(I'm so glad you like it! I have so many of these!)
A weird feeling overcomes you when you take another step like you’ve gone too far or gotten too close to something you’re not supposed to, but also like you’re trapped in a whirlpool, not being able to go back or escape. As you draw nearer, you see an odd outline that almost resembles a staircase, but that can’t be, you’re miles deep into the forest, and there’s no way there can be any type of civilization out here… right? You creep closer, stepping around thorny bushes, and see that, yes, it is a staircase. It’s a crumbling spiral staircase made of marble, wrapping around the thick trunk of a redwood, it seems to be calling for you to climb it, and before you can think about it, you are already climbing up the odd structure. The higher you climb the seemingly endless structure, the hotter the temperature seems to get, but… you’re going higher, shouldn’t it be getting colder? Nothing about this staircase should be possible… right? Right?
Horror 101 - Episode 105: The Silence of the Lambs
[”Lotion” by Greenskeeper plays]
Hey there Boys and Ghouls and welcome to another episode of Horror 101. I am, as always, your ghost host with the most, Kira Hummel.
Tonight, we'll be looking at 1991's The Silence of the Lambs. A bit of a switch from the campy gore fests we've been covering recently, but after Jonathan Demme's passing, it seemed only natural to honor him in the way.
So. Hannibal Lecter. Iconic, right? Right up there alongside Freddie and Jason. Everyone knows Hannibal the Cannibal. Especially considering Bryan Fuller's recent foray into the material with...well...Hannibal. But I gotta say, as much as I enjoyed Mads performance (and as much as those cooking scenes made me all kinds of conflicted), I will always prefer Hopkins. Always. He's just...there's a creep factor there that Mads never quite reaches.
The movie opens with Clarice (Jodie Foster) jogging through the mist filled woods near Quantico as black and white credits flash over the screen. Now, for a split second, I got super excited as I saw the name Anthony Heald and misread it as Anthony Head. But sadly, no. Giles is not in this movie.
So Clarice finishes her jog and goes to see her boss/mentor, Jack. A scene precursored by Clarice winding her way through like the ENTIRE academy in order to remind us how tiny she is and how few females there are. Because, believe it or not, this movie has a very strong feminist vibe. Clarice? She may not be your typical 'final girl' but she still deserves a place in the Heroine Hall of Fame. If I had alcohol, I would totally toast her right now. Oh wait. I have a smoothie. To you, Clarice.
In Jack's office, we get the first taste of what's going on. A murder board! I love murder boards. Love them. Some people (like certain twin brothers who shall remain nameless) love making vision boards. I...I have always wanted an excuse to make a murder board. Not that I'm saying a group of grisly murders should sweep through campus, but if they do? I'm ready.
Having not watched this movie for a while, I had forgotten how thoroughly creepy Chilton is. Like might be the creepiest mofo in this whole movie and that is INCLUDING the guy who skins people. Talking about the serial killers they keep housed in the asylum as a collection. And how it’s so rare 'to capture a true psychopath alive'. Like ugh. AND he hits on Clarice.
But whatever. Forget him. Lecter's introduction is just...I have no words for it. The circular, continuous shot on the orderlies' office. The red lighting as Clarice and Chilton descend the stairs. The long walk to Lecter's cell. And his oh so polite 'good morning'. I love it. I love everything about it.
Seriously. I could go on about Lecter and Clarice's first conversation all day. The way he reads her. The way he speaks. The tone and meter of his voice. His eyes. Anthony Hopkins does this thing with his eyes and I think that is part of the reason why I feel Mads will never compare. I love Mads. Love him to pieces. But he doesn't unsettle me. Not the way Hopkins does.
I swear I will stop comparing them. Eventually. After all, we have a movie to get through. And hopefully learn from.
Unlike Clarice, who I feel has never seen a horror movie in her life. Case in point? GOING INTO THE TEN YEAR OLD ABANDONED STORAGE UNIT ON HER OWN. Now granted, this is not your run of the mill horror movie and so unlike more recent movies, there's no one lying in wait to attack her or trap her in there. But still. Who does that? If I was going to check out an abandoned storage unit, that a SERIAL KILLER told me to go to? You better bet I'd be taking AT LEAST three people as back up. Come on...
So. Lesson One: When visiting an abandoned storage facility, take back up. I know it doesn't exactly apply here. But I'm gonna still through it out there. Because, you know, life lesson.
Lesson Two: DO NOT TELL A SERIAL KILLER, who is also a trained psychiatrist and the best in his field, PERSONAL INFORMATION ABOUT YOURSELF. Just don't do it.
Lesson Three: It puts the lotion on its skin or else it gets the hose again. What? Don't act surprised. You all knew that one was coming and I would be remiss to not include it. People please.
Lesson Four: DO NOT FUCK WITH A SERIAL KILLER. Don't do it. Don't think you're clever and pulling one over on him (Fucking Chilton) and if he has a little dog? DO NOT ATTEMPT TO KIDNAP IT. Or use it as leverage. He was planning on killing you anyway. Now he's just going to kill you sooner. This is like the people who run UP the stairs while trying to escape a killer. How do you think going DEEPER into the house is going to help you?
Lesson Five: Sometimes everything you need is sitting right in front of you.
And, finally, Lesson Six: When pursuing a serial killer into his lair, always make sure to first take off your coat. Can't be restricted in a gun fight.
Six lessons. Six keys to survival. At least should you ever find yourself face to face with a psychopath of Lecter's caliber.
Side note: Has anyone ever noticed the Department of Justice dude looks a bit like Putin? Cause he totally looks like Putin. We're talking 'exact same guy like exact same guy'. No? Just me? Okay then.
So. Best and worst of this movie? I'm not really sure there is a worst. Maybe the pacing in one or two scenes, but overall I love this movie as is. Though I suppose we could count Chilton as the worst. Because he is. Best? Lecter and Clarice's fucked up cat and mouse, mentor and protege, weirdly romantic finger touch relationship. I love it. So much. And if you've read the books, you know that their relationship takes a SUPER WEIRD turn later on. But I won't spoil it by telling you exactly how.
Also, the baby security guard in this movie kills me. The one who asks if Lecter is a vampire. Like...does your mother know where you are? I'm guessing not. So I'm gonna give him an honorable mention just for existing.
Now. A few fun facts. Demme originally wanted Michelle Pfeiffer for the role of Clarice. I think we can all agree Jodi Foster worked out much better.
The real behavioral sciences unit of the FBI was involved in the making of this movie and Hopkins, Foster, and Levine all did a fuck ton of research. Foster spent time with FBI agents and Hopkins and Levine dove into the world of serial killers. Hopkins even went so far as to visit prisons and sit in on court cases.
Body count for this movie? Eight.
And lastly? Clarice Starling was the main inspiration for Dana Scully. And the X-Files actually pays homage to that in its 9th Season.
Once again, I’m your host, Kira Hummel. Make sure to join me next time when we’ll be looking at The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
My youngest sister just said I should fill a coffin with sandbags so it's heavy, and tomato juice for a bloody effect, and just drag it around town – telling people there's nothing in it.
