Disc Reviews

The Silence of the Lambs 4K Review

• 26th Aug 2024

The Silence of the Lambs remains one of the best serial killer and procedural thrillers made to date, not to mention a very sobering view of women in law enforcement. Not only did the film give us Anthony Hopkin’s Hannibal Lecter, but it also Jodie Foster’s Clarice Starling as the eponymous, yet incarcerated, Doctor helping out the green FBI agent on the trail of a Serial Killer of women.

The accolades at the time and the film’s persistence in showing up on all-time best-movie lists speaks for itself. The film has only aged well through time and comes now to the UK in a polished 4K presentation, loaded with extra material.

The picture transfer retains the film grain which should make 4K and film enthusiasts happy. Film film grain, however, there is going to be some lingering noise occurring on some surfaces

Two academic commentary tracks – First from queer film historian Elizabeth Purchell and trans film critic Caden Mark Gardner. The second by film critic/historian Tim Lucas who has provided countless commentaries across various fioms.

Breaking the silence acts as an in-video commentary over the film with pop-up interviews and text detailing different aspects of the film, setting and story.

There is a 40-minute TV special Page to Screen which charts the journey of the story being written and then transplanted to script and to screen.

A 2005 Jonathan Demme and Jodie Foster three-part interview lasts the better part of an hour where they both analyse the film and the filmmaking process. This comes from boss extras documentarian Laurent Bouzereau.

There is also a Howard Shore 16-minute interview from 2004.

Arrow Video have also added a couple of visual essays.  One focuses on transformation, and the other on point of view personalisation.  Neither of these are going to be rocking news to anyone, but they are still interesting and relevant.

Throw in the usual promotional materials and you have a fine set for an already fine movie experience.

Steven Hurst

Full contents:

• 4K (2160p) UHD Blu-ray™ presentation in Dolby Vision (HDR10 compatible)
• Newly restored original lossless 2.0 stereo soundtrack
• Optional lossless 5.1 soundtrack
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing
• Brand new audio commentary by critics Elizabeth Purchell & Caden Mark Gardner
• Audio commentary by critic Tim Lucas
• Through Her Eyes – brand new visual essay on the theme of transformation by critic Justine Peres Smith
• Healing Humanity – brand new visual essay exploring point of view and personalization by critic Willow Catelyn Maclay
• Breaking the Silence – archival picture-in-picture interviews and trivia track
• 2002 episode of the Bravo television series Page to Screen focusing on The Silence of the Lambs
• Scoring the Silence – 2004 archival interview with composer Howard Shore
• Jonathan Demme & Jodie Foster – three-part archival 2005 documentary by Laurent Bouzereau
• Understanding the Madness – 2008 archival featurette featuring various FBI alumni discussing the profiling of serial killers
• 1991 “Making Of” Featurette
• 22 deleted scenes
• 7 additional deleted scenes, sourced from a VHS workprint
• Outtakes
• Anthony Hopkins phone message
• Theatrical trailer
• Teaser trailer
• 11 TV spots
• Image gallery
• Limited edition packaging with reversible sleeve featuring two original choices of artwork
• Illustrated collector’s booklet featuring new writing on the film by Alexandra West, Josh Nelson, Sam Moore and Alexandra Heller-Nicholas
• Double-sided fold-out poster, featuring two original choices of artwork
• Six double-sided, postcard-sized lobby card reproduction artcards

The Silence of the Lambs is out on 26^th August