The Best ’90s Horror Movie Is Now On Streaming
There are very few horror films that have been award-winning, but one of the most influential horror films from the 1990s is now streaming.
This article is more than 2 years old
When people think of horror films, they usually think of the classic slashers that populated the 1970s and 1980s. Sure, Michael Myers, Jason Voorhees, and Freddy Kreuger are icons, but there are more psychological horror films that have to place in the category of the most influential movies that exist in the horror genre. One of those movies is the 1990s cinematic masterpiece that is Silence of the Lambs. The film stars Anthony Hopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a man who must be analyzed to stop an infamous serial killer from taking more victims. The film is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video, for those who have not seen this film.
Silence of the Lambs was released in 1991 and still holds an astounding 95% “certified fresh” critic rating on Rotten Tomatoes. That score is nearly equally matched by a 95% approval rating by audiences. The film would go on to make over $272 million in worldwide box office numbers against a budget of $19 million. Back in 1991, $272 million was a lot of money. The film is one of the select few in cinema history that also landed the “Big Five Academy Awards.” These include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Adapted Screenplay. The film featured career-defining performances by both Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. That’s not to mention the expertly played Buffalo Bill by Ted Levine.
Silence of the Lambs follows an FBI recruit by the name of Clarice Starling. She is thrown into a case that includes the rampage of a serial killer named Buffalo Bill, who kills women and takes their skin. Through her investigation, she is tasked with speaking to Dr. Hannibal Lecter, a former psychiatrist who is now a cannibalistic serial killer. Lecter is locked away in a facility that is run by Dr. Frederick Chilton. Chilton essentially tortures his most violent offenders, leaving many to wonder who the real monster in these situations is. Lecter takes a liking to Clarice, and agrees to help her in catching Buffalo Bill, but only if she reveals her deepest fears to him. Clarice agrees to go on this journey of self-discovery with Dr. Lecter, in order to save the newly captured Catherine Martin. Martin is the daughter of a U.S. Senator. Without giving up the rest of the movie, anyone who is interested in this description can go watch the film on Amazon Prime Video right now.
What makes Silence of the Lambs so special is that the film teeters between being a psychological thriller into a full-blown horror film, but one that was expertly delivered in a way that made it a huge critical hit. Most horror films aren’t in the business of garnering Academy Award nominations, but this film won five. Most of that was based on the eerie and captivating performances of Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. Hopkins took the role of a serial killer and turned it into something almost poetic. Dr. Lecter has been part of mainstream ever since, being referenced in plenty of other films and shows like Dumb and Dumber, The Simpsons, The Cable Guy, The Office, and so many more.
Silence of the Lambs also has one of the best endings of any film, but we won’t give that away to anyone who has not yet seen it. Sure, it has been out for 31 years, but we still like people to be surprised by what they watch. The film stars the previously mentioned Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster. Additional cast includes Scott Glen, Ted Levine, and Anthony Heald. The film is a masterclass in how a horror film can be as grotesque as possible but also makes one think about morality, justice, and our own personal existential struggles at the same exact time.
Silence of the Lambs can be streamed right now on Amazon Prime Video, and anyone who is a fan of psychological thrillers and horrors need to see the film that has inspired countless others. Plus, when one thinks of villains, Anthony Hopkins’s portrayal of Dr. Lecter joins the likes of Darth Vader, The Joker, Anton Chigurh, Alex from A Clockwork Orange, and Hans Gruber. He is that memorable. Everyone should watch this masterpiece at least once in their life.
