I am not a fan of sick, grisly films, yet I realize many love to be scared silly while watching from the safety of a dark movie theater. This week, I decided to add another notch to my belt by revisiting a cinematic phenomenon from 1991. Psychological thrillers can present more haunting, nightmarish images than all the blood and gore in the world. It’s the possibility of what might happen if you offer help to a stranger or meet someone your gut is not quite sure is all there. What do we do? Some prey on the good nature of others. There are quite “normal” looking people surrounding us every day who host such dark, depraved thoughts. Sometimes it is just a matter of being at the wrong place, wrong time.
Serial killers do exist. We all know this fact. We watch or read the news. They are bizarre and cruel. I am not sure they have any love for humanity. They can’t stop what they do. They plot and plan. They thrive on torture and the taking of something personal from each victim. Some even eat their trophies. Unimaginable, but true.
When I was young, I used to enjoy eating a lamb chop from time to time. It was a big treat for our family since we lived on a tight budget. I didn’t think about how these innocent animals came to rest on my dinner plate. I didn’t realize what goes on behind closed doors at a slaughterhouse. The butcher delivered the packaged, clean meat ready to be cooked. It was a simple process. I just didn’t think. Then one day, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS premiered. It took the world’s imagination to very scary places. We heard those screams…not only from the terrorized women but also from an innocuous, appearing farm in Montana. I heard them all and I have never forgotten.
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS was nominated for seven Oscars and took home five history-making statuettes for Best Picture, Best Director, (Jonathan Demme) Best Actor, (Sir Anthony Hopkins) Best Actress, (Jodie Foster) and Best Writing (Ted Tally) which was based on the original novel by Thomas Harris. It was a massive critical and financial hit recouping its original budget of nineteen million the first weekend and going on to gross close to three hundred million. The film changed one actor’s life as well. Hopkins said that if this film didn’t make him an A-list star, he was going to quit the movie industry and go back to acting on the British stage. What a loss that would have been since Hopkins was only in 21% of TSOTL. This holds the record for the shortest time behind the camera to qualify for an Oscar. Foster and Hopkins only appeared in four scenes together, yet they made movie magic. Simply extraordinary.
What made TSOTL stand out was the brilliant camera work, lighting, and angles used to present the point of view of every character. Audiences were purposely drawn to Clarice Starling and what she thought. It often looked like she was having actual conversations while the other pompous doctors and police officials were seen staring off to either side as they spoke. Extreme close-ups made everyone feel they were in the room where it all happened. Hopkin’s choice of not blinking very often created an evil intention of power and control. Stunning, inventive, and highly imaginative sequences that grabbed viewers right out of their seats.
Both Hopkins and Foster trained for this movie. Hopkins visited prisons, mental hospitals, and courtroom trials of serial killers, and interviewed whoever he met. His role as Dr. Hannibal Lecter was voted the number one villain by the American Film Academy. Foster made the FBI her source of reference, especially the Psychological Behavioral Department. There was an FBI consultant on set at all times. Foster was voted sixth on the American Film Academy’s list of favorite heroes. No wonder both of them had such a huge impact on the public. Even Catherine (Brooke Smith) gained twenty-five pounds while filming her “fattening-up” captivity for Buffalo Bill,(Ted Levine) the sub-plot’s other serial killer. By the way, the beautiful moth consumed during one unorthodox sequence was made from tootsie rolls and jelly beans. Still hard to digest the premise in one gulp.
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS was in a class all its own. It is considered one of the creepiest classics of all time. It brings to mind the silence…the noiseless beats and the last breaths of all who have suffered at the hands of another human being. It gives new meaning to the final line of the film as the camera pans out showcasing the wicked among the unknowing throng of the living. “I’m having old friends for dinner.”
And fade to black.
THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS is available on AMC.
