Das Schweigen der Lämmer

"And Grandma, why are your eyes so big?" – "I have just seen Silence of the Lambs, dear Little Red Riding Hood, and I'm still reeling from it.” I first saw this film in the cinema before it was famous, not many people knew about it and the Oscars were six months away. When I came out of the cinema I observed the other people, everyone looked puzzled, no one even spoke. I arrived home feeling I had seen something special. My mother asked “so, how was it?” And I answered, “mum, believe me, we are going to hear a lot about this movie,” and the following Oscar ceremony proved me right. This film is indeed something special. If possible, watch it in the original if only for the voice of Anthony Hopkins. (27.08.2002)

Together with Se7en, the best psychological thriller of the 90s. (14.08.2007)

Looking back, maybe this wasn’t such a ground-breaking movie as it seemed when it was first released. The truth is that neither Buffalo Bill nor the screenplay are at all original - on the other hand, in technical terms this is excellent and has a brilliant and believably urgent atmosphere, excellent music by Howard Shore and a well-adapted screenplay. So this is a good above-average affair. But what gives The Silence of the Lambs its place in cinema history is the relationship, dialogs and quality of acting (or almost living the parts) of Agent Starling and Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Even today this is the absolute zenith of cinema, not just in this genre. (19.12.2005)

Flagship of the psychothriller genre of the 1990s, which combined traditional crime thriller with a horror atmosphere and morbid details. The Silence of the Lambs managed to overcome genre limitations and earned five Oscars and enthusiastic comments from film critics for its "twisted" genre. Several fortunate moments came together in the production of the film - a clever screenplay that, despite the bizarre nature of its antiheroes, moves in a realistic environment, a skillful director who based the appeal of the film not on frantic action or bloody, naturalistic violence, but on carefully constructed tension-filled atmosphere of uncertainty and fear. The great casting with the seemingly fragile J. Foster and the perfectly cast Hopkins, who managed to embody the monstrous charm of his Lecter and became the most attractive serial killer in film history, also contributed to the success. Overall impression: 95%. (14.06.2006)

Ich habe nur 21 Jahre gewartet und immer noch nicht das Gefühl, etwas Entscheidendes verpasst zu haben. Das Schweigen der Lämmer ist "nur" ein guter Film, natürlich sind Hopkins' Szenen mit Foster stark, aber es sind relativ wenige und als Krimi geht er völlig an mir vorbei. Aber als komplexe Reihe ist er durchaus tolerabel. (19.09.2012)

An incredibly atmospheric, possibly even hypnotic thriller. The masterful screenplay, brilliant camera work, and brilliant performances by all main and supporting characters guarantee a captivating spectacle that you will want to experience again. Even on multiple viewings, you will appreciate the complexity and precision of the screenplay and the performance of Anthony Hopkins as the demonic Hannibal Lecter – his best role. Of course, there are several repugnant and brutal murders, but that is a part of the film and I think criticizing this aspect is entirely inappropriate. It is difficult to find any shortcomings, everything is exactly as it should be. Well-deserved Oscars. One of the best films of the 1990s. (03.03.2006)

One of the best films of the 1990s. It can be rewatched to the point of insanity, and yet its psychological intensity and constant tension will always put you under the covers. (27.04.2017)

This is a true cult movie nowadays. Well, no shit, Sherlock – if we had to pick the best Hannibal of them all, it would be the one played here by Hopkins. (01.02.2009)

Even twenty-seven years after it came out, the film hasn’t lost its charm for me. The filmmakers managed to create a perfectly gloomy atmosphere, which made it easy to escalate the suspense. I must say I didn’t find Buffalo Bill very interesting, but who cares anyway. Anthony Hopkins had the whole film to himself, and Hannibal Lecter belongs to one of the must-know characters for any movie fan. Plus, as the owner of Harris' eponymous novel, I appreciate the fact that the filmmakers didn't turn the book into complete nonsense, as is often the case with Stephen King’s work. (25.02.2018)