The film embodies the ultimate in its genre. The dark imagery and intense mind play once seen makes it very hard to forget. In fact it wasn't just Academy voters that were affected by the film, it became a major worldwide success, grossing over $270 million, spawned an even more financially successful sequel, and even inspired a prequel, making a major star of Anthony Hopkins and turned his alter ego 'Hannibal Lecter' into a cultural icon.

The key element of the film is its ability to keep us in suspense throughout its two hours running time. The film effectively grabs and holds our attention within the first fifteen minutes during three key sequences in which all four main protagonists are introduced.

Their dialogue together is a verbal fencing match, complimented with sustained extreme close ups of their faces on opposite sides of a glass wall, no music, we hear only muted doors slamming and the humming of an industrial boiler. Lecter gets into to Clarice's mind, just as Crawford warned he would, Clarice holds up very well though and never flinches or averts her gaze away from the physiatrist. The second and most important dynamic of the film is established. As cold as Lecter can be there seems enough humanity left to warrant empathy. Clarice's vulnerability and ambition intrigue him, maybe even excite him. In this scene and further scenes they share in the film, their relationship becomes twisted and complex with aspects of student/mentor, aggressor/victim and father/daughter all merged together, by the end it is obvious that both characters have had a profound impact upon each other.

So, in conclusion, how is suspense achieved in Silence of the Lambs?

Clarice enters alone, she is often alone in this film, and awaits Crawford's arrival. She stands in the cluttered office, looking at a wall covered in gruesome photographs of murder victims, and tabloid headlines about a current unsolved multiple murder investigation. This unsettling scene is shown from a point of view shot of Clarice's face, she is intrigued, yet horrified. The camera closes on one particular headline "BILL SKINS FIFTH". The portentous music begins again, chorusing Clarice's and the audience's sense of dread. We are introduced to our first evil protagonist, although we do not physically see him until later scenes. The psychotic serial killer, Buffalo Bill (Ted Levine) so named by the tabloids because of his apparent liking for skinning his victims. It is during this disturbing moment that we are introduced to Crawford, he is a distinguished man, almost fatherly in his attitude to Clarice. The first key relationship of the film is established. Crawford acknowledges Clarice and praises her progress, he remarks on a grade given to her on an assignment, Clarice corrects him, saying the grade was lower. Her attention to detail and fearless demeanor is immediately evident. The ensuing exchange between

Some common words found in the essay are:
Anthony Hopkins, Lecter Clarice's, Ted Levine, Pain Love-it, Motion Picture, Howard Shore's, Glen Clarice, Dr Chiltern, Hell Demme, Buffalo Bill, hannibal lecter, buffalo bill, lecter clarice's, view shot, serial killer, view shot clarice's, meeting lecter, shot clarice's, anthony hopkins, film established, silence lambs,
Approximate Word count = 1482
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)