“Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Brilliant. Cunning. Psychotic. In his mind lies the clue to a ruthless killer. Clarice Starling, FBI. Brilliant. Vulnerable. Alone. She must trust him to stop the killer.” ~The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

IMDB Summary: A young F.B.I. cadet must confide in an incarcerated and manipulative killer to receive his help on catching another serial killer who skins his victims.

Rotten Tomatoes rating: 95% (Really?! I’m sorry, is it not scary enough? Is the acting not perfect? Is it overrated? Nope, none of those. 5% of you are stupid.)

Why I love it: Because it’s a masterpiece.

When I saw this movie in the theater 24 years ago, it was the scariest movie I had ever seen. When I saw it for probably the 700th time two weeks ago, it was the scariest movie I had ever seen.

Like I said in the Magic post, I am in love with Anthony Hopkins. Always have been. The Silence of the Lambs, along with Rocky and …When Harry Met Sally is my favorite movie. It’s the only horror-type to ever win an Oscar for best picture. This, from the guy who directed Married to the Mob, Jonathan Demme, who won an Oscar for this, the only best director Oscar ever won for a horror movie. It doesn’t suck.

I also love Jodie Foster, mostly for the movie Foxes. But Cherie Currie plays “Annie” in Foxes, and she’s one of my favorite movie charcters with the same name as me. Her feathered hair, her tube top and spandex pants… so awesome. I have a friend who says Jodie Foster can’t act. When he told me that once, I jumped to her defense. “What about Silence of the Lambs? Taxi Driver? The Accused??!” Then I ran out of titles. He’s kind of right. But I love her anyway.