"Hello Clarice"

The velvet touch, the subtle intricacies, and slow revealing of nothing less than the larger portrait, Doctor Hannibal Lecter himself, could not resist the masterpiece that is “The Silence of the Lambs.” Amongst other horror films such as “Friday the 13th,” “Halloween,” and “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” Hannibal Lecter licks the bones clean compared to these mediocre, one scare horror films. “The Silence of the Lambs” not only tenses you up through viewing the movie, it leaves you with a haunting feeling in your skin that Lecter could be just as real as you and me. When first learning that Lecter is a cannibal, you get the idea that that is his only purpose. When you watch him interact with the characters in the movie, you realize that his purpose is to not only taste the flesh of them, but that he loves to rot them from the inside out. He enjoys prying deep into memories and tasting the tears and fears of their past. That is what this movie does to its viewers to make them cringe at the sight of Lecter.

Anthony Hopkins portrays Hannibal Lecter with a severed, iron fist. If his voice does not get you, then place your hands over your ears and focus on his eyes. If you were to stare long enough, you would get the disturbing feeling of Lecter digging deep into your most horrible memories. You do not get any other of Hopkins’ characters mixed into this film. Hopkins gives One-Hundred percent Hannibal Lecter. It is always a mess when you are able to tell what actor is playing that part. But when you acknowledge the actor as their character, that is when you know it is gold. His performance really influences the performance of Clarice Starling.

Jodie Foster plays Clarice Starling, a motivated FBI academy student that is delegated the task to infiltrate the mind of Hannibal Lecter, prying at what a serial killers intentions may be, with the hope of getting closer to Buffalo Bill, a serial killer on the loose with the same qualities as Lecter. Foster does an excellent job creating a sense of confidence in her when she is given the task. It make the audiences feel that she will complete her task with no problem. As the movie progresses, you feel uneasy with Foster’s performance in a good way. As Lecter pries into memories, Foster’s vibe on screen comes out and disturbs its audience.

Through-out the entire film you are given an uneasy feeling. The first time Clarice enters the cell block of Lecter, foreshadows that of Buffalo Bill’s basement. Clarice’s surroundings really throw viewers into how uncomfortable you should actually be feeling. The sound design brings the sets to life from beginning to end. Camera angles chosen give eye sights they are straight on Clarice so the feeling is taken onto the viewers. It is as if the director wanted to take you out of your seat, and put you right in the sweet, velvet skin of the clever and confident Clarice.