The Silence of the Lambs Review: A Chilling Psychological Thriller
9/10 — The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
Pros
- Hopkins and Foster are superb
- Intimate, unnerving close-ups
- Nail-biting climax
Cons
- Problematic portrayal of the villain
FBI trainee Clarice Starling seeks help from imprisoned psychiatrist and cannibal Hannibal Lecter to catch another killer, nicknamed Buffalo Bill. It won the big five Oscars, a rare feat for a horror-tinged thriller.
What works
Hopkins is mesmerising in under half an hour of screen time, and Foster is terrific as Clarice, vulnerable but determined. Demme’s use of close-ups makes the conversations between them thrillingly intimate, and the climax in the dark is unbearably tense.
Where it falters
The depiction of Buffalo Bill has drawn justified criticism for its stereotypes of gender identity.
Verdict
A taut, stylish thriller with two of cinema’s great performances, though one element has dated badly.
