able to win accolades including an Oscar awards such as the best actor, best director, best picture and best actress in 1992.

The movie starts by introducing an FBI trainee known as Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) who was a brilliant student in class hence got a chance to be selected by Jack Crawford (Scott Glenn). Jack was the head of the FBI department of Behavioral science unit. Clarice was recruited to assist in pursuing a serial killer named Buffalo Bill who had a psychopath habit of skinning his victims after killing them.  Crawford wanted Clarice to approach Dr. Hannibal Lecter also known as ‘Hannibal the Cannibal’ who would then help him to provide information about Buffalo Bill. This crucial to their investigation as Crawford had analyzed and realized that he could be able to open up to a female gender which in this case was Clarice (Canby). This was successful as the doctor came up with a quid pro quid deal which involved giving her information in exchange with Clarice giving him details about her past life.

Anthony Hopkins who was acting as Dr. Hannibal gave the most memorable performance in the movie by bringing out the charismatic role of being a pure evil person. Even though he was locked in a maximum facility, the information he gave Clarice helped them track Buffalo Bill. Interestingly, during her assignments in the prison interviews with Hannibal, they were able to develop a complex relationship. Hannibal is brought out as a seductive psychopath as seen during the interviews which is conducted through a thick bullet proof glass. He portrays an arrogant and death-looking face and at the same time exudes a frosty smile when talking to Clarice.

In their first interview Hannibal who interacts with Clarice sizes her up from her dressing and how she talks in her West Virginia accent. This makes him skeptical with the whole process but after he is attracted to her, he decided to open up. She is direct and kind making him eventually to open up. Hannibal is brought out as an expert in prying and asking questions. Clarice is forced to face his Hannibal’s mind games and the dangers associated with Buffalo Bill. These dangers include sexual politics of being a female in male dominated world. This is seen when Crawford takes her for field work which involves viewing the latest victim who had been killed by Buffalo Bill. She is surrounded by Machos’ who were male cops (Barardenelli). This clearly brings her role as a heroine championing for other victimized women.

Hannibal is also brought out as an intelligent and far more dangerous psychopath and one can wonder how the FBI were able to catch him. Even though he is brought out as a clod hearted person, the movie also reveals his human being aspect by helping Clarice. He respects her and is sad about her past life thus making him a remorseful person (Ebert). Their relationship is similar to a student-mentor one or even father-daughter one. By the time the movie was ending they had made impact on each other’s life.

The director of the movie Mr. Demme is able to build these scenes in a spectacular way. The buildup to Hannibal in the first scene is very effective as he instills fear as soon he appears on the screen. Thereafter he becomes a trusted character hence one that is very entertaining. He is able to help the detectives unearth Buffalo Bill. The screenplay of the movie is also very effective in bringing out the characters which is hard pressed to inform the audience. There are also other supporting acts such as Anthony Heald who is a doctor and is brought out as nutty as Hannibal.

There are the parallel themes which are seen in the visual strategy brought out in the movie. Hannibal being in prison and Buffalo in his basement thus both living in underworlds hence their psychopathic nature. The movie’s soundtrack also helps in bringing out the themes in the movie. There are exhalations in many points of the movie; an example is when Bill is taking on his first victim. There are much cries and laments (Cameron). The music creates a theme of terror. All these qualities in the movie ensure that there is longevity in the Silence as the movie is named after, these includes the introduction of Hannibal, discovery and extraction of the cocoon in the throat and also in the third scene where the cops await the arrival of an elevator which was coming from the upper floors. The movie is able to intertwine the horror brought by the criminal acts and the psychological horrors brought through the interrogation between Clarice and Hannibal while in prison.

Works Cited

Barardenelli, James. “Silence of the Lambs movie review.” Reel Views (1991).

Cameron, Shane. “The Silence of the Lambs review.” Rotten Tomatoes (2014).

Canby, Vincent. “The Silence of the lambd movie review.” The New York Times (1991).

Ebert, Roger. “The Silence of the Lambs.” Roger Ebert (2001).