The animal sound that was used to make ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ terrifying
Among the definitive cultural cornerstones of the 1990s, Jonathan Demme‘s The Silence of the Lambs permanently changed the way in which filmmakers approached the psychological thriller genre. Ranging from David Fincher to Denis Villeneuve, the influence of the seminal 1991 gem can be observed in the movies of some of the greatest directors working today.
Starring Anthony Hopkins in one of the most iconic roles of his legendary career, The Silence of the Lambs follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling (brilliantly portrayed by Jodie Foster) as she embarks on a quest to hunt down a dangerous serial killer. In order to do so, she is forced to seek the help of Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter, a gifted student of human psychology who used his vast knowledge to fuel his uncontrollable cannibalistic impulses.
The first time they meet each other has become an instantly recognisable part of film history, having been parodied by famous shows such as South Park. For that particular scene, Demme wanted to construct an “extraordinary mood of dread and suspense” so that the audience understood the terrifying genius of Hannibal Lecter. While the high-security prison setting was scary in itself, the filmmaker achieved his intended effect by mixing animal sounds.
Before he set out to become one of the most successful filmmakers in the industry, Demme was very interested in working with animals. He told DGA: “My dream was to be a veterinarian, but I flunked out of chemistry. I was an obsessive film buff and completely broke. When I went home to Miami and resumed working in animal hospitals, I found a little paper needing a film critic. I couldn’t have been happier, and I then had the opportunity to become a publicist.”
While talking to his production sound mixer Chris Newman, Demme wondered: “‘Are there ways you can mic this? Is there b-roll that you can get? How can we make it feel like Clarice is literally going to hell to have this meeting?’ And you wind up with things like, ‘Let’s make it sound like she’s in a submarine.’ And then, ‘Let’s get humpback whale sounds and mix them in a little bit.’ Movies are 50 percent image and 50 percent sound. It’s really an asset to think in those terms as a director.”
The result was truly immersive, drawing the audience into the dark and ominous world that Lecter inhabited. It was the perfect introduction to one of the most terrifying antagonists in all of film history, leaving an indelible impression on the minds of every single viewer.
Watch an iconic clip from The Silence of the Lambs below.
