Silence of the Lambs '91

Silence of the Lambs was one of the most popular films released in 1991. I had never seen it because I generally tend to stay away from suspenseful movies. The way I look at it, while I watch, I am filled with questions and feelings of expectancy, doubt and apprehension. When I find the time to sit and watch a movie for a couple hours, I am not going to choose a film like Silence of the Lambs because I’d rather not be frightened and disturbed—I’d rather watch something like Up or The Departed.

The director, Johnathon Demme, was voted the 45^th greatest director of all time after Silence of the Lambs. Some scenes in particular were quite freaky. I just don’t love dark psychological thrillers. I will usually switch off movies like Silence of the Lambs, Shutter Island, and Seven.

This movie definitely appeals to an audience who likes being scared. The viewer sees the strange relationship between Clarice and Hannibal Lecter. There are many extreme close-ups that create an intimately creepy experience for the viewer. These shots exemplify the powerless feelings of Clarice and Lecter’s ostracized worlds.

Even though Hannibal Lecter entirely freaked me out, he had a somewhat likeable presence.

The film techniques enhanced feelings of apprehension in scenes—I was waiting and waiting as the camera passed through hallways and down stairs to reach Lecter in his prison cell and Buffalo Bill in his basement—I don’t think this was unintended. Another aspect that should be noted is that the camera waiting for Clarice with scrutinizing shots instead of moving along with her.

Sounds of heavy breathing and low cries create terror throughout the film. Hannibal Lecter is incredibly brilliant despite being undoubtedly emotionless and dispassionate. The audience gets the feeling that he likes to amuse.

Everything about this film is clever and manipulated. The characters themselves are clever and manipulating; the play on images and visuals in Silence of the Lambs is clever and manipulating as well. Visual intercuts play within the sequence.