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A1990s horror movie that still holds up today,The Silence of the Lambshas a horrifying and unforgettable ending that wraps up Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) and Hannibal Lecter’s (Anthony Hopkins) eerie relationship. Praised for its acting and direction,The Silence of the Lambswon Best Picture in 1992 and has continued to be a favorite for many horror fans.
Foster and Hopkins aren’t typically known for horror roles, although Foster starred in season 4 ofTrue Detectiveand 2002’sPanic Room. Their performances are so memorable thatThe Silence of the Lambsis considered one of the most clever films ever made. The end of the movie is as chilling as the rest.
How Does The Silence of the Lambs End?
At the end ofThe Silence of the Lambs, Clarice uses information from Hannibal Lecter and goes to Belvedere, Ohio, where Frederika Bimmel, whom Buffalo Bill murdered, lived. She figures out that the killer knew his victim and makes the disturbing discovery that Buffalo Bill is a man named Jame Gumb. The big reveal happens when she realizes that a Death-head’s Moth, which Buffalo Bill puts in the mouth of the people who he has killed, are in Gumb’s house. Clarice saves Catherine Martin (Brooke Smith), who is in the basement, and kills Gumb before he can shoot her.
118 minutes
February 14th, 1991 (United States)
86
Where To Watch
Max
In the final scene ofThe Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter proves himself to be atimeless horror movie villain. His final piece of dialogue reveals that he will never stop being a cannibal and is achilling movie one-liner. Clarice is celebrating being hired by the FBI and she phones Hannibal, who is at the airport in the Bahamas. Hannibal makes it clear that he will leave her alone, although she doesn’t agree that she can do the same to him. Before Dr. Frederick Chilton (Anthony Heald) walks by, Hannibal says:
“I do wish we could chat longer, but… I’m having an old friend for dinner. Bye.”
What Is The Silence Of The Lambs About?
While bothAnthony Hopkins and Mads Mikkelsen are great as HannibalinTheSilence of the Lambsand the TV seriesHannibal, Hopkins gave one of the best performances of his career in this popular movie.TheSilence of the Lambsfollows the cat-and-mouse game between Hannibal and Clarice Starling, who hopes to be hired by the FBI. Clarice and Hannibal have several conversations throughout the film about Buffalo Bill, a brutal and terrifying serial killer. While Clarice learns about the mindset of a killer, she becomes more and more wary ofHannibal, who became a cannibalbecause of a family tragedy.
Jodie Foster’s Other Horror Movies:
Although there are several violent moments inThe Silence of the Lambs, the movie revolves around the strange and unnerving connection between Hannibal and Clarice.Ridley Scott’sHannibalis better than people think, but there’s still something unforgettable about the conversations that Hannibal and Clarice have inThe Silence of the Lambs. In one notable scene, he tells her that he can see right through her and that he knows that she grew up without much money or opportunity. He knew that she dreamed of leaving home and working for the FBI so she could feel like she mattered in life. Clarice stands up to Hannibal, proving her tough personality, and says:
“You see a lot, Doctor. But are you strong enough to point that high-powered perception at yourself? What about it? Why don’t you - why don’t you look at yourself and write down what you see? Or maybe you’re afraid to.”
The movie’s title also comes from a traumatic story from Clarice’s childhood. She tells Hannibal that she heard lambs yelling when she moved to a farm to live with her cousins at the age of ten. When he asks her, “Well, Clarice - have the lambs stopped screaming?” he is wisely referring to the sadness and painful memories that she carries around. While Clarice takes this assignment to stop a serial killer from harming more people, she ends up learning about herself and the wounds she has been covering up in the process.
As Jodie Foster said in an interview withVarietyon the 30th anniversary ofThe Silence of the Lambs, Clarice wants to help Buffalo Bills' victims because of this dark childhood memory. Foster said:
“My mom said to me, ‘Why do you want to play this character who’s kind of quiet and mousy?’ She had this quietness. There was almost a shame that she wasn’t bigger, that she wasn’t stronger, this person trying to overcome the failure of the body they were born in. I understood that was her strength. In some ways, she was just like the victims — another girl in another town. The fact that she could relate to those victims made her the hero.”
What Is The Silence Of The Lambs' Rotten Tomatoes Score?
The Silence of the Lambshas a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It also has a 95% Audience Score and has been praised by numerous critics. LikeBlumhouse horror movies that are highly rated on Rotten Tomatoes,The Silence of the Lambsstill captivates and impresses. Audiences and critics both loved the strong performances by Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster, along with the smart writing and direction.
What 1992 Academy Awards Did The Silence Of The Lambs Win?
