Classic Movie Review: The Silence Of The Lambs. By Christopher Patterson.

If there was ever a film that soaked you into it in the first five minutes, it’s The Silence of the Lambs. Right from the start, you know that you are in for an experience. And an experience it is. This film not only accomplished being one of the most thrilling films to come out of the 1990s, but it was also able to be one of the most moving pieces of cinema all at once.

One of the greatest elements this film produced was the interactions between Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins. There is a reason their interactions are still discussed over 30 years after the film’s release. One of the most brilliant elements of this relationship is the mind games that are further intensified by magnificent direction, mesmerizing acting, and a genius script. An element, to be specific, that makes this so impactful is how the camera is aimed. The director, Jonathan Demme, takes possibly the most intense direction seen in film, with each shot in their interactions feeling like a person itself judging the people talking. In a sense, the detective in this whole film is the camera through which the characters are examined. 

The hunting of “Buffalo Bill” is one of the most interesting elements of the film. A key element of this is how compelling it is to see his fascination with butterflies and the meanings behind them, along with his motivations. This all works to serve Clarice’s compelling search to capture him, which brings us to one of the most interesting main characters in the film. Her backstory is compelling and rough, but it is how it is slowly and cleverly revealed and the themes behind it that work to serve the story so well, all of which lead to some essential themes of the film. If I had to list them, they would be: trauma and true evil. Trauma is an element stuck in nearly every character, with the exception of Lector. What makes this theme work so well is how the trauma of the characters takes them to the present. While most of it is not said, it can be easily inferred through characters such as Jack Crawford, for instance. Another element is what defines evil. We see a variety of examples in this film of evil, but how do we truly classify it? Is evil an action, a mistake, or something born into you? At the core of the film is this theme, and it is brilliantly illustrated through the many explicit examples it brings.

Even more, the pace of this masterpiece is engrossing every second. From the shocking moments to the slower-paced ones, the narrative feels precise and always focused, thanks largely to a genius script. From some of the most iconic and powerful dialogue produced to some of the greatest reveals, this script is a diamond on every page and truly is what would’ve made or broken this film.

If there was ever something to critique, it would be the final twists. While the ending to the “Buffalo Bill” chase was compelling, it could have benefited from a longer buildup, as in its final form, it feels slightly rushed based on how fast-paced the film has been. Though even an issue like this barely takes away from one of the most compelling ending scenes of cinema, where we see Clarice truly take “Buffalo Bill ” down, and the weight that has been built up explicitly and un-explicitly through many other characters and subtext is powerfully executed.

Overall, this film is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. It nearly perfected what a thriller is and can be through some of the most compelling dialogue and direction seen in cinema. If that’s not enough, you have the honor to see two of the greatest actors giving it their all in Oscar-winning performances.

The Silence Of The Lambs

---

We hope you're enjoying BRWC. You should check us out on our social channels, subscribe to our newsletter, and tell your friends. BRWC is short for battleroyalewithcheese.

---

Trending on BRWC:

---

Cool Posts From Around the Web:

---

---