Jayda Week 9: A New Favorite Movie

    One of my all-time favorite things to do is watch movies. Unlike shows, movies tend to have an intriguing plot that happens within a quicker time span, which is why I favor them over television shows. Recently, I was discussing this topic with one of my classmates. We were bringing up the various genres and our personal favorites among each of them. When I said that I enjoyed thrillers, especially psychological horrors, he suggested that I watch the Silence of the Lambs. 

    As someone who is particularly biased toward this genre of movie, the entire duration of this movie kept me on the edge of my seat. The movie starts off with an introduction to the main character, Clarice. Clarice is nothing but a trainee, which is what makes this character so interesting to watch. The fact that she is not a professional FBI agent makes it all the more interesting, as we get to see her as she is put in scenes that genuinely require her to make hard decisions that further help develop her character throughout the movie. Through her actions, it becomes clear that she pursues the case to face the thing she’s most afraid of, which makes her character all the more likable. 

    We also get to meet Hannibal Lecter, played by Anthony Hopkins. He delivers the performance of a lifetime in this film as Dr. Hannibal Lecter. He manages to turn the cannibalistic psychopath into one of the most intimidating, captivating, and disturbing villains ever put to screen. The antagonist is able to be portrayed as an almost respectable and civilized character, while still being utterly terrifying. The role is admirable and adds so much to the plot of the movie. 

    This movie deals with some incredibly mature and sickening subject matter that will undoubtedly make your skin crawl. Cannibalism, murder, depraved acts of violence, and heightened suspense are all methods that the film uses to scare its audience. However, those with the stomach to handle it will find an excellently made movie with incredible acting performances, as well as one of the most gripping and thought-provoking stories in the history of the horror genre. Every scene in the movie matters, every line builds something, every character is there for a reason, and the tension keeps building up to a brilliant psychological crime thriller that I would recommend to any fellow fan of the genre.