The Silence of the Lambs—The blueprint for horror movies

When people talk about the greatest horror movies of all time, one of the first ones mentioned is “The Silence of the Lambs.” 

This slow-burning horror film has turned into a cult classic with its characters, Hannibal Lecter and Buffalo Bill, remaining iconic, recognizable characters in pop culture even after the movie has been out for over 30 years. While it is a cult classic, it does not mean the movie was unappreciated when it was released. 

The movie is one of a few to complete the rare sweep at the Oscars, winning the awards for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay. When the audience watches the movie, it is not hard to see why the film received so much praise. 

Anthony Hopkins won the award for Best Actor for his portrayal of  Lecter. Lecter is a former forensic psychiatrist who became a serial killer who cannibalizes his victims.  

This background helps the audience understand that Lecter is a very smart man who is always playing mind games to get into the heads of those around him. This is evident when Clarice Starling, an FBI trainee, goes to interrogate Lecter and is given multiple rules for how to engage with the killer. 

Some rules make sense, like not sitting near the cell and not handing him anything directly, but setting it in a chute so there is no contact. These rules are necessary to protect her from possibly becoming his next victim. 

One of the other rules shows how brilliant the deranged murderer truly is. Do not talk about yourself in the slightest because if you do, he can get into your head.  

At first, Starling, portrayed by Jodie Foster, follows these rules, but by the end of the film, she has broken every single one of them. Starling is working a case to catch another serial killer, Buffalo Bill, and is so desperate to catch him that she is willing to let Lecter into her mind and know her. 

Bill kidnaps young women and murders them in his house before removing their skin, building a flesh suit for him to wear. After Bill kidnaps a U.S. senator’s daughter, the need for Lecter to help identify him increases. 

Hopkins portrays Lecter perfectly. He is a cool, calm and collected psychopath who likes to draw and listen to music. Then, in the next moment, he is flying off the handle and trying to kill someone to escape. 

Lecter is always learning and scheming. Even if he is in jail, it never feels like he is trapped, rather like he wants to be there. 

Foster’s portrayal of Starling won her the Oscar for Best Actress. Starling starts the movie as a nervous trainee who wants to prove herself, but by the end, she is a confident detective who is analyzing every piece of information she is getting. 

The movie, being a slow burn, is an understatement; however, it is worth the wait. While the first hour and a half of the movie is slow, it builds this nonstop final 30 minutes, which barely slows down. 

The first half is so the audience can understand the characters, their motivations and what makes them act the way they act. The second half is where all this knowledge comes into play as every character makes their final move. 

Lecter is transferred to a prison in Memphis, Tennessee, because of his help identifying Bill, and this is where Lecter makes his big escape. While handcuffed, he frees himself using a pen and murders the two guards watching him.  

The police turn off the lights and walk in to see the horrific sight. He strung one up above his cell to look like an angel with flesh and tendons holding him up. The other appears to be badly hurt and is quickly rushed to the hospital. 

Once in the ambulance, it is revealed that Lecter ripped the second guard's face off, threw the body on top of the elevator and wore the face so he could escape. He kills the paramedics and flees before the cops can realize his demented plan. 

Starling is narrowing in on Bill and has found the house where he is keeping the Senator’s daughter. Bill kills the lights and puts on night vision goggles to stalk and play with Starling, who cannot see anything in the pitch-black basement. 

This movie is fantastic and does horror in a different way from most movies. It doesn’t use jump scares and weird creatures, but rather a more disturbing, realistic story that builds its conclusion. 

Overall, this is a great movie to watch. It is best watched while having an old friend over for dinner with a plate of fava beans and a nice glass of Chianti.