The Silence of the Lambs (1991) Movie Reaction! FIRST TIME WATCHING!! 

This movie is one of only 3 to ever win the Big Five Oscars (Picture, Director, Actor, Actress, and screenplay).

One of my favourite things about this movie is that, for the majority of his time on screen, Lecter is either in a cell or in restraints, but it always feels like he is in absolute control of the situation and the people he is interacting with. Give me a slasher villain after me over him any day, cause he scares the hell out of me, and I love it

Anthony Hopkins has said he based his voice and speech pattern in this movie on the late Katharine Hepburn's. They worked together on a movie called 'The Lion in Winter' in 1968.

In the scene at 16:10 he didn't want to make Clarice vulnerable so he can take advantage of her mind. He has a powerful contempt for humankind in general but has found Clarice's authenticity and passion commendable. When she is brave enough to be vulnerable about her lamb story in front of him it restores his faith in humanity even if it's just in this one person. It makes him like her and root for her success.

The touch of her hand was very significant because Lecter means Clarice no harm and in his own twisted way wants to help her heal from her childhood trauma.

Hopkins won a best actor academy award for this performance. I believe it was the shortest amount of time seen in the movie (16 mins), for an actor to win such an award.

Personally I think the fact while in character Sir Anthony Hopkins rarely ever blinked added a very predatory feel to his performance.

Excellent movie!!!! You should react to “Seven” with Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt.....another great psychological thriller!!

Your reactions are intelligent and very intuitives. Suscribed. 🙂

I've seen this film 20 times and always find something new. For example; when Chilton talks about how the nurse was attacked, Hannibal's pulse never raised above 85. Later, during Lector's escape in the ambulance, the attendant last words while Hopkins rises up behind, is him stating the patient's pulse is 84. Manhunter was a great film, with Brian Cox giving a more sedate but calculating performance. The series was great too.

I am so impressed by your analysis of everything. Most reactors just babble nonsense, but your very intelligent commentary on the film is great.

In the funeral home scene, not only is she the only female in the room, she's also the only Fed there. Given the traditional animosity between locals and Feds, it's a pointed statement about power. Demme's signature move is direct address - in every one of his films, the actors talk directly to the camera at least once, and usually in conversation. He also always worked with cinematographer Tak Fujimoto, whose style included very deep blacks along with a blue-leaning palette.

Ed gein. He's the inspiration for almost every horror film.

This is one of the top 10 movies I ever seen in my life. Just superbly done. Best suspense movie hands down.

Jody Foster has told that she didn't meet Anthony Hopkins while filming as himself. He stayed in character or avoided meeting her outside filming.

Lecter had very refined sensibilities and hated anything tacky or shallow. In his mind, he had a very good reason for doing everything he did. He had a connection to Starling bc of his history. That's all I'll say.

The music playing in the background of Hannibal`s kill is Bach`s Goldberg Variations. The film won best Actor , Actress , Director , Picture & Adapted Screen Play.

I know I'm a little late to the party, but what a wonderful reaction and analysis. Look at the presence and magnetism of Hopkins, and then realize the impact he had with only 16 minutes of screen time!

They originally thought Lecter was in Calumet City. When they said that, I was watching it in a movie theater in Calumet City. The audience freaked out! It was amazing

The author of "Silence of the Lambs" Thomas Harris had visited the FBI´s Behavioral Analysis Unit for some inspiration. He used the real case of the notorious Ted Bundy in the book. Bundy often faked an injured arm and asked young women for help to put something in his prepared car. And then after his arrest and conviction he assisted the FBI in search of the Green River Killer, since he had been active in the same area and both murderers returned to the crime site where they did let´s call it "strange things" with the corpses. But after all Bundy was executed 1989 and the Green River Killer finally captured in 2001. Great reaction by the way

1986 movie "Manhunter" the first time we were introduced to the character Hannibal Lecter. Great film and great soundtrack

Maybe his comment on the senators suit is a sly clue to Buffalo Bill?

Jonathan Demme also directed Philadelphia starring Tom Hanks. Amazing film.

Fun fact: Hannibal Lecter was voted top the all-time movie villain in an American Film Institute poll.

Fantastic reaction to a fantastic movie! I love how Hannibal fades into the crowd at the end like he just disappeared into the world and is now walking among us...

15:12 The scene where Clarice tells Hannibal about why she left the ranch: No music, just the sound of the wind whispering in the background, cameras close on their faces. Absolutely masterful acting and direction. Shan, I highly recommend another Anthony Hopkins movie, "Shadowlands" (1993), if you haven't already seen it. It's about C.S. Lewis (Hopkins) and the relationship he had with his wife, Joy Gresham (Debra Winger). It is one of the most beautiful movies I've ever seen. I adore Anthony Hopkins performance in it. Truly one of the best living actors currently.

Ted Levine was great as Buffalo Bill, he was also in the show Monk as Captain Stottlemeyer.

When Hannibal tells the Senator "Love your suit", he's actually complimenting her skin quality, which is not only creepy in its own right, but it's a cruel reminder to her of her daughter's situation.

This is one of those movies that I forget how amazing it is until I rewatch it. And then afterwards I'm like, "Why am I not rewatching this multiple times a year".

I rarely watch movie reactions all the way through especially if I’ve see the movie, however I enjoy your reactions immensely. Your reactions are so thorough, you notice so many things I fail to notice. It is so entertaining, and more importantly so informative. I truly enjoy every minute of them. I look forward to seeing more of them.

The last scene between Hopkins and foster when she tells him about the Lambs was suppose to have a flashback but the director thought the acting was so great he thought it would be a crime to not show the whole seen. In fact he said Jodie is about to win a oscar for this to a crew member

Such great close up camera work when they switch back and forth between Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster when she talks about her childhood

This film is absolute perfection. It's one of only 3 films to ever win all of the "Big 5" at the Oscars, and rightly so. Brilliant, brilliant film and after 30 years it is still in my top 5 favorite movies of all time.

Easily one of my favorite films, Silence of the Lambs does almost everything perfectly. When I left the cinema after viewing this movie, it was all I thought about for almost a week.

One of Jonathan Demme's unconventional achievements as a director is Stop Making Sense - oft-regarded as one of the greatest live concert films of all time.

I’ve watched close to a dozen people reacting to this movie. Yours is probably my favorite reaction so far. I love how you share your insight, point out interpretations of something symbolic presented in the movie, and you’re very expressive. In the beginning I love how the inferred so much information- like you’ve pointed out. Her senior officer tells her not to let Hannibal know too much about her or let him get too close. Yet after Miggs throws ejaculate on her and Hannibal yells at her, she trusts him enough to run back to him for safety rather than forward to the exit. To me, that showed right away that they would have somewhat of a bond. Or at least that Hannibal doesn’t have ill intentions towards her. Then it became clear when it’s noted that Hannibal got Miggs to swallow his own tongue. He had to pay for what he did to miss Starling. I also appreciate that they left that connection up to the audience to decide if Hannibal cares for her because of attraction or rather respects her. Some people state that him caressing her finger insinuates sexual attraction, but I think it’s kind of ambiguous. And I like that it’s not set in stone what exactly he thinks of her, though he does have some kind of positive feeling about her.

18:30 --- The attention to detail in this sequence is just incredible.. What did he order for dinner? Lamb Chops with..... Fava beans... What did he do to Pembry? Ate his liver..

in my opinion, any aspiring actor needs to watch Anthony in this film, he is just so well rounded and so "THERE" what a masterpiece

Buffalo Bill is based on Ed Gein, who fashioned a "lady vest" for himself from the skinned torso a woman, and often dressed in his mother's clothes after she died. Gein was also the inspiration for Norman Bates from Psycho, and Leatherface, from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Anthony Hopkins is a really good actor...a couple of overlooked movies he was in are Alistair Maclean's When Eight Bells Toll...in which a young Anthony is the action hero in Scotish sea spy thriller...Also Juggernaut where he has a supporting role (along with Ian Holm) to Richard O'Toole's anti-terrorist trying to defuse bombs on a Cruise Liner

It's such a pleasure to watch these old movies with such a knowledgeable lover of film. Thank you for these reactions!

fun fact: they never actually met at all on set before their scenes so that was literally the first interaction she ever gets with Anthony when she walks around the corner and sees him standing like that just waiting for her and she admits in an interview she was actually a little unnerved around him.

25:40, Dr. Chilton is gonna get his just desserts, if you get my meaning.

This has probably been mentioned already, but one of my favorite pieces of trivia about this movie had to do with that directing. In the scene where Clarice tells Hannibal about how she ran away with the lamb, the script had called for there to be a flashback so we could see the Young Clarice running away. But then when Jonathan Demme was looking at the footage he shot of Foster and Hopkins, he said that he knew if he cut away from their performances, the audience wouldn’t forgive him and he’d lose them. I love that story, he was so right.

Thumbs up from me. Mom's favorite movie. She passed away on March 25th, 2020. Peace out from the Southern Tip of Vancouver Island, B.C. CANADA

It was a masterpiece. Saw it on the big screen. It won 7 Academy Awards. You were right on the awards...... it won Best Actress Foster, Best Actor Hopkins, Best Movie, Best Director Demme, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Sound Mixing and Best Film Editing. Yes remember this was filmed in the early 90s..... and back then women were objectified. She didn't "belong" in a man's job. They weren't thought as equal so that also explains why she was hit on by men. LOVED your detailed review. And Chris Isaak was one of the cops in the elevator.

Sir Anthony Hopkins said in an interview with the legendary journalist Dick Cavett, when discussing both his role as Hannibal Lecter and his encounter with a mandman on the streets of his neighborhood, that the best portrayal of a mad person he'd ever seen, was from Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in 'Misery'.

I've never heard a RU-vidr tell their audience to dislike the video if they didn't like it. Had to like it immediately.

I never noticed before that she kept Precious!! I saw this film the first Saturday that it came out and I have watched it dozens of times and never noticed

You literally can't hear the song "Goodbye horses" without thinking about this movie xD

Great reaction of this all-time classic! One of only three films in Academy Awards history to win the top five awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, which you've already seen, also won these awards.

Quite simply, a modern classic. The acting, screenplay, directing, editing . . . where do I start?

True, there is not one second of this film that falls short of perfection.

24:42 The girl bringing the dog with her... It made me smile. :)

There are 2 versions of a prequel. Manhunter which was made first with a very realistic Brian Cox as Hannibal. Red Dragon came later with Hopkins again. They are the same story but very different approaches.

I got sucked into re-watching your reaction. Two or three times you mentioned Hopkins' use of sibilant S's. That reminded me of reading that one of the components he used in building his mannerisms was a lizard. Another example would be how slowly and deliberately his eyelids would move when he blinked. Best. Leo.

Shan, great review, great reaction. You hit every nail that I also feel about this film.

That is such a good point about her being hit on during the movie except by her superior Jack Crawford which made the handshake at her graduation significant as he sees her as a colleague

This is a month after you posted this, so you may never see this. If you like Anthony Hopkins, you may not yet have seen 84 Charring Cross Road, it's a very good emotional movie. I saw Silence of the Lambs in theaters as a teenager. It was a chilling reminder of the dangers women should be aware of always. Thank you for your reaction as well as your detailed and astute observation and logical reasons for the reasons the director used certain tools and that those reasons paid off in your appreciation. Thanks for sharing.

I really loved watching your reaction to this movie. You were so enthusiastic and engaged throughout. And you actually pointed out a couple of things with the direction and cinematology that I hadn't picked up on--even though I've seen the movie multiple times. So thank you for letting me experience this wonderful movie again through a fresh set of eyes. :)

You should watch The Remains of the Day if you haven't already. Some of Hopkins finest work.

Fun fact: The actor who plays 'Buffalo Bill' (Ted Levine) is the same actor who played Captain Stottlemeyer on the TV show 'Monk'.

You should really read the original series of novels! The Hannibal Lecter Tetralogy: - *Red Dragon* (1981), by Thomas Harris. - *The Silence of the Lambs* (1988), by Thomas Harris. - *Hannibal* (1999), by Thomas Harris. - *Hannibal Rising* (2006), by Thomas Harris. All four of the novels are great, but *The Silence of the Lambs* and *Hannibal* are the best!

Silence of the lambs, one of the best book and movie titles ever imo, is a masterpiece. Demme made another fantastic movie right after this one, Philadelphia, and then... that was it, he never became the major director he should have become. His directing in this movie is sensational. I usually don't like shot/reverse shots with the actors looking at the camera, it rarely works for me, but he could make it work perfectly. Fujimoto's photography and the very gloomy, underrated music are equally perfect. That ending... major chills, always.

Lecter drove Miggs to his death because he didn't like what Miggs had done to Clarice. He was developing a fondness for her, and a kind of protectiveness toward her. When he yelled at her to come back, and they were almost nose to nose at either side of the glass, there was almost an intimacy about them. I liked the way she started breaking the rules almost immediately: she got close to the glass, she talked about personal things and let him in her head, she accepted a towel from him -- everything she wasn't supposed to do, yet it worked out.

The naked Bill dance: "That is just messed up"

Buffalo Bill: "I think they left a card or something, come on in..." Shan: "Oh, don't go in, dude!" LOL Greatness :)

One of the greatest dialog-shots in cinema history, Clarice in front of the glass and Lecters face mirrored in the glass. Great work!

This really is an excellent adaptation of Thomas Harris's book. Jodie Foster was not the actress the suits wanted; she had to campaign hard to get the role. (If you liked Brooke Smith, who played the girl in the well, she has a magnificent lead role in _Series 7: The Contenders._ Fantastically prescient but little remembered film from 1999.)

I love you man. You just get it. I've seen a lot of reactors and am certainly not trying to put anyone down but some of them are just an average moviewatcher and miss a lot. Some are film students that worry too much about telling everyone about the angle of the shot or the composition over and over. You're maybe the only one I see that can both appreciate the filmmaking on a technical level but understand the intent of a director on a more psychological level. You're spot-on about the similarities I'm Buffalo Bill viewing these women as objects for his personal use and the rest of the men in the film gazing at Starling or hitting on her. It's not a coincidence that the first man to talk in the film is shot facing the camera so that it feels like he's staring directly at you. It's not a coincidence that she's always shown in the room with only men. It's not a coincidence that Multiple Miggs throws semen at her. It is a viral toxicity of masculinity he portrays, decades before the term came to mainstream fruition, and it's done so, so well.

Another wonderful reaction. I know every shot of these films so well I can see it all in my head as you talk about it, but hearing your intelligent reactions is like getting to see them for the first time again. Such a joy.

Glad i saw it in the theatre in 91. Seen it about 10 times now. Last year i saw in the cinema again. Still a masterpiece.

The guy that plays buffalo bill(Ted Levine) in this movie also plays the detective(Leland Stottlemeyer) in the Tv series Monk.

Great reaction! Fun fact: Ted Levine mirrored his Buffalo Bill death position (on his back with hands raised) in the movie Heat. Love this film. I also like Demme's comedic films Something Wild and Married to the Mob.

Clarice Starling is currently in training at the academy. This movie was how she graduated

It was Hopkins' idea to first see Lecter standing, polite, attentive...totally unlike the audience's idea of the monster he has been described as being. Great performances and direction.

Jonathan Demme also directed the groundbreaking concert movie of Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense...really a visually artistic and performance Godzilla of a movie

I like how you are obviously such a huge cinema fan, but also so highly educated in filmmaking. Your reactions fascination me. Well done...

I love this movie. Clarice Sterling is my favorite underrated strong female characters. Anthony Hopkins is the best actor to play Hannibal Lector. The actor that plays Buffalo Bill also plays the commanding police officer in the TV series Monk with Tony Shaloub. He is great in that.

Stumbled onto your channel man. I love your soft spoken approach and your apparent film knowledge when you analyze these movies. I wish I could go back and see many of these classics for the first time. Keep up the great work Shan!

Jodie foster is magnifigence here, and she's still nowadays. And hopkins what an actor!

0:42 not just any acadamy awards, it won the "big 5": best main actor, best main actress, best director, best script and best movie - which makes it only 1 of 3 movies which ever achieved that. one of the other movies was by the way "one flew over the cockoos nest" with Jack Nicholson, Danny de Vito and Christopher Lloyd which you must check out as well some time

This was one of a few handful of movies that won the Big 5 at the Oscars: Adapted Screenplay, Actor, Actress, Director, and Best Picture. And Hopkins' performance was the shortest time on screen for a lead to win the Actor Oscar.

This has to be one of my favorite films of all time!!! May I also suggest the movie Unforgiven? Also an Academy award winner...you will love it!!!

I just now noticed the first flaw in this movie. When Lector asks Starling why the killer is nicknamed Buffalo Bill she tells him it started as a joke in the Kansas City homicide department but when Lector gives Starling the map showing all the crime scenes they are all well east of the Mississippi River so there is no reason for Kansas City homicide to have any connection with the case.

"Fargo", "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind", "Gattica" and "Road to Perdition" are a few movies worth checking out.

I took a class on horror films, and one thing I noted about this film is that most horror film killers use knives or, well, unusual weapons, not guns. Jame Gumb uses a gun, and it’s the gun that betrays him in the end.

The photographer of this film, Tak Fujimoto, also shot The Sixth Sense, which is another visual masterpiece if you haven't seen it.

Lecter. The serial killer Poe would have written in the 19th century if he had lived. This channel is not just on the Internet. It is rapidly becoming a necessary part of it.

Clarice and Lector were never in the room together when this was filmed. I mean, she played her part and he played his part separately and they edited them together. The actors themselves were never really talking to each other. Saw a show on this. Levine is in the show called "The Bridge", a miniseries on Hulu. Excellent. and the 1986 show out beside Miami Vice called "Crime Story". Michael Mann.

watching your reactions of these movies takes me back to them .. ty for that and keep up the good work.

One of the few genuinely feminist movies made by a Hollywood studio. The prop-master on this show is a very old, close friend of my family, and although now retired, he had career lasting over 50 years. We were having dinner a while ago, and at some point, I asked him which movie he was proudest of, and without a moment's hesitation, he replied: "Silence of the Lambs." Bear in mind, this guy was on the set of Godfather 2. When I asked him why that was, he said "Jonathan Demme". Demme was apparently a very special guy who got the best out of his cast and crew, and always allowed the maximum amount of creativity on a shoot. His style can be very subtle and transparent, but if you look closely (especially at this movie) you'll notice all sorts of weird quirks. Something like 75% of the dialogue scenes in Silence of the Lambs are done in closeups spoken directly to the camera, with the eye alignment just slightly off right or left... an approach that would've called more attention to itself had it not worked. As it stands though, it is barely perceptible, and perfect.

Excellent reaction, Shan! I was able to enjoy this film in a new way through your eyes and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’ve watched this film countless times and you were able to catch so many details in your first viewing. I’m subbing for sure. Thanks again for the raw, insightful analysis.

Great reaction and analysis of this masterpiece of a film. Now you can understand how and why it swept the Oscars.....winning everything it was nominated for. They followed the book almost perfectly (which rarely happens). The one time they "strayed" from the actual story (that I can think of off-hand) was the misdirection when Starling rang the killer's doorbell. There was no real easy way to pull off the scene as it appeared in the book.....but the way they did it on screen was amazing. They essentially brought two different scenes together to make one VERY tense one. Great reaction!

I have to apologize for not knowing what your background is. I just stumbled upon this reaction of yours. But I am impressed by how knowledgeable you are in the filmmaking industry. I have learned a lot from this reaction. I have no connection with the industry, but my interests are broad. Thank you.

Great commentary and film insight. I really appreciated your artistic eye with observing details. Thank you! And, not to mention, your reaction as a fan!!! I certainly enjoyed your video!!! Again, thank you!!

One of my favourites and a rare film where the female lead is strong and believable. Your observations are excellent.

I’ve already seen your reaction to this…but it’s so good. The gasps ugh it’s awesome and you have such amazing insight

One of only three films to win the Big Five at the Oscars. Best picture, best director, best adapted screenplay, best actor in a leading role and best actress in a leading role. The two other films are It Happened One Night and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Just a bit of trivia -- the man who handed Clarice her diploma is John Douglas, the former head of the FBI Behavioral Science Unit.