Board 8 > Gauntlet Crew Ranks 90s Horror Films - Do you like ranking scary movies?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'd rather these thrillers win over the comedies at least.
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Scream would have been my number 1
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Jacob's Ladder is WAY higher than I expected it to be. I mean, I love the movie, but fully expected it to be controversial.

The top 4 are my 1, 2, 4, and 7
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For me: 4, 8, 9, 22
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TotallyNotMI posted...

Scream would have been my number 1

*high fives*

The purist in me says that Scream was the highest rank "pure" horror movie. I know my definition of horror is not popular with some of you, but that's how I feel.
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Snake5555555555 posted...

22

:o

I would bet actual money on which one it is though
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The top 4 to me are:

2, 6, 7, 9
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v_charon posted...

TotallyNotMI posted...

Scream would have been my number 1

*high fives*

The purist in me says that Scream was the highest rank "pure" horror movie. I know my definition of horror is not popular with some of you, but that's how I feel.

tbh it's still kind of weird that you're so into Scream but so again horror comedy

Scream's not as comedic as like Shaun of the Dead but it's still a satire
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Scream's comedic elements aren't the driving factor of the film, they compliment an actual horror movie. There's a huge difference in straight horror comedy films that are played up for laughs and nothing else; it's when the horror comes secondary that I have a problem with the films and usually dislike them. Or at least, I view them in a much different light than other films they are grouped with.
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Really hoping Misery wins. But its probably gonna be Se7en.
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To me Scream is campy which is different than comedy horror.
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Can someone please explain Cemetery Man to me? Like... was that supposed to be a satire or a comedy with horror elements, or was I, God forbid, supposed to take that at face value? It didn't work on any level for me. As implied it had moments of comedic genius, but then it completely went back on them with an artistic vision that implied it was taking itself far too seriously and thus I should be too
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Well, it can all be explained away with the fact that it's Italian.
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GenesisSaga posted...

explain Cemetery Man

Snake5555555555 posted...

Italian

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4. Jacob's Ladder

This movie is peculiar for principally being a subtle and fairly powerful drama about one mans quest to discover the truth about his experiences, and his eventual acceptance thereof. Tim Robbins holds the screen effectively as the titular Jacob, and the understated presentation helps humanize his situation. However, the horror is largely existential, which isnt much use if the movie doesnt make you think about and linger on its events, something it failed to do for me.

As for Shaun of the Dead and horror comedies in general, I agree that they should generally try to be scary as well as funny. In Shaun, the horror may have come second to the comedy, but that didn't stop it from being genuinely frightening (a high bar for me) at times.
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4. The Sixth Sense

Karo - 1
Genny - 4
Scarlet - 4
Charon - 6
Inviso - 6
Johnbobb - 7
KBM - 10
JONA - 11
Snake - 22

Karo - A psychologist helps a troubled little boy and soon finds out about the kid's ability to 'see dead people', whom he struggles to help while at the same time dealing with his own marital issues. It is undoubtedly Shyamalan's best film, the usual twist is very well hidden, yet so obvious on subsequent viewings that you cannot say that he was ever unfair in the film's presentation. It is everything a mystery should be, as well as just being a good movie in general. It shouldn't take more than five senses to figure that out.

Genny - What The Sixth Sense lacks in actual scares it makes up for with its mastery of building suspense. Even from its cold opening you're left unsure of Dr. Malcolm's fate until he's shown later. Imagine the very first time you saw this movie. You likely questioned it, but as the aftermath is so strongly implied your mind brushes the obvious inquiries aside. Even after the iconic line is uttered your mind convinces you that it's mere coincidence because it swears you've seen him interact with people other than Cole, but then the pieces all start to fall into place. It's all an elaborate lie. To me this is Shyamalan at his best. 9.4/10

Scarlet - Is Shyamalans best film also his first major project? Its a pretty close call. The Sixth Sense is a mind-bending, psychologically satisfying drama film that teeters on the edge between supernatural thriller and all-out horror. As a viewer, I was unbalanced the entire way, and I respect the now-overused Shyamalan style twist.
Rating: 74/100

Charon - A classic that established M. Night Shyamalan immediately, perhaps too much so, as a leader in young directors this twisting tale's influence on popular lexicon cannot be ignored. With Bruce Willis's star power and a brilliant performance by the newcomer Haley Joel Osment, this movie sets the mood like few others. There are some legitimately frightening scenes in this too however, which is great because you don't always expect that from these drama thriller movies. Rewatching this movie, to catch all the subtle clues about the fate of Crowe after you know about it is an experience really only this film can offer. It's well made, smart and though he may continue to try and do it, cannot be duplicated by Shyamalan.

Inviso - If Im being completely honest here, the only reason this movie doesnt rank higher (that is to say, ranking with a chance at the top spot) is because of just how central of a character Haley Joel Osment is. Hes not a TERRIBLE actor, and he serves his role in the film well enoughbut he just doesnt appeal to me as a personality. His voice is bothersome, and he just cant carry the movie on his own. Meanwhile, with him as the central figure, Bruce Willis is forced to tone down his personality somewhat.

All that being said, the movie is still pretty amazing. Theres an eerie, ominous tone throughout the film, leading up to the first big reveal: that Cole sees dead people. Suddenly the film becomes populated by the disturbing ghosts of the recently (and not-so-recently) deceased, plus Dr. Crowe starts to believe as well, upon listening to audio recordings from an old patient with similar issues. But rather than bring the film down the rabbit hole of outright horror, it instead takes a nicer turn, as the ghosts turn out to just be people with unfinished business, who need Coles help to pass on. The scene with Cole and his mother in the car is especially touching. And of course, Cole inadvertently helps Dr. Crowe to move on as he wasdead the whole time?!?! But yeah, really good film. I cant wait to watch the rest of M. Night Shyalmalans directorial endeavors. He seems like a guy who can do no wrong.
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Johnbobb - spooky ghosts

KBM - What can even be said about The Sixth Sense that hasn't already been said? Thanks to having one of the most famous gotcha twists of all time, it's been analyzed to death in the 20 years since its release, and if there are a few things that don't really hold up to scrutiny, I can't bring myself to hold it against this film. Contrary to popular belief, M. Night is a really talented filmmaker, despite having had some rather spectacularly bad misses over the years, and he really shows off his affinity for aesthetic and use of color here. Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment also have great chemistry, with Haley Joel giving one of the greatest child-actor performances ever committed to film. Shyamalan has become synonymous with what a twist - and though plenty of the criticism lobbed at him is perfectly valid, for me it doesn't undermine The Sixth Sense, which still holds up two decades later.

JONA - Knowing the twist ahead of time, it seems kinda obvious since the first scene doesnt fit or make sense to put in if Bruce Willis wasnt dead. That being said, it didnt hurt my enjoyment of the movie. Its intriguing to see the lives of a boy who can see ghosts and a man who doesnt know hes a ghost. The creepy imagery found in the movie is scarce but effective when it shows up.

Snake - Why I Chose It - The Sixth Sense put director M. Night Shyamalan directly into the public eye, firmly establishing his horror & supernatural credentials and gaining notoriety for twist endings. It was the second highest grossing film of 1999 (behind Phantom Menace), and was the highest grossing horror film of all time until 2017's IT. It was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Supporting Actor/Actress for Haley Joel Osment and Toni Collette respecitvely.

My Thoughts - I want to like this film more than I do, I really mean it. It's not often that I think to myself, "I just had to be there for it." A truly great film in my eyes should not have this nagging thought attached to it. Years before I had ever seen it, it was just the "I see dead people" film to me. Spoilers don't inherently ruin films, but they can lessen a film's total overall impact if the rest of the film's elements aren't up to snuff. The performances are good, but I find the scares and overall plot extremely lame in comparison. There's nothing here that truly grabs me and gives me a reason to care. It's just a film I have no particular attachment too; I can appreciate its place in history, but other than that, I'd rather watch something else.
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man why didn't anyone take me up on my bet
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Because everyone knows that Seven already won.
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Good drop. Definitely the worst of the final four.
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Osment is great in this by the way. It's one of the greatest performances by any child actor ever, in my opinion. Can't believe (or, I can) that it has naysayers.
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Snake5555555555 posted...

I want to like this film more than I do, I really mean it. It's not often that I think to myself, "I just had to be there for it." A truly great film in my eyes should not have this nagging thought attached to it. Years before I had ever seen it, it was just the "I see dead people" film to me. Spoilers don't inherently ruin films, but they can lessen a film's total overall impact if the rest of the film's elements aren't up to snuff. The performances are good, but I find the scares and overall plot extremely lame in comparison. There's nothing here that truly grabs me and gives me a reason to care. It's just a film I have no particular attachment too; I can appreciate its place in history, but other than that, I'd rather watch something else.

Honestly, I was finding it very difficult to pinpoint my thoughts on The Sixth Sense, largely because I had long since known about the spoiler. That being said, this pretty much covers it better than I could.
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I can agree with that, Osment is pretty impressive for a child actor. Acting definitely isn't my issue with 6th Sense.
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And so the top three are my top three.

Neat!

I see Dad people - hailey Joe osmond
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Outlier

Inviso - 354
Genny - 299
Charon - 277
KBM - 248
Scarlet - 210
Johnbobb - 209
JONA - 205
Karo - 201
Snake - 187

Project will conclude tomorrow with the final three rankings. Outlier is pretty set at this point!
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Final three tomorrow. This has flown by.
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I'm really happy with myself for doing 2 rankings every day. There were a couple of days I really had to squeeze in the second but I've always managed!
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Definitely a fair set for the top 4. I also had Sixth Sense spoiled for me well before I saw it, but it was so effective and put together so skillfully that I loved it anyway, and watched it many more times afterward. Memorable performances from Haley Joel Osment, Toni Collette, and Donnie Wahlberg, who committed to a one-scene appearance more than maybe any actor ever. A very rare feel-good horror movie with a unique tone that M. Night was never quite able to replicate. Probably my 2nd-favorite ghost movie after The Ring.
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Snake5555555555 posted...

I'm really happy with myself for doing 2 rankings every day. There were a couple of days I really had to squeeze in the second but I've always managed!

And then it's time for scene rankings? :D
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We watched The Visit, following the project. While it's not quite on the level of this one obviously, it was surprisingly good from him following some clunkers he's put out there.
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jcgamer107 posted...

Snake5555555555 posted...

I'm really happy with myself for doing 2 rankings every day. There were a couple of days I really had to squeeze in the second but I've always managed!

And then it's time for scene rankings? :D

I probably should! Also impromptu top 10 ghost movies off the top of my head:

Lake Mungo
1408
The Innkeepers
The Orphanage
The Ring
Shutter
The Innocents
The Haunting
Ghostbusters
The Fog
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v_charon posted...

We watched The Visit, following the project. While it's not quite on the level of this one obviously, it was surprisingly good from him following some clunkers he's put out there.

It was definitely a comeback for Shyamalan. Though it falls apart a little too easily and has a TON of conveniences to make it work.
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Solid top 3.
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The Shining
A Ghost Story
1408
Beetlejuice
The Sixth Sense
Stir of Echoes
Ringu
Ghostbusters
The Others
The Fog
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Ooh A Ghost Story would definitely be in my top 10 actually. Also everyone needs to watch Lake Mungo, it's so well-done.
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downloaded
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3. Misery

Inviso - 1
Johnbobb - 2
Karo - 3
KBM - 3
JONA - 4
Charon - 9
Snake - 9
Genny - 10
Scarlet - 11

Inviso - Kathy Bates performance in this film was so good that she managed to overcome your typical genre snobbery from the Oscars to take home the Best Actress award for 1991. Annie Wilkes is just such an amazing character, right from the word go. Shes so aggressively nice for someone who hauled a car crash victim from his wrecked vehicle and laid him up in her guest bedroom. But then she just becomes more and more sinister, doing some utterly fucked up things (including smashing Pauls ankles and murdering the town sheriff), and it turns out that shes been a psychopath for a VERY long time, adding to the creep factor of having a writer forced to write for his stalker fan. The fact that Paul manages to take her down at the end is practically a miracle, but it also feels well-deserved by the end of everything. Overall, this film is really solidly-made and I loved it.

Johnbobb - Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes is probably my all-time favorite horror performance. There's a good bit more here to make it a solid horror classic. Great pacing, tense atmosphere, an underlying sense of dread, but it's all nothing compared to how absolutely fantastic Kathy Bates is.

Karo - A popular romance novelist gets saved from a car wreck by an obsessive fan/stalker, and what at first seems innocent enough soon turns into a nightmare when the woman doesn't like the direction the author's story is taking. In a series of gripping scenes the crippled writer tries to find a way to escape while at the same time trying to soothe the less-than-hinged mind of the insane bitch caring for him. The character of Annie is frightening because she could be, not to mention feels like, a real person. You can keep your silly demons, aliens and swamp creatures, humans are the greatest monsters of all and this film shows exactly why.

KBM - Speaking as a big Stephen King fan, this is one of the best adaptations of his work out there (and almost certainly the best one that didn't have Frank Darabont in the director's chair). Kathy Bates got a well-deserved Oscar for her unforgettable turn bringing Annie Wilkes, one of King's greatest villains, to life. James Caan is also amazing here in a very difficult role, having to carry a lot of dramatic weight while lying in a bed disabled for most of the movie. Rob Reiner really nails the atmosphere of this very introspective tale, and more than almost any other King adaptation this feels like it just leapt straight off the page and onto the screen. Subtle and freaky, it manages the difficult task of accurately depicting the mental anguish of a man stuck in a room alone, without the pacing ever suffering for it. I have rewatched this one a lot since I first saw it when I was 14, and it never loses a shred of its potency.

JONA - Kathy Bates really shines here with her performance as Annie Wilkes. Shes really good at going from caring to crazy. James Caan is no slouch either with his performance and hes good at making you want him to get out of his situation. Their author-fan relationship is really intriguing and how Annie Wilkes can go from complimentary to criticizing. I also really liked how the sheriff scenes made you think he would be the one to save the day but nope. It really makes Sheldons situation feel more hopeless. Just really enjoyable.
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Charon - Inside the mind of a deranged fan can be a dark place to visit, and this Stephen King adaptation explores it to the fullest. The least frightening people can sometimes turn out to be the most frightening of all. Annie's character is pretty complicated. On one hand, she acts very polite and God fearing all the whilst she's actually a convicted murderer. Watching her rationalize her actions is enjoyable, and knowing what would happen when she read the latest book by her favorite author was thrilling. I was kinda guessing though that'd his newest book wouldn't actually be the one he was working on before he was abducted, I thought he may have continued the Misery line of books after all, having been inspired by his ordeal.

Snake - Why I Chose It - This critically acclaimed film best on the best selling Stephen King novel is most famous for Kathy Bates' star-making role as Annie Wilkes. Bates won the Academy Award for Best Actress for this film, and the film itself was a box office success. It has oft been referenced and parodied in many future works, and the quote "I'm your number one fan" has become ubiquitous with Misery.

My Thoughts - Misery is a delightful little thriller with a surprising amount of layers for such a simple concept. It's a classic two-hander and both James Caan and Kathy Bates carry their respective weights, psychologically dueling for the upper-hand, a constant push-pull that analyzes the toxic intensity of extreme fandom. It's crazy and terrifying how Wilkes can turn on a dime from sickeningly-sweet-as-apple-pie to nightmarish-demon-spawn-from-hell, and it's equally exciting to see how Sheldon manipulates Bates to try and escape his situation. I think my favorite part is when Sheldon agrees to rewrite his latest novel for Bates, to comply with her request to revive his novel's main character. I love the ways Sheldon feigns friendship with Bates, utilizing Stockholm syndrome to great effect to try and manipulate Bates into letting her guard down so he can kill her. It's so smart and tense and thrilling, contrasting with the cozy, snowy atmosphere of the outside world. Misery also doesn't pull its punches when it comes to the physical horror; there's of course the "hobbling" scene, which deftly escalates the situation from "desperate" to "I'm doomed" right quick. It's sparse but toe-curling scenes like this that really puts the cherry on top for one of the best King adaptations ever made.

Genny - This is a horrifying concept taken to its extreme when you think about it. Imagine you've written yourself into a corner and want to branch out, but fear fan backlash. You don't want to sacrifice the success you've gained, but you can't stand the thought of your career stagnating. A master of suspense, Misery appeals to the risk taker and dreamer in all of us then does its very best to crush those ambitions with the brilliant character portrayed by Kathy Bates. Annie Wilkes represents every fear that keeps you from moving forward in your creative endeavors. If you look at her like a mental obstacle- a personification of anxiety- rather than a physical one it's almost as scary as the thought of being hobbled with a sledge hammer. Almost. 8.1/10
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Scarlet - The definition of a one-man show, Misery is carried solely on the back of the Kathy Bates powerhouse performance that is Annie Wilkes. Theres even a surprising amount of dark humor to this movie which endears it to someone like me that tends to find suspense to be an exercise in holding in a fart. But, at the end of the day, a movie requires a hero when the situation is set as a survival piece. And, quite frankly, I care less about James Caan in this than I care about Scotty Caan in real life. Thats quite an indictment. Of Scotty Caan. Without something that compels me to care, the film ultimately buckles under the function of one person trying to fill the role of two.
Rating: 59/100
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Kathy Bates is incredible in pretty much everything she does. Unsure if shes my favorite actress but its close.
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1. Misery

The early set-up necessary to reach this movies promising premise is a bit awkward, which is the worst thing I can say about it. Once successful novelist Paul Sheldon is laid up in bed in the house of his self-described biggest fan, Annie Wilkes, Misery picks up steam as a brilliant two-hander. In particular, a certain sequence juxtaposing the two forces of will near the movies midpoint is truly masterful. Kathy Bates raked in much-deserved acclaim for her performance; however, James Caan is no less effective in a role that requires a herculean level of commitment by nature, and great acting also graces the supporting roles. Beyond just an acting showcase, Misery is also a taut thriller where seemingly minor details like the direction a ceramic figurine faces matter, and a nervy horror movie with effective short-term scares paired with an existentially frightening premise and execution thereof.

(Note: Not my number 1 of all movies I've watched of this list - merely of the movies I saw before it started.)
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Never really cared for misery but I can appreciate the performance of Kathy Bates in spite of that. She does really well with a story I'm not super interested in.
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2. Se7en

Scarlet - 1
Genny - 2
KBM - 2
Inviso - 3
Johnbobb - 4
Snake - 4
Karo - 6
Charon - 7
JONA - 12

Scarlet - Anyone who puts Gwenyth's head in a box is okay by me. ~Ari Gold
Rating: 92/100

Genny - Rarely is a movie so devastating to the psyche as Se7en. Pitt put on a solid performance here, but Kevin Spacey as John Doe is the real standout managing to tread the extremely fine line between sociopath and sympathetic in a seemingly impossible task. It made me question how insane could someone this calculating really be, and how senseless could his actions have been if they led him to his exact desired outcome. Doe was cruel beyond reason, but he became a martyr for the cause of exposing corruption and in some cases putting an end to it. It's still a bit of a mind fuck just thinking back on it. 9.6/10

KBM - WHAT'S IN THE BOX? WHAT'S IN THE BOOOOX?

Goddamn I love this movie. It definitely holds a nostalgic place in my heart as one of the first horror movies I watched home alone at midnight, when I was 16 (something that's become a Halloween tradition for me since). As someone who loves a dark, creepy atmosphere in her horror movies, Se7en has it in spades. I'm a big David Fincher fan, thanks in large part to his affinity for getting that atmosphere in his films just so, and this probably holds up as still my favorite movie of his. With a stacked cast all working at the top of their game, and a truly creepy, creative premise, this is a film that grabs you from the very beginning and never lets go. Haunting and relentless, with imagery that will stick with you for a long time after you've watched it, this is one of the darkest, outright scariest movies out there, for my money, with a bunch of extremely talented artists doing some of the best work of their careers. (Including noted sexual predator Kevin Spacey, whose performance may not have been as much of a stretch acting-wise as we once might have thought.)

Inviso - Im not gonna claim that this movies ending sold it, but goddamn if it didnt boost an already solid film to even greater heights than I could have ever imagined. I meant, the whole tone of the film starts out so dark and gritty and it adds an extra sense of realism to the plot. Morgan Freemans character being a cop less than a week from retirement helps build the atmosphere of the film. Hes not some hotshot that wants to catch a serial killer for fame and glory. This isnt that kind of movie. No, hes a cop who has seen a whole bunch of awful shit, and hes tired of it, and hes pissed that he has to spend the last week of his career dealing with (at the start) some fat guy being fed to death. But then he gets saddled with the above-mentioned young, hotshot detective, and hes stuck dealing with a shitty, rainy, final week on the job. Its just an interesting setting. Its like The Killing on AMC. I loved that show for its gritty reality.

Meanwhile, youve got Brad Pitt, and I feel like he nailed his role. Hes cocky, he thinks hes hot shit, and because he hasnt experienced life in a big city police force, he doesnt know the ins and outs of the law the way Freeman does. So hes aggressive and rude and violent at times, and this all culminates it a spectacular climax to the film, where hes pushed to his limit and snaps by an effectively-frightening serial killer. For all the awful things hes done, is it any wonder that Kevin Spacey plays a chilling, emotionless psychopath? Seriously, that ending wraps up the bleak, depressing tone of the film so perfectly, and aside from grossing me out with the Gluttony murder, I loved this movie.
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Johnbobb - I remember watching this on the couch at a friend's house in high school because he was a big Nine Inch Nails fan and wanted to see it. It's one of the most "Fincher" films out there, establishing his distinct dark style, and to this day it's still one of his best. It's manages to expose the brutal violence of the world without being an explicitly violent movie. It's horror disguised as noir and is just brimming with an overwhelming sense of dread.

Snake - Why I Chose It - Forget Alien 3, Se7en is David Fincher's true birth as a visionary director. Se7en was a huge box office hit that stayed at the top for 4 weeks straight, and was critically acclaimed for its overbearingly dark tone that deftly balanced stark snap-shots of horror with an excellent story of mystery and criminal investigation at its core. Its ending has become nothing short of infamous and made "what's in the box?" a line people have come to dread.

My Thoughts - Se7en is an incredible piece of art. It's a multi-layered film covering a whole range of genres, tones, & emotions. Buddy cop moments give way to images of startling and gruesome corpses, sweet romance is overshadowed by the constant downpour of the city and a stressful investigation, defeat is snatched from the jaws of victory just when everything seems to be over. Se7en is not an easy watch, but it constantly holds your attention thanks to two of the best ever performances from Pitt's and Freeman's careers. Yet, it's Spacey's John Doe that takes center stage, as Se7en changes perspective for its final act to get the audience into the mindset of a true psychopath. It's a subtle shift but turns all notions of good and bad on their heads, delivering a climax that just chills to the core whenever that one famous line is ever uttered. Atmospheric, intense, and devastating, Se7en is a must-watch by the best the film industry has to offer.

Karo - A detective story about a serial killer who kills people in order to demonstrate the sins of mankind just in case it needed to be more obvious that people are a bunch of shitbags. So the story follows two cops as they investigate the crime scenes in an attempt to track him down. Think sort of a CSI kind of thing except, y'know, actually good. If the movie has one failing it is that is the climactic scene is a bit too obvious. Haha, I wonder who his mystery victim is? Man, it couldn't possibly be the character that they gave awkward out-of-place scenes to in order to make absolutely sure Detective Morgan Freeman knew what she looked like. Nonetheless, it remains a gripping crime thriller that is a fun watch and never drags even with its long runtime.

Charon - An extremely brutal and dark crime thriller, Seven's strengths are most noticable when it's focusing on the serial killer's breadcrumb trail. I enjoy films like this, where you have an intelligent serial killer that's leading the protagonists along while performing acts that are of debatable morality. While John Doe doesn't have a real presence as a character himself, having to let his actions do most of the talking until the very end, I have a feeling that if this were like an anime I'd love the character. Killers that base their crimes around "is this person really worth caring about anyway" are usually pretty interesting. The finale is pretty gut-wrenching as well; it's definitely something I saw coming but that doesn't remove the sense of dread you feel when you find out your hunches were right.
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JONA - The actors and the atmosphere really carry the movie. Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt have good chemistry. Despite not being too original nowadays, the themed murders are still intriguing to follow. I do have a problem with the ending since Envy and Wrath didnt match the previous murders and I didnt like how the killer killed a woman who would be innocent in their viewpoint, but whatever hes crazy.
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Best possible #1. Bravo, gauntlet crew. Bravo.
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Not even a little surprised by which got the top spot, and it definitely deserves it

but also Se7en and Misery are fantastic films
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1. The Silence of the Lambs

Johnbobb - 1
KBM - 1
Charon - 2
Karo - 2
Genny - 3
JONA - 3
Inviso - 5
Snake - 8
Scarlet - 10

Johnbobb - How does a single movie manage to provide two of the best horror villains of all time while also balancing the character development of one of the best female movie protagonists in film history? While ALSO being intelligent, captivating and horrifying in equal amounts? A movie like this really doesn't come around often.

KBM - Not only my favorite '90s horror movie, but one of my Top 5 favorite films of all time. Anthony Hopkins is, of course, iconic in the role of Hannibal Lecter, but I would argue Jodie Foster's is even more impressive; quite possibly the best work of her career, perfectly underplaying the gradually building dread as the psychological horror amps up more and more. The rest of the cast is also great, with Ted Levine fittingly creepy as Buffalo Bill the sequence where he stalks Clarice with night-vision goggles still ranks among the most terrifying scenes in history for me. Top it all off with a script that elevates the source material and beautifully atmospheric direction from Jonathan Demme at his best, and you've got a more-than-deserving Big Five Academy Award winner; rarely have the Oscars gotten the awards more right than they did in 1991. Incidentally, in a way this could be considered a sequel to Michael Mann's criminally underrated 1986 thriller Manhunter, based on the first novel in the Hannibal Lecter series, Red Dragon. It was remade pretty well under the original title with Anthony Hopkins reprising the role (and this being the version more people are familiar with), but for my money Manhunter is the creepier and more stylish picture and deserves to have more of a following. Give it a watch if you're as big a fan of Silence of the Lambs as I am.

Charon - Legendary acting and intense characterization help make this film one of the landmark achievements of the 90's. Each character, big or small, is acted to such a high degree that it's hard not to appreciate it. The film paints an interesting picture in giving us Buffalo Bill as the despicable villain we're meant to hate so that when Lecter gets his happy ending we aren't left with that sense of "bad horror" where the villain is victorious at the end. Though he is clearly a villain, he isn't an antagonist to our protagonist, which makes Silence pretty unique. In my opinion, Hannibal Lecter is one of the best portrayed characters in film and it's truly difficult to imagine anyone doing a better job than Hopkins does here with him.

Karo - In an effort to catch a serial killer, a young FBI trainee seeks the help of convicted psychopath Hannibal Lecter, who has his own agenda in mind. Lecter is of course the big star here, and while he has sadly far too little screentime the movie is more than just the genteel cannibal dinner hour. The character of Clarice in particular is very well done. A lot of the movie brings to mind the ubiquitous crime serial shows of the upcoming decades, though this film reaches a perfection of the genre that CSI: Alaska or whatever can only dream of achieving.

Genny - Although I wouldn't go as far as to say The Silence of the Lambs is the greatest horror film of all time I can see why someone would hold that opinion. As a solid thriller, it confronts the viewer with the knowledge that society can be just as sinister as the monsters it creates. Of course Foster and Hopkins' performances are stellar, but I'd like to acknowledge the underrated portrayal of Ted Levine as Jame "Buffalo Bill" Gumb, who really sold that role and made the character almost as iconic as Hannibal Lecter. 9.5/10
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Inviso - A lot of the movies weve watched, the ones that received academy acclaim, I struggle to enjoy because the kinds of movies that tend to appeal to Oscar voterstend to be the kinds of movies designed for more hoity-toity movie viewers. Not this time. Silence of the Lambs is one of only three movies to score Oscar wins for Best Picture/Screenplay/Director/Actor/Actress, and it deserves every last drop of praise it receives. Jodie Foster plays an amazing Clarice Starling, who is trying desperately to carry herself as strong, but shes really far more fragile than she lets on. And Anthony Hopkins kills it as Hannibal Lecter, managing to create the OG classy psychopath upon whom all future archetypes are based. The whole movie is just so unsettling, and its like an extended (and obviously better-acted) episode of Criminal Minds. I really liked it.

JONA - Do you really need a writeup from me about my completely unique opinion of The Silence of the Lambs being great? Yeah, I didnt think so.

Snake - Why I Chose It - Three words: horror, best picture. 'Nuff said!

My Thoughts - Silence of the Lambs is intriguing. On the surface, it's almost too straight-forward. Your typical serial killer hunter plot. Yet, it's elevated so incredibly well by the acting talents here and this crime triangle of Starling, Lecter, and Bill that is so psychologically thrilling you can't help but be enthralled by what's happening on screen. With two villains fighting over control of screen time, you would think you end up with Spider-Man 3, but it just doesn't happen. It helps that their logos are so different, and though are both depraved individuals, the way they go about their criminal acts (to put it nicely) gives us a reason to want to see one stopped just as much as the other. Incredible camera-work and a clinical atmosphere puts the cherry on top.

Scarlet - Now hear me out, because someone needs to say this. What Anthony Hopkins presents as Hannibal Lecter is not a measured and nuanced performance. In actuality, its probably more cartoonish than the standard superhero villain. I would put Cillian Murphy as Jonathan Crane up against Hopkins as Lecter any day of the week. I found this movie to be almost a caricature of the books from which the film originates, with lead performances that left me needing more. Foster, for her part, is about as much of a dimestore Dana Scully as possible, and Hopkins overplays his hand, turning his character into a farcical mess. But scattered in this movie are some hidden gems that I do love. God help me, Anthony Heald is always intensely watchable, for example. The biggest disservice Ive ever done to myself is to watch the Hannibal TV series prior to rewatching Silence of the Lambs, learning just how unimpressive the progenitor really was.
Rating: 62/100
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