The Silence of the Lambs

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Horrorphile - August 2008

The Silence of the Lambs

August 12th 2008 00:14

Jonathon Demme’s The Silence of the Lambs (1991) based on the best-seller novel by Thomas Harris is the only horror movie to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards. It’s usually referred to as a psychological thriller, but it’s a horror movie. If I start to really twist the genre then I’d say Best Picture winner No Country for Old Men is a post-modern horror-revisionist Western, but I’m sure some people would claim I’m clutching at straws.

Although the character of Dr. Hannibal Lecter had already been portrayed by Brian Cox in Michael Mann’s under-rated Manhunter (1986, based on Thomas Harris’s Red Dragon novel) it is The Silence of the Lambs that cemented his character in the audience’s psyche; chiefly due to Anthony Hopkins bone-chilling performance as the respected psychiatrist-turned-sociopath ic murderer-and-cannibal. He won an Oscar for his work, as did Jodie Foster as plucky FBI Agent Clarice Starling (or as Hannibal so fondly pronounces it, “Clar-reese”).

Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling

So brilliantly sustained and etched was Hopkins performance that he immediately became one of the most admired villains in cinema history. His entry to the pantheon of all-time classic cinema monsters was certified with Ridley Scott’s unjustly-maligned, exceptional Hannibal (2001, again based on a Thomas Harris novel).

The Silence of the Lambs Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter

In The Silence of the Lambs the FBI are desperate to catch serial killer Buffalo Bill, called just so because he likes to flay his victims. He’s killed and skinned five victims and pretty soon has a sixth in captivity; the daughter of a senator. Starling is given the job of trying to interview Hannibal Lecter who has been incarcerated for eight years in an asylum, in the vain hope that he may decide to impart crucial criminally insane profiler information to Starling that will aid the FBI in their task of apprehending Buffalo Bill.

Anthony Heald as Dr. Chilton

As it so happens Starling is perfect for the duty. Lecter takes to her like a cat to a mouse. It’s a game of psychological testing back and forth between the uber-smart killer and the intuitive, but naïve special agent. It is this almost perverse bond that will carry over and become even more intense in Hannibal.

The Silence of the Lambs Anthony Hopkins and Frankie Faison

Hannibal and long-time nurse Barney (Frankie Faison)

Jonathon Demme’s visual style is very deliberate and at times quite confronting; a frequent use of close-ups and when characters are in conversation the actors are looking almost straight down the barrel of the lens. It’s a clever conceit that heightens the urgency and the unsettling, strangely claustrophobic nature of the plot, especially when it feels like Hannibal Lecter is addressing the audience directly his eyes glistening with abject evil. Demme’s stylistics are reminiscent of Hitchcock, and it is this masterful control of tension and suspense that punctuates the movie so effectively, especially concerning the off-screen violence that occurs during Lecter’s escape.

Lt. Boyle (Charles Napier) ends up as Hannibal's homage to surrealist painter Francis Bacon

I can’t help musing over the power of a movie’s title. Surely part of the equation that has lead to this film being regarded so highly among film scholars, horror-thriller fans and the general public is the intellectual element of the title, which refers to the movie’s sub-text; the power-play and mind game going on between Dr. Lecter and Agent Starling. The memory of her childhood trauma over the screaming of lambs about to be slaughtered on a farm she stayed on as a child, and Lecter’s intuitive manipulation of his knowledge, edging her closer to an emotional abyss, taunting her that by bringing Buffalo Bill to justice will silence the petrified lambs and ease her frayed state of mind.

The Silence of the Lambs Hannibal-victim

In a macbare, yet brilliant manoeuvre Hannibal escapes

Would the film have been critically affected had it been called Wild Buffalo Bill? Or Death’s Head Moth perhaps? The Silence of the Lambs has a distinct literary sound; obscure, yet specific, and because the meaning of the title isn’t handed to audiences on a platter it encourages discussion. I might be completely off the beaten track here, but it’s an interesting point nevertheless; the title and the image of the moth over Starling’s mouth used in much of the publicity campaign.

Ted Levine as the transvestite serial killer known as Buffalo Bill

Apart from Hopkins and Foster Anthony Heald is excellent as the unctuous Dr. Chilton, as is Ted Levine as Jame “Buffalo Bill” Gumb. Curious to note legendary B-movie producer Roger Corman cast as FBI Director Hayden Burke and B-movie stalwart Charles Napier as a lieutenant. Ron Vawter plays Paul Krendler (in only a couple of scenes), a role brought to insidious life by Ray Liotta in the sequel Hannibal.

A terrified Starling in the movie's nerve-wracking finale

Seventeen years on and The Silence of the Lambs is aging nicely, like a fine bottle of fortified wine. Hopkins performance continues to cause the marrow in your bones to harden, and Howard Shore’s restrained, yet evocative score hasn’t dated the film (unfortunately like so many scores do). And what a wicked "open" ending too, I might add. If you’ve never seen this classic horror-chiller, now is most definitely a good time.

Here's the original trailer (I could only find an out-of-sync version, I'm afraid):

And here's the excellent scene where Hannibal Lecter intimidates the Senator:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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22 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by D. Armenta

August 12th 2008 00:26

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

The scene viewed through night-vision goggles from Gumb's point of view was and is deliciously chilling!

Also, one of the funniest scenes was in this movie: when Foster gets into the basement where the girl is being held in the pit and yells "FBI, you're safe!"...

Comment by Bryn

August 12th 2008 06:11

Horrorphile

Armenta, yeah, that night-vision scene is very intense indeed! As for going down into his lair with all those doorways and nooks and crannies ... also knowing he had a gun. Eeek! Safe, my ass!

Comment by JohnDoe

August 12th 2008 07:41

Film & TV on DVD

Hi Bryn,

You know my opinion on this, fanatastically shot and scored, technically brilliant

The problem is Hopkins who is so cartoonish against the carefully manufactured tone of psuedo documentary that he pulls me out of the film whenever onscreen. A characture that never feels real or authentic and never ever manages to scare or even sustain the tension established in the scenes around him.

Instead of frightening I find the film becomes a comedy of manners whenever he appears with his hammy, OTT portrayal....give me Brian Cox anyday...

Ted Levine as Buffalo Bill however is chilling and certainly one of the greatest screen villians ever.

Comment by Bryn

August 12th 2008 08:51

Horrorphile

JD, care to take this outside? I'd hate to hear your opinion of Hopkins' performance in Hannibal. I shudder to think!

Comment by Damo

August 12th 2008 09:21

One line sets this film apart.
"I'm having an old friend for diner."

Comment by JohnDoe

August 12th 2008 09:31

Film & TV on DVD

Hi bryn,

I actually thought Hopkins was perfectly suited for Ridley Scott's Hannibal. The tongue in cheek literary wit and stylised tone that's not set in the real world make Ridley's effort easily my favourite of the post Manhunter Hannibal films and teh only one where Hopkins hamming fits..

Comment by Journeywoman

August 12th 2008 10:16

Great Hair Style Tips
I Dream of Hollywood
Fashion Peach

Great article Bryn, The Silence of the Lambs is one of my all-time favourites (as you know) for the very reasons you outlined. Unlike JD I didn't find Hopkins to be hammy, he was downright scary IMO! So evil and frighteningly intelligent. I also felt connected with Jodie Foster's character in a way that I haven't felt with her since.

The scene that always chills me to the bone is when the senator's daughter spots the fingernails of Buffalo Bill's previous victims embedded into the walls of the pit she's in, and knows without a doubt that he's going to kill her. Horrifying!

Comment by Smooth Political

August 12th 2008 19:37

This has got to be one of my favorite films of all time

Comment by D. Armenta

August 12th 2008 21:06

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

Uh oh...Bryn old buddy, I'm afraid I'm with JD on Hopkins' performance. I mean, the whole unblinking stare/superhuman olfactory/flat tone act fairly reeks of a poseur's attempt at intimidation..if I met such a person I'd barely be able to keep a straight face.

Actually, I have met people like that. Couldn't keep a straight face.

Also, damn' if I didn't forget to address the very interesting question you asked; since the title was used by Harris in the original book, I'd hazard a guess that Harris was trying hard not to fall into the Dean R. Koontz category; if he wanted to get really nerdy and obscure with the title, he could have called it Acherontia Atropos, which is the scientific name for the Death's Head hawkmoth featured on the movie poster and in the book (not really enlarged upon in the movie though)...

Comment by Bryn

August 12th 2008 23:31

Horrorphile

Damo, yes, fabulous line and a fabulous coda to the movie.

JD, intriguing.

Journey, the senator's daughter was a lucky girl indeed.

Armenta, I've not read the novel, but have read Hannibal, which I loved.

Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling

August 13th 2008 00:08

Potter in a Harry

Bryn,

Long time no comment. (sorry, been busy doing nothing ...

I'll chip my two bob's worth in.

Hopkin's performance in SOTL is perfect to me. Normally Doe (7) and Armenta say things I agree with, but I don't agree with hardly anything they've said about Hopkins' performance in this film ... Neither of them are half as sociopathic as I first thought ... I might never correspond with either of them again after this [just joking ...

I'm eminently qualified to judge how a sociopath acts, so don't even try to argue on this one with me ...

One of my script-doctor mates who runs the Int Film School uses this film to teach people what screenwriting is all about ... it's all about feminism and the absurdity of women trying to be equal to men ... well the day they grow penises? Bring it on ladies ...

The day women and men become equal? I'm turning gay ... Give me a flat chested woman with a penis ... Give me a tranny ...

Anyway ... can't be stuffed writing any more on the subject ... Just thought I'd call in and say hello Bryn ... Hope all is well in your world ...

Comment by Bryn

August 13th 2008 00:19

Horrorphile

Ms. Muddling,
A pleasure to have your wordophilic presence grace my Darkness. It has been a while indeed.
Cheers for the review props, glad you agree. I didn't realise the novel/movie was so rich in sub-text

But then the great films usually are ... I'd love Jonathon Demme to put out a cut that incorporates the 21 odd scenes he deleted ...
So what have you been doing with your time D? Or will I be appalled and repulsed?

Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling

August 13th 2008 00:43

Potter in a Harry

Well there is the odd screenplay written from scratch that makes a great film (Cohen Bros ... Kyslowski ... a few others ...

but generally Hollywood needs a book written first ... so that the film itself has a skerrick of subtext ...

save that convo for another day ...

As to what I've been doing? Well ... I went to Qld for a few months ... I wanted to experience life as an aborted foetus ... so I worked for Aust Post ...

but I decided my life as a monkey's afterbirth was more fruitful ...

So I'm back in SA (Adelaide) doing what I do best ... dribbling shit on the net ...[without a straw ... btw ...

Comment by D. Armenta

August 13th 2008 01:35

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

Oooh Bryn, I sense a great new post for you..who has played the best sociopath on film?

LHM, damn but it's good to see your charming phiz around here. How about a post or two?

I still maintain that I have and I would dissolve into uncontrollable laughter upon encountering a character like Dr. Lecter..should clarify that this isn't in any way a slam upon Hopkins' acting. He was simply playing the character as read...

Comment by Bryn

August 13th 2008 03:26

Horrorphile

Muddling,
I trust you didn't tamper with any envelopes, y'know anthrax and all that ...

I agree with your Hollywood observation. Generally I prefer original screenplays, but there are some genuinely impressive adaptations floating around ...

Armenta, I'll give that post suggestion some serious thought ... cheers!

Comment by JohnDoe

August 13th 2008 07:40

Film & TV on DVD

Hi Bryn,

If your interested I wrote a post on Cavecc.com titled "Eleven Chilling Celluliod Killers" (not sociopaths, though some listed fit ). You can read it by clicking HERE...And yes Brian Cox as hannibal in Manhunter made the cut for me.

Comment by Damo

August 13th 2008 10:11

I have not seen manhunter yet but I should have.
Just looked up the sound track on line
Klaus Schultze and Kitaro contributed tracks.
It is worth chasing down just for that.

Comment by Bryn

August 14th 2008 06:18

Horrorphile

JD, I need to see Manunter again, haven't seen it in many years.
Killer post in your Lair.
I haven't heard of Minus Man. Is that the lovely Connie Nielson?

Comment by D. Armenta

August 14th 2008 14:52

The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.

JD--second Bryn's motion. Fantastic post at cavecc. I've bitched about the romanticization of serial killers for years now.

Comment by Bryn

August 15th 2008 01:34

Horrorphile

So Armenta, what pray tell are your picks for best cinema serial killer?

Comment by Michaelie

August 15th 2008 15:41

Flick Wit

Hey Bryn, fab post, excellent flick. Lecter really scared me the first fifty times I watched this, his intelligence and manipulation that meant he could violate someone even within the confines of his cell...

Probably my favourite of Jodie Foster's roles too. I love it from pretty much every angle.

Michaelie

Comment by Bryn

August 17th 2008 05:13

Horrorphile

MIchaelie, yeah, Jonathon Demme made a fine film indeed. I didn't realise how Hitchcockian it was until seeing again for the first time in several years or more recently.

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