I chose to watch the 1991 classic film Silence of the Lambs, starring Jodie Foster as Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter. The film is regularly cited as one of the most groundbreaking horror films of all time due to its strong acting and innovative cinematic techniques.

 

The film follows Clarice Starling, a beautiful young aspiring FBI agent with a troubled past. She gets the opportunity to work for her idol Dr. Jack Crawford, who is desperately trying to capture and stop the serial killer “Buffalo Bill,” who skins the corpses of female victims. Crawford instructs Clarice to go to interviews with incarcerated cannibal Hannibal Lecter, believing that he knows the identity of Buffalo Bill. Through a series of uncomfortably creepy questionings, Hannibal takes a liking to Clarice and reveals details important in catching Buffalo Bill. In the second half of the movie, Hannibal ingeniously and terrifyingly breaks out of his cell, involving ripping a guard’s face off and putting in on his face. Meanwhile, Clarice locates Buffalo Bill and attempts to stop him before he skins his next victim. The ending of the movie is unexpected and perfectly lines up for a sequel to be made.

 

Part of the reason why the movie is incredibly riveting and well regarded is the superb acting. The story itself was very strong, but the actors completely brought it to life. Jodie Foster excelled in her role as Clarice, encompassing the ambition, drive, fear, and past trauma that the character requires. Anthony Hopkins was genuinely terrifying as Hannibal Lecter- everything from his voice, mannerisms, and of course violent and disturbed nature was perfectly captures by Hopkins. Today, the two are still regarded as some of the best villain and lead in film history.

 

What’s more, the filming and editing throughout is extremely effective. First, the film does a great job developing atmosphere. Fog and dark woods set the tone in the first few minutes, and the creepiness remains throughout. Moments of silence or near silence keep the viewer on the edge of their seat. I remember a moment where the police discovered a body, and the shots kept switching back and forth to the shocked

faces of those who were looking at the corpse, but it never actually showed the body until the last second of the scene. This made the scene much more creepy than if it had been done in a more conventional way. There was a great blend of close up, far, and panning shots that worked together to tell the story.

 

I am definitely not a huge fan of scary movies, so this film was definitely hard at times to watch. It’s a psychological thriller that messes with your mind, and there are graphic ones as well. That being said, this is an amazing film in terms of groundbreaking filming and editing, and is well worth the watch for cinema and horror fans alike. I would definitely recommend watching it, although be prepared to feel unsettled for a little while afterwards.