Jonathan Demme's 1991 film adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs opens with Clarice Starling running through the woods on FBI training. She struggles up a hill, and, out of breath, runs past a tree with signs nailed to it saying "Hurt. Agony. Pain. Love it." Within seconds the film has suggested one of its most important themes - the blurring of the distinction between pleasure and pain.

The key to the story’s success is that its characters are never two dimensional. The “baddies” are never understood by their crimes alone, and the “goodies” are flawed, meaning that judgement is never easy. Hannibal Lecter is a gentleman as well as a convicted murderer and cannibal, and has a surprising capacity…

Part of Dastardly Difficult December: film nr.5

The first time I saw this I hadn't read the book. Now, some fifteen years later I have read the books, but had never revisited the film. While I don't care for the interpretation of Hannibal Lecter, there is no denying the display of strong filmmaking and superb acting.

This is a modern classic in so far that it focusses on the psychological aspects of the cat and mouse game, in stead of merely making it about the thrills. There are of course many classic films that have done this before, but most films these days don't seem to care to delve this deeply into the psyche of its characters. The Silence of…

I don't know how I ended up seeing Hannibal (the sequel to this) first. Maybe because it was on TV years ago, but I am excited to say I watched The Silence of the Lambs once and for all. What I admire the most about this film is Jonathan's Demme ability to make the viewer be constantly surprised and shocked with how some of the major scenes turn out to be. He really managed to create a masterful work of suspense here.

The performances of the cast are all pretty solid, but Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter is truly mesmerizing, portraying this cannibal psychopath. He always gave me the chills, being both fearful and likeable for his eloquent speeches.…

DISCLAIMER: THIS AN EXTENSIVE ANALYIS OF The Silence of the Lambs

"Have the lambs stopped screaming Clarice"

Jonathan Demme’s adaptation of Thomas Harris’ novel of the same name is a difficult film to digest. The film hits on many disturbing topics of seemingly unthinkable things but is handled in a masterful way that the film alleviates the audience to see the beauty within this beast. The film centers on a female FBI student (Clarice Starling played by Foster) on the hunt for a despicable serial-killer (Jame Gumb portrayed by Ted Levine) with the help from the intellectual and sick in his own rights, Hannibal Lector (Sir Anthony Hopkins). With the help of a superlative screenplay that explores the abyssal of…

A Focus on the Male Gaze

The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) in her attempt to pursue serial killer Jame ‘Buffalo Bill’ Gumb (Ted Levine) with the help of an imprisoned conniving killer, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). Starling confides bits of her dark past to Lecter in the hopes of collecting enough information to pinpoint the exact location of Buffalo Bill and rescue the victim he holds captive. Foster’s performance is one of delicacy, strength, and vulnerability – her ambition and naivete carry the story. Hopkins is unforgettable as the man with a sinister appetite – he devours every second of his screen time. Levine is mad and unhinged and dominant all at…