Review of The Silence of the Lambs (1991) by Richard B — 15 Feb 2018

****.

Where Michael Mann's 'Manhunter' got the mystery side of the plot just right, but failed to present us with interesting characters, Jonathan Demme's 'The Silence of the Lambs' finally gives us both. Whilst the procedural surrounding Buffalo Bill is very well handled and engaging throughout, it's the characters - namely Clarice (Foster) and Hannibal (Hopkins) - that make the movie so enthralling. Both of these characters are fascinating in their own ways, and Demme makes sure to flesh them out (*pun*) as much as possible whilst still maintaining a good focus on the story at hand. Talking of Demme, his handling of this movie was fantastic. Close-ups, in particular, were used to great effect, and the first meeting between Hopkins and Foster is up there with the best in terms of tension. There is a sense, some time during the second act, that the main plot is being side-lined - which is both good and bad, as the two leads relationship is undeniably the most interesting aspect, but it was noticeable and the pacing suffered slightly as a result. Nevertheless, the two central performances and the excellent script ensure that the movie is always engaging, and with Demme at the helm, 'The Silence of the Lambs' becomes more than your average serial killer mystery.