God, the suspense!

Rating: 8/10 (8 August 2015)

"The Silence of the Lambs" took me by complete surprise, and that's meant in the best way possible. When the movie began, I wasn't expecting such a varied bag of tricks, but there was always some new surprise just around the corner. A genuine nail-biter, no question. And few movies can jack up the levels of dread and creepiness like this one; stalking camera movements, interrogations in uncomfortable close-ups, and that's not even touching the crazy messed-up stuff going on with Buffalo Bill (I almost can't believe that guy was on "Monk"). And Lecter's escape was one of the most deeply unnerving things I've ever seen. I really liked Jodie Foster's character; Clarice Starling is in a league with Marge Gunderson ("Fargo") - a rookie rather than a veteran, but no less self-reliant in a man's world. Doe eyes masking steely resolve. It's a great performance.
This is shocking stuff, and a movie that burrows itself deep within your brain. Tough to shake . . . but you don't really want to, either.
8/10