What Makes The Silence of the Lambs So Tense?

There’s no question that The Silence of the Lambs is one of the greatest thrillers of all time. The film features memorable characters like Buffalo Bill and Hannibal Lecter and an entertaining story of an F.B.I cadet trying to track down a madman that skins his victims. There’s so much to take away from this film. It could be a quote, a scene, or a clue you missed upon your first viewing. The Silence of the Lambs really succeeds in one thing more than the others, and that’s creating tension.

The Silence of the Lambs builds its tension in the most subtle way, and that’s through its cinematography. Every scene is shot in a special way which keeps the film fresh. The cinematography feels natural and often immersive. I’ve never met a serial killer that skins his victims but this film made me feel like I did at times. You’re probably thinking “Bryan can you give us some examples?” shut up I’m getting there. Anyways, in dialogue driven scenes the camera is focused heavily on the actor’s face, kind of like we’re sitting in front of them ourselves.With the F.B.I setting this makes dialogue feel like an interrogation. Dialogue is normally shot from the perspective of over someone’s shoulder. With this method we can see both actors and it makes the experience less immersive.

During claustrophobic scenes or scenes with action we get a mix of shaky camera work, long takes, and POV or point of view shots. When action takes place in this film, it’s an experience. I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if the director, Jonathan Demme, was inspired by Alfred Hitchcock. When a character is in a tight place, the camera is positioned in such a way that gives you a cramped feeling. When Agent Starling is chasing Buffalo Bill through his basement in the dark, most of the scene is done in long takes to build tension. These action scenes are intercut with POV shots. The point of view shots go hand-in-hand with the shaky camera shots. When we see something from a character’s perspective, the actions become more intense.

The Silence of the Lambs is a great film, guys. It’s on Netflix right now and it’s one of those films that everyone should see.