A Baptism By Film

I like to consider myself a bit of a film buff. I collect DVDs, and make sure to see all those classic movies; one of my goals in life is to see every single film listed on the AFI's list of the 100 Greatest American Films. As film buffs can attest to, there are certain films that absolutely must be seen. No excuses. "If you're a film buff, this is a film you have to watch." Last night, I went through one of those cinematic rites of passage.

The Silence of The Lambs.

The film that practically defines a psychological thriller. I watched it. And I'm not entirely sure, but I think I survived. Though there isn't much gore (there's some, but not a huge amount), there is an incredible amount of horror. A good deal of it comes from a wonderful performance by Sir Anthony Hopkins, but a lot of it also comes from the concept itself; as if a cannibal wasn't enough, there's also an Ed Gein-like serial killer who skins his victims in order to make a suit for himself. Throughout the movie, I kept wondering who was the worse monster.

This is truly a cinematic masterpiece. However, it was sufficiently terrifying to ensure that I probably won't see it again. It hit a little too close to home at some points, almost enough to make me say, "There but for the grace of God go I". I think we all have that kind of monster within us, and at some point we have to choose which way we'll turn. Will we follow through with every monsterous thought or will we purge ourselves of evil and take the path towards the light?

All in all, a great film. Just make sure that, before you see it, you get yourself into a mental place where you could spend a couple of hours in a room with a corpse.

Be seeing you,
Steven