Excellent thriller/drama **some spoilers!**

Rating: 8/10 (6 December 2002)

In some ways, "The Silence of the Lambs" is what pure horror is made of. It does not have the excessive gore of some slasher movies, but taps into human fears in a way few films can ever hope to accomplish. Fears such as being trapped in a dark basement, being stalked by a madman, skinnings, and rotting corpses; all are incorporated into the narrative in one coherent package. This is not a cheesy horror movie; it's a dark, gloomy thriller--somber and eerie to the core, with stark, painful images. There is almost no humor or sunshine; few horror films actually succeed at being serious, but this one does, making it one of a select few along with "Alien," "Hellraiser," and "The Exorcist." Director Jonathan Demme (for whom this film may be the one he is most associated with) keeps this moving at a steady pace, with the suspense being nearly unbearable at times. There are few shock moments, but the taut direction makes them truly effective without resorting to cheap "splatter movie" tactics. Like other standouts in the genre, much of the horror is psychological.
The real meat of the story comes from the symbiotic relationship between the protagonist, FBI trainee Clairice Starling, and the imprisoned madman Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lector. In the role of the latter, Anthony Hopkins is one of the most memorable psychopaths in film, delivering a performance that effectively conveys the essence of evil. Like Dracula or "Hellraiser's" Pinhead, he is not a mindless beast, but an articulate, intelligent creature, making him much more dangerous. However, the film is really Starling's story. Screenwriter Ted Tally and star Jodie Foster work to create a multilayered, complex heroine, struggling to overcome her unhappy childhood. Lector finds her intriguing, since she may be the only true intellectual equal he has encountered in many years. She wishes her assistance in tracking down the serial killer Buffalo Bill; he tests her, tantalizing her with subtle clues to challenge her emerging intellect (there is an interesting theme of deception running throughout the film, as every major character lies to or misleads one another to some degree). Foster's character directly defies the admittedly sexist portrayals in many other horror movies.
There are solid supporting performances as well; Scott Glenn is rock-solid as Starling's supervising officer--and a father figure as well. He studied with a real detective to prepare for his role, and the effort paid off; he seems more like a real law enforcement officer than an actor. Anthony Heald plays a pompous asylum head, and he does so well enough. Ted Levine is really creepy as Buffalo Bill, the type of person you'd only expect to see in a nightmare. Unlike Lector, he's not especially intelligent or articulate--he's not even a very good liar, as it turns out--but he is truly the master of his own little domain. His character is truly nuts, and I suspect the filmmakers were thinking of Leatherface from "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre."
It's difficult to believe "Silence of the Lambs" one Best Picture; some reactionary Academy Award members must have seen this as a slasher movie. Given the subject matter, it's certainly not for the faint-hearted; there are moments that practically define horror--such as Starling being trapped in that dungeon-like basement. It's not perfect either; certain details of how Bill is finally tracked down might be confusing without paying close attention. Nonetheless, for years to come, it has been regarded as one of the cornerstones of modern horror, and Hannibal Lector is destined to be a cult figure for the rest of time.
***1/2 (out of ****)
Released by Orion Pictures