The Silence of the Lambs (1991), directed by Jonathan Demme, stars Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, Scott Glenn, Ted Levine, Anthony Heald, Brooke Smith, Diane Baker, Kasi Lemmons, and Charles Napier. The film follows F.B.I. cadet Clarice Starling (Foster) as she’s recruited to assist in the hunt for a demented serial killer known as Buffalo Bill (Levine). When Bill kidnaps a senator’s daughter (Smith), Clarice is ordered to enlist the help of a former psychiatrist turned cannibal serial killer: Hannibal Lecter (Hopkins). As Lecter’s help brings Clarice closer to Bill, it becomes clear that his help may not be as selfless as it originally appears. 

Both Foster and Hopkins won Oscars for their roles in this film, and I believe they’re well-deserved. Foster’s character is immediately framed as a sheep sleeping in a den of wolves – the only female working in a male-dominated field. She finds the perfect balance of conveying the lack of comfort that would come with her position but also the natural strength she would have to develop to be there in the first place. For example, the movie opens with her running an obstacle course early in the morning with no one else around. It’s efficient visual exposition that immediately establishes the character without the need for dialogue.

 The movie uniquely uses sexuality/gender to put the audience on edge even in scenes where Clarice is completely safe. She’s constantly surrounded by men and the majority of them seem keen on her either flirting with her or disregarding her completely because of her gender. While women in the film are hunted by Bill, the movie is smart to show how this can affect them psychologically in their day-to-day lives. It’s dramatic, but sometimes the way men treat women can make them feel like prey (and killers are just the worst version of this). Yes, this is scary for women, but it should also be scary for the men watching. Oftentimes, Lecter (the cannibal killer) is shown to treat Clarice with the most respect, not only complicating these themes but making them ripe for discussion/analysis. This would all feel very scathing toward men, but characters such as Jack Crawford (Glenn) and Clarice’s father balance it out. For example, Crawford’s arc here shows a male character accepting a female (Clarice) and constantly reevaluating his misconceptions about her. That being said, it also does what so many modern feminist films fail to do, and shows the female protagonist earning the respect of her male peers. It always falls flat when a film like this implies that the male characters should respect the female equally simply because she’s female. That’s no different of a message than saying we should respect males simply because they’re male. We respect characters because of what they do/achieve, not because of what’s going on in their private areas, and that goes both ways. 

Anthony Hopkins is only on screen for a total of 24 minutes and 52 seconds, but however short that may seem, his presence looms over the entirety of the film. It’s earned a status as one of the most iconic performances in the history of cinema, and rightfully so. He’s the perfect balance of chilling, funny, oddly approachable (though no one ever should), and thus, irresistible. Although his claim to fame is the fact that he cannibalizes his victims, we never see him eat anyone. What’s scary about Hannibal is how he’s able to psychologically manipulate the people around him. The script also isn’t afraid to explore what makes a killer tick. In a scene referencing the film’s title, Clarice tells a childhood story of walking in on lambs being slaughtered in a barn, and that saving people is the only way to make the screams go away in her head. Hannibal smiles, knowing that they are more alike than she knows. The reason he kills (in my reading of the scene) is likewise to make the “screams” go away. This isn’t viscerally scary, but it sure is intellectually chilling.

The film features your typical 90s serial killer thriller vibe, but this was the first to do it and still the best. It plays things straight, prioritizing realism over visual flair. The characters are always likable, smart, and mature, resulting in us caring about them almost immediately. It also helps that there’s not a single boring scene. The pacing is top-notch and the script is filled with consistent surprises. To top it all off, it ends on one of the most unique, chilling, but satisfying endings in horror cinema. 

Overall, this is a bonafide serial killer horror film that holds up even after 30 years. It may seem tame in terms of gore, but the movie doesn’t need it. It’s the perfect example of a movie that provides mature/intellectual scares and I don’t think I’d have it any other way. This is a movie that everyone should check out. It features one of the most iconic performances of all time and is entertaining from beginning to end. A