The Silence Of The Lambs 1991

Dave Kehr, Chicago Tribune: It's a gnarled, brutal, highly manipulative film that, at its center, seems morally indefensible. Read more

Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune: Foster's character, who is appealing, is dwarfed by the monsters she is after. I'd rather see her work on another case. Read more

Sheila Benson, Los Angeles Times: Hopkins' performance may be the film's bravura showpiece, but Foster's goes the whole distance, steadfast, controlled, heartbreakingly insightful, a fine addition to her gallery of characterizations. Read more

Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel: Demme comes at Harris' material from another angle: His movie may deal with madness, but his perspective is mercifully sane. Read more

Desmond Ryan, Philadelphia Inquirer: Hopkins' cumulative screen image is one of civility and decency, and the association adds to the withering, macabre effect of his murderer. It is a remarkably lucid portrait of lunacy. Read more

John Hartl, Seattle Times: Jonathan Demme's hypnotic adaptation of the Thomas Harris novel has a seriousness and intensity that's been entirely lacking in horror movies lately. Read more

Vincent Canby, New York Times: The Silence of the Lambs is pop film making of a high order. It could well be the first big hit of the year. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: An accomplished, effective, grisly, and exceptionally sick slasher film that I can't with any conscience recommend, because the purposes to which it places its considerable ingenuity are ultimately rather foul. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: It's a bona fide classic of its kind. Read more

Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly: Demme has created a supremely sensuous and hypnotic thriller, one that's likely to become his first major hit. Read more

Terrence Rafferty, New Yorker: Jonathan Demme's thriller is artful pulp -- tabloid material treated with intelligence and care and a weird kind of sensitivity. Read more

Kathleen Carroll, New York Daily News: The movie, scary and graphic to cause timid souls (such as this writer) to close their eyes at certain points, has a vise-like grip on the audience. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: There is little doubt that the most memorable aspect of The Silence of the Lambs is Anthony Hopkins' incomparable performance as Lecter. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: The popularity of Jonathan Demme's movie is likely to last as long as there is a market for being scared. Read more

Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: For all the unbridled savagery on display, what is shrewd, significant and finally hopeful about Silence of the Lambs is the way it proves that a movie can be mercilessly scary and mercifully humane at the same time. Read more

David Ansen, Newsweek: This is the grandest guignol Hollywood has produced in years. Read more

Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine: A pretty sharp new thriller. Read more

Geoff Andrew, Time Out: Understandably, much has been made of Hopkins' hypnotic Lecter, but the laurels must go to Levine's killer, admirably devoid of camp overstatement, and to Foster, who evokes a vulnerable but pragmatic intelligence. Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: The juiciest part is Hopkins,' and he makes the most of it. Helped by some highly dramatic lighting, actor makes the role the personification of brilliant, hypnotic evil, and the screen jolts with electricity whenever he is on. Read more

Desson Thomson, Washington Post: A smart, restrained entertainment, it doesn't splash around in blood and hysteria. Read more

Rita Kempley, Washington Post: Adroitly directed by Jonathan Demme, it lurks about the exquisite edge of horror, before finally leaping into an unholy maw of bloody bones and self-awareness. Read more