THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

a film by Jonathan Demme released through Orion Pictures in 1991

Repellant in many respects (but not the reprehensible mess that is its sequel), The Silence of the Lambs is always impressive, but often for the wrong reasons.

Incredibly acted, and moodily photographed, it features a very scary climax, easily one of the most original in movie history.  And because the heroine is easy to identify with, it's easy to get caught up in the drama, particularly as we're granted much more information about what's going on than Clarice, and we fear for her safety.  But then another outlandishly sickening scene breaks the spell.  It's hard to imagine anything more incongruous for dinner-and-a-movie.  The villain (Buffalo Bill) is actually more sympathetic than the heroine's nightmarish ally (Hannibal Lecter). 

This is a near-miss, best avoided.

★★☆☆☆

Best for ages 18+

FEATURING

JODIE FOSTER, ANTHONY HOPKINS, SCOTT GLENN, AND TED LEVINE

© 2023 Ian C. Bloom