Fantastic Thriller

Rating: 9/10 (8 September 2014)

Spoiler alert: This review contains spoilers, revealing parts of the plot.
Have you ever seen a main character that both inspires and frightens you at the same time? That's exactly what Anthony Hopkins with his role as Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lector accomplishes with his mind-blowing performance in Silence of the Lambs. This film is one of the most awe-inspiring thrillers ever produced on screen. It's deeply psychological, with a strong story. The most amazing irony that this movie delivers, is that you both respect Hannibal, but also despise him. He has an incredible role within the film and Hopkins certainly manages to portray Hannibal perfectly. All the credit to Hopkins for the amazing performance. Jodie Foster portrays the role of FBI trainee Clarice Starling, who certainly manages to put op a great performance as well. We've seen here role as Clarice Starling portrayed by other actresses in the sequels to Silence of the Lambs and none of them managed to outperform her, or even come close to her performance in Silence of the Lambs.
This film is a really exciting thriller, with a lot of strong moments that manage to keep up the pace, which is important to a thriller in my view. Clarice Starling follows a special FBI training, until her boss wants her to participate in a special task. He wants her to interrogate the dangerous Hannibal, who is in prison for his cannibalistic crimes. When she does, she seems afraid at first, but Hannibal shows his respect for her and she starts being intrigued by Hannibal. The main goal for the interrogations is to follow the trail of a murderer named Buffalo Bill. This insane murderer kills and skins young woman, because he's an insane cross dresser. They want Hannibal to help them with the difficult case, because Bill used to be a psychiatric patient of his. Bit by bit, Hannibal delivers some information, but he wants to hear the live story of Starling in exchange. Agent Starling offers him a fake agreement, put together by her boss, so Hannibal will give them all the information required. But the prison guard Jack Crawford, a rival to Hannibal, tells him it's a lie. Starling slowly starts to find out more about this mysterious Buffalo Bill. Hanibal the Cannibal has been locked inside a cage, but when two prison guards attempt to give him some food, he manages to escape and murders both men. He then manages to escape prison. Meanwhile, agent Starling ends up in the house of Buffalo Bill and attempts to rescue the daughter of the governor, but she gets trapped in a deep well, until the FBI discovers and they are rescued. Starling isn't afraid of the fact that Hannibal has escaped prison, because she knows he respects her and is too decent to go after her. The strongest part of the film happens in the last minute, when Starling receives a call from Hannibal and he tells her he's not going after her, because that would be a pity for the world.
Really strong performances by most of the characters. Buffalo Bill is an insane murderer and his role has been portrayed very well. Hannibal is really intriguing in Silence of the Lambs, which really adds up to the film's quality. I'd go on and say this is actually the best thriller that has ever been made.