yeah... no wonder the movie won five oscars

#SilenceOfTheLambs #VideoEssay #thesilenceofthelambs

// This is a visual redux of a video essay I published on April 4, 2022. All of the video assets have been replaced using vastly superior quality sources. Watch in '4K' for the least possible compression.

Is The Silence of the Lambs overrated? Not from a filmmaking perspective. Is it worth watching? Absolutely. The Silence of the Lambs is scary good. From Anthony Hopkins' performance of Hannibal Lecter to Jonathan Demme's direction, The Silence of the Lambs is a masterpiece. In this analysis essay, I'll be delving deep into why.

Also, whether you consider The Silence of the Lambs a horror movie or not, it was the first film of its kind to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. That's a pretty big deal.

For more video essays and film analyses like this one, be sure to stop by the channel!

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The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Written & Edited by Danny Boyd

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Music used:

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

Wholesome by Kevin MacLeod

[CinemaStix]

This is a visual redux of a video essay I published on April 4, 2022. All of the video assets have been replaced using vastly superior quality sources. Watch in '4K' for the least possible compression.

In my last community post I go into more detail about my decision to re-publish some of my very early videos. But the most important thing to know is that they aren’t in place of new uploads. In fact, my output is going to hopefully be a little higher beginning in February. These are just added in between.
:)
-Danny

[russellmoore]

One of my favorite Clarice moments is when she reloads her gun after shooting Buffalo Bill. Terrified, shaking, but sticking to her training. Such an incredible movie

[SkiddlyDoo]

Clarice is one of my favorite characters in fiction, and I think you touch on why. She is a REAL hero, emphasis on the real part. No cheesy dialog, no unrealistic feats, just an ordinary person doing ordinary things and through hard work and little luck does something extraordinary.

[DigSamurai]

That was a fantastic assessment of silence of the lambs. I did not realize Hopkins was only on screen for 16 minutes because as you said, they made his presence felt throughout the entire film.

[laurelhill]

I never realized how much the actors act TO the camera.

[abcde_fz]

Of all the studies of "The Silence of the Lambs" I've seen,
this one really brings home the impact of Demme's use of
the 'subjective camera' POV. I simply hadn't ever noticed
how much time people spend _looking_ _at_ _me_ in the film.

[rixie]

34 years have passed, and “The Silence of the Lambs” still manages to evoke such a strong emotional connection for me. The understated moments like an eye blink, a glance or the men in the room staring at Clarice, feel like they have their own presence in the film…

It’s remarkable how these soft, quiet, nuanced details add so much depth and meaning even when they’re easy to overlook.
What amazes me the most is how every second of the movie feels deliberate like a piece of the puzzle building toward its unforgettable ending. The scenes shared by Hannibal Lecter and Clarice are especially gripping, so intense that you feel like you’re in the room with them. The way the film draws you in and holds your attention is absolutely masterful. Great analysis!

[shadquirk]

Lector standing there, waiting, is one of the most disturbing scenes I've witnessed in my lifetime. What we expect to see is a monster, what we actually get is much, much worse. A monster is irrational, all instinct, this THING that we finally see is so much more terrifying.

[tessiepinkman]

One of the best movies in the world. It's a masterclass in cinematography, and it's also a masterclass in how to successfully adapt a book into a movie, if you ask me. The book is fantastic, btw, for those who haven't read it already :)

[bluepeteblue]

that sequence where Chilton and Clarice go to Lecter's cell was like a rollercoaster ride. I remember watching it the first time. You know we're on the way to finally meet him and it's like, "here we go!" the pace of the acting and the camera and the movement are all relentless. Rapidly going deeper, darker into this...hospital? Chilling! Brilliant.

[missnellie]

I did see this at the theater with my mom when I was about 14 and it was a transformative experience. Still my favorite movie to this day.

[zenergy]

I was quite obsessed with this film when it came out. I skipped classes at my university to see it at the cinema - 7 times! I love every shot, every nuance, the actors are amazing. And it's quite calm, unhurried, so confident, it needs neither flash nor bang to make its point. Howard Shore's subliminal score is the icing on the cake. Deeply unsettling, and it hasn't lost any of its impact.

Great essay, by the way.

[Slippedndipped]

This movie is also a perfect example of how to make a book into a screenplay.

[KeppyKep]

Hopkins' performance in this is absolutely incredible.
No idea how he gives the impression that every physical movement is deliberate - as you said - not 'natural', but he nails it.
Every minute gesture and detail is just... eery

[antoniorios]

Hopkins wrote one of the most beautiful Waltz piece in recent times as well. It’s called “The Waltz Goes On”. That just proves he is such a talented human being

[Walls]

This came out when I was 17, it changed me and my movie viewing experience forever.

[JamesMorfa]

I'd love to know what Hepburn's reaction to Hopkins partly basing Hannibal's voice off her was.

[thegray]

The parallels between Hopkin's Lecter and Keaton's Beetlejuice are striking. Both introduced in exposition thru a warning, the first appearance of both on film in a character defining demeanor, both characters contained in their prison, yet in control of the audience's attention throughout the film and both only on screen for less than 17 minutes. That's good acting.

[Bhuvan]

It's been 34 years and we are still talking about this film. This is it that defines a movie is a masterpiece ❤

[evilferris]

Ending it on Hannibal Lecter's, _"yeah…"_ was a good editing choice. Nicely timed too. I haven't seen anybody else do that.
Also, that thumbnail is smoldering.