Pour a Nice Chianti, ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ Turns 30

February 14, 2021

A couple of weeks ago, I re-watched The Silence of the Lambs and was struck by a few things: This movie was very well thought-out, well-acted, executed, and still haunting now thirty years later. First released on February 14, 1991, the film seems ageless in its ability to disturb and entertain.

Anthony Hopkins was remarkable as Hannibal Lecter, totally immersing himself in all Lecters’ demented and creepy glory. As great as it was to have a second serial killer in Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine was no slouch here, either), the movie was really about Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) and her journey that brought her to this point in her life and career. Everyone served as pieces in the puzzle of her story, remarkable pieces to be sure, but Clarice was always the centerpiece, something that sometimes gets overlooked.

While the sequel Hannibal (2001) went for the grotesque and disturbing, here, director Jonathan Demme crafted a very smart and structured story, wrapped around Starling with many useful, impressive elements. The film is dark, not just in nature but in design as well, with many shadows, basements, and places that most people would never want to inhabit, for any reason. Combined with a creepy and haunting score by composer Howard Shore, it made for a great backdrop to an already remarkable film.

The impact Hopkins made as Lecter was significant, even more so when you consider the fact he only had a total of sixteen minutes of screen time. Our first glimpse of him is in his cage in the basement of the psychiatric hospital, half in the shadows, menacing and alert. It is as impressive an entrance, simple, yet you can feel the tension rise. His character is much like classic monsters like Frankenstein’s Monster or Nosferatu, who are creatures of habit and instinct, because this is their nature, and in some ways misunderstood. Lecter is a killer, that is not a point to debate, but he really does want to help Starling as they bond over respect and intelligence.

The Silence of the Lambs endures for many reasons, especially for how the film conveys fear. This is a primal instinct we all know, yet trying to get that across to an audience is not always an easy thing to accomplish. From the moment we meet Lecter, the fear is always there. Dread hangs over the rest of the movie as Lecter and Buffalo Bill take turns putting the viewer in disturbing and horrifying situations. It is a credit to all involved that they managed to capture the element of fear and harness it throughout this film, making the audience become more uneasy and tense as the movie moves along.

It also gives us the unique relationship between Starling and Lecter, two polar opposite human beings who, on some levels, are also very similar. We like both of them for different reasons, and Lecter’s calculated charm makes us believe there is actually some good in the man. We watch a lot of the movie through Starling’s eyes. We see how she is looked down on as a woman in the FBI, how she struggles with her past. This makes the bond with Lecter plausible enough to capture the viewer’s attention.

The Silence of the Lambs did so many things right, it is no wonder it took home so many accolades and awards. Weaving a story that depends on fear and dread, yet at the same time brings out sympathy and empathy in the viewer, is no easy task. Through Starling’s eyes, we viewed hope, fear, loneliness, and perseverance, with the help of a couple of serial killers. The journey is one we choose to revisit over and over again, even thirty years later.