THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991) d. Jonathan Demme (USA) MANHUNTER (1986) d. Michael Mann (USA) HANNIBAL (2001) d. Ridley Scott (USA) RED DRAGON (2002) d. Brett Ratner (USA) HANNIBAL RISING (2007) d. Peter Webber (USA) This week, we're talking about 1991's The Silence of the Lambs, that rare beast that's both mainstream Oscar-winning success as well as a first-rate horror film. A masterful blend of psychological terror and physical violence, screenwriter Ted Tally's dynamite script (adapted from Thomas Harris' bestselling novel) examines ambitious young FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) and her efforts to track down the serial killer Buffalo Bill – a nickname he's earned by skinning his victims. Assisting her, with his own cagey motives, is imprisoned serial murderer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), dubbed "Hannibal the Cannibal" for the unsavory habit of consuming his victims. Director Jonathan Demme handles the action with a sure touch, mixing character, complex plotting, and locations that have a feeling of absolute authenticity. Repeat viewings reveal what a careful craftsman he is, and even the most superficial glance reveals how much pop culture's fascination with serial killers and crime scene pathology has been derived from the film's popularity. Thanks to Hopkins' exquisitely modulated performance, walking a tightrope between sneering intellectual superiority and barely restrained animal urges, Lecter arrived as one the of the screen's most electrifying fiends. (So memorable is he that it's easy to overlook Ted Levine's carefully shaded performance as Buffalo Bill, which is a feat unto itself.) Despite his limited screen time, Hopkins won the Best Actor Oscar, with Foster capturing Best Actress, Demme Best Director, and Tally Best Adapted Screenplay. Unsurprisingly, the film's success revived interest in 1986's Manhunter, which had actually served as the cinematic introduction of Lecter, with Brian Cox memorable in the role. Two future installments featuring Hopkins followed, Hannibal, 2001's direct sequel to Silence of the Lambs, and 2002's Red Dragon, the same source material that had inspired Manhunter, as well as a 2007 prequel, Hannibal Rising, and Bryan Fuller's network television series Hannibal, which ran for three seasons. Clearly our fascination with the chilling world of Hannibal Lecter has yet to run its course, so let's dig in! Join AC and his incredible panel of guests (Anna Ceragioli, Mark Easteadt, Mike Mayo, Frank Merle, Mackenze Parker) as we celebrate 35 years of THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS! ----------------------------------------- ANNA CERAGIOLI is a Chicagoan who lives for horror movies. From throwing horror-themed dinner parties, playing Monster Bash in her pinball league, or chilling with a Goblin vinyl, it's all horror all the time for her. MARK EASTEADT is a movie-lovin', trivia-spoutin', music-sharin', pop culture nerd that loves talking about all of the above. He also hosts the horror movie Meetup, Charlottesville Horror Film Fanatics https://www.meetup.com/charlottesville-horror-film-fanatics MIKE MAYO has written several books about film and popular culture, among them VideoHound's Horror Show and American Murder. He is also the author of the Jimmy Quinn historical suspense novels set in Prohibition-era New York. https://www.mike-mayo.com/ FRANK MERLE is a Los Angeles-based filmmaker originally from Chicago, IL. He has written and directed several award-winning and critically-acclaimed films, including The Employer (2013), starring Malcolm McDowell and Billy Zane, and From Jennifer (2017), starring Derek Mears and Tony Todd. He recently directed Namaka, a dark fantasy starring Jamie Kennedy and David Howard Thornton, streaming now! MACKENZIE PARKER is a filmmaker living in Los Angeles. He studied at Northern Illinois University and the Moscow Art Theater. He has worked on TV shows such as Sons of Anarchy and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and is currently working as a staff editor for Digital Alliance. ----------------------------------------------------- Keep Searching, Keep Exploring, and, most of all, Keep Sharing the Scare!