What was it like seeing Silence of the Lambs in the theater? (OPEN SPOILERS)

Cafe Society
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I saw Silence of the Lambs in college and knew very little about it going in, other than it was about serial killers. Let me tell you, Lecter creeped me out. I really dug the manipulative battle of wills between him and Special Agent Starling. I actually thought the blood dripping down from the ceiling of the elevator was more forebodingly scary than Lecter later sitting up in the ambulance. I also really liked the bait-and-switch where you think the SWAT team is storming Buffalo Bill’s house, then there’s a quick cut and it’s just Starling, all by her lonesome, ringing the doorbell. Brilliant! (They did something similar in the first Lord of the Rings movie, where you think the Ringwraiths are going to be jabbing their swords into the sleeping hobbits, and it turns out they’re somewhere else entirely).

I knew there was some kind of twist to The Sixth Sense before I saw it, and I figured it out maybe ten minutes before the big reveal, but it still packed an emotional wallop. That was a film that I really enjoyed at the time and appreciated as a ghost story with some real pathos and emotional depth, but I’ve never seen it since. It would scare me and depress me all over again, and I just don’t want that.

Likewise Se7en, which I watched with a kind of sickened fascination - great cast, clever script, oppressive mood, and just a devastating ending. I don’t see many horror movies, but these three have really stayed with me.

My favorite opening-night story was when I was in a boarding school; a favorite teacher took some friends and me to see Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. We had seats up front and it just blew us away. “Khaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!”

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Star Wars was billed as “The Best Movie of the Year” before it opened on the cover of TIME magazine. It also received across-the-bottom-of-the-front-page ads in big city newspapers. This is not the mark of a little, quiet film. Star Wars received some big-time marketing blitz and glitz in advance of its opening. It didn’t have to wait a few weeks.

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Of course the pre-hype made it sound big. That’s what hype is for. Nonetheless, they had no way of knowing just how monumentally big it was going to be.

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I disagree. Time wouldn’t put “The Best Movie of the Year” on the freakin’ cover (for which they don’t get paid) unless they knew it was going to be a big deal. It was pretty clear this movie was going to be very big.
I went to see it opening night, but our theater passes were turned down. Not allowing theater passes wasn’t SOP for your average movie then (or now). They knew they had a hit on their hands.

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Hmm. I realize now that in my post back there I was so busy getting to my followup kinda off topic story that I failed to talk about SotL. I meant to say this first, before I launched into my South Park tale:

I was a Junior (I think) in college and went to see it with a group of friends. I had no idea what it was about, but I heard it was SUPPOSED to be scary, but I was not sure about even that. The title did nothing to help me. It was pretty scary and I really did feel an awful sense of dread for that girl in the well. I found her bald desperation terrifying and heartbreaking. I kept thinking, “I know this is fiction, it’s just a movie- but this is what the stuff we read about with fascination in the newspapers [we read papers back then] looks SOMETHING like! EEEEEEEEK!!!” So I was jarred by that.

As for the pitch dark showdown with those nightvision goggles, it was intense! The tension in the theater wasn’t broken by a chorus of shrieks and people yelling helpful “advice”, either- it was really quiet, except for the girl next to me, whispering loudly, hoarsely, and seemingly uncontrollably “OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD!..CRAP! OH MY GOD!!!” When I glanced at her she had the cuffs of both sleeves of her sweatshirt balled up in her palms from the inside so her hands were encased in sweatshirt. And she seemed to have one of those sweatshirt encased fists jammed into her mouth. :slight_smile:

Denny’s burgers, fries and milkshakes were enjoyed by all after the movie, rounding out a fun school night. Tension like that makes you hungry!

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I also saw Jaws soon after opening; I knew it was going to be intense, but had no details. The tension was ratcheted up so high, that any time any character got anywhere near the water, people cringed. A woman next to me – a total stranger – grabbed my arm, just because of the closeup of Hooper’s feet slipping a bit as he’s walking around the edge of the boat.

Similarly, I saw Alien on the opening weekend. Had no clue what we were in for. By the end, when the self-destruct countdown is going and Ripley is trying to get on board the shuttle craft, people were yelling “IT’S IN THE CAT! FORGET THE FREAKIN’ CAT!!”

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I remember seein The Crying Game in the theater, by which time I knew the “surprise” because Gene Siskel had revealed it (and was soundly- and rightly- blasted by Ebert and other critics for doing so) but one of the members of the audience was a redneck who didn’t know it. It was clear that his friends did and they kept baiting him- “Wanna see her nekkid?” and he’d respond with “She’s okay but not my type”. Then in the big moment- I’ll spoiler it just in case there’s anybody who doesn’t know- he screamed

That bitch has got a dick! That’s a motherfucking man!

The theater wasn’t that crowded but everyone in it was on the floor. You could tell from the way he said it that he was completely genuine and not just playing along.

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Die Hard was the one that got me. We saw it on campus with a college crowd and I didn’t have high hopes. I mean, comon, the guy from -Moonlighting-? In an -action- flick?

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Do you remember a skinny 9-year-old kid in the audience? That was me. My first Star Wars experience was in that exact same theater in 1977, and the memory sticks in my mind like it was last week. I saw it 12 more times by the end of the year but couldn’t name a single one of the other venues. The first time, at the Glenwood, outshines the rest.

For nostalgia’s sake I made a point of seeing the SE re-release at the Glenwood in 1997, even trying to position myself exactly where I was seated 20 years earlier. Sadly, shortly thereafter they tore the place down to make room for a Bob Evan’s restaurant. Fixtures were sold to the public, with those white and red theater seats going for $100 for a block of four. I am still pissed to this day that I didn’t buy a set to equip my home theater for future Star Wars viewings.

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Yes, they knew it was the biggest movie OF THE YEAR. But not a defining moment of a generation of kids and teens. No one was thinking, “Man this is going to be the start of one of the most successful franchises of all of movie history.”

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I saw Sixth Sense in the theater after Hurricane Floyd. I remember that for a reason. My boyfriend at the time dragged me to go see Stir of Echoes the day before ECU evacuated (which is a big deal because, up to that point, the university rarely closed for hurricanes). Kevin Bacon was pulling his teeth out in his bathroom and I was begging my boyfriend to leave when the power went out. The theater manager gave everyone free tickets for any movie we wanted to see later on.

So we go to see Sixth Sense. (Crappy taste in movies is one reason I’m glad I’m not with him anymore.) When the big reveal was revealed, I went numb. That was a great twist, but it’s the kind of thing that only works once. After that I saw the movie again just to catch all the parts that didn’t make sense before the reveal and then I’ve written off M. Night completely.

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Unbreakable and The Village had their moments and, despite their faults, I’d encourage you to see them, but… I can’t say I blame you. The Sixth Sense was his one truly excellent movie, and he’s never hit the mark since.

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My peak movie moment was the first time I saw 2001 (during its initial run). I like classical music and was familiar with the music from Thus Spake Zarathustra. I also like science fiction and the idea of space travel and astronomy. But I had no idea what the beginning of the movie would be like, so the music combined with a sunrise seen from space was a complete surprise. My jaw dropped and I just sat there practically paralyzed by the incredibly dramatic opening. I also loved the use of the Blue Danube later in the film.

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I remember seeing SotL at the theatre. Windsor Park Mall, San Antonio, TX (blatent TX promotion) :smiley:

I had just finished my first tour in the army and was bulletproof and back in college. Between semesters (Spring and Summer I). I They made us clear out of the dorms for two weeks so I was crashing at my friend John’s pad on his couch. Problem was, his other friend Chris was also crashing there due to a bad g/f thing at the time (it’s okay; they got back together).

Friend John went out to work the 3-12 shift. His bud Chris had the night off. Chris was a bouncer at the local meat market dance club. 6’ 10" or so, about 250 lbs and BIG. He was a pretty boy (as was John) but nobody messed with Chris. He also did some kind of martial arts, but we didn’t know each other that well. I had seen him at the club a few times, so we knew each other before I moved in. But, together? We looked like Mutt and Jeff.

Several times during this period, Chris and I had lots of time to spend alone. (I also remember it was when Gorbachev was ‘kidnapped’ by his own gov’t and later watched that story come to resolution, but I digress.) Still not totally comfy with each other, we’re just making small talk. It’s about 9:00 PM. We casually agree to walk about 6 miles to the mall to see this movie, because we could probably make it for the midnight movie. Of course, we stop at the Sleven for more beer to sneak into the movie. (Oh, did I mention we had been drinking?) Neither one of us had any idea what the movie was about, but since this Russia thing was going on there would be nothing else on TV, this was probably the only movie we’d be able to make it in time. I think it was a Monday.

So we pull out the old Rand McNally map and scout out the trip. We mapped out one way to the mall that intersected with the Sleven to get to the mall, and another *different *route to return home. The map said that IIRC Starcrest Drive would be the best and most direct way home.

Get Beer. Get to Movies. We arrived just as the previous showing was ending and hear the “friend for dinner line.” Credits begin to roll. We have no clue what this line means.

Ten minutes later, lights go down and our show starts. Pretty strange and boring lead in, FBI academy and weird titles that I could have probably made better in ASCII code (I know, I know). I think “Oh, man, this is going to be a dog.”

Movie ensues.

Chris and I are just pounding sauce and aren’t really into it until the autopsy. I was big and bad because I had just left a hospital assignment and had seen dead bodies all the time. Chris wants to make sure he doesn’t look like a wimp and toughs it out.

Then dude lures in the Senator’s daughter. We looked at each other and just agreed “HE JUST KIDNAPPED HER?!?!?” Both being manly men, we were now pissed and hoped the FBI could rain down hell upon him.

Then the movie just goes on. Methodical manipulation, crucifixion, elevator escape, ambulance ride…WHOOOOAAA!!!

Then Jodie Foster finds the daughter. WHOOOOAAA!!!

…again with the “friend for dinner” line. NOW we get it. :smack:

We leave the movie. It’s now like about 2 AM. Neither one of us want to show how shaken we are. We both Cowboy Up and start to walk along the pre-planned WELL LIT route back home.

We get about 2 miles. Starcrest Road ends in a T-Intersection. Turns out we read the map wrong. The “rest” of Starcrest road was “proposed” on this map, and we had about 3 miles of woods to walk through.

Still in macho mode, we figure “no problem” and forge ahead. We’ve got a basic direction (based upon the moon, my excellent army Land Navigation skills being put to use, and *of course, *Chris trusts me, because I’m an army guy.

I think it was about only five minutes walking through the woods that he and I started to have the conversation that most guys have had.

“Are you scared?”

“Hell, no… are you?”

“Fuckin’ A, no I’m not… Why?”

“Well, it’s dark. Are you sure where you’re going?”

“Of course. Look we just follow the moon …” (points up) The trees are now to thick to see the moon. “Well, we just keep going this way.”

“Are you *sure *you know where you’re going?”

Cue animal sounds and strong winds making things just a bit creepy.

This conversation continues, but I’m not willing to give up my man card to describe the rest.

FINALLY, after walking through the trees, we emerge on the backside of the parking lot to the apartment. We both climb the fence and start the walk through the well-lit parking lot and back to the apartment.

Friend John just happens to be taking out the trash and sees us walking through the parking lot. We are holding hands. We are both quite …um…nervous.

He says hey and wonders where we were and then looks at us. We unclasp our hands and say “oh, we just went to the movies. You got any beer?”

Chris and I remained friends for a good while after that, but I don’t ever remember speaking to him about this movie ever again.

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Silence of the Lambs

That was our first date …

Yeah, the whole take-her-to-a-scary-movie-so-she-jumps-into-your-arms backfired; I left bruises on him.

But the most effective scene was the one that brought all the mounting tension to a dead halt, when all the agents (except poor Clarice, who was stuck tracking down the next of kin of some former employer of one of the earlier victims) were knocking and ringing, the light was flashing, the buzzer buzzing and the senator’s daughter was shouting, and the killer, frazzled, ran up the stairs to open the door …

left me breathless.

Oddly, I never got the whole sub-theme, that only a demented killer and a couple of severely geekoid geeks could appreciate a highly talented and ambitious woman, for years.

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I can’t remember my first viewing of SotL.

Two of my freakiest moments, though:

I was absolutely blown away by the final scene of Planet of the Apes. I was probably 8, and all the kids were laying on top of the station wagon at the drive-in. The half-buried Statue of Liberty was a shock!

My parents were out of town, and the baby-sitter let us stay up real late and watch Psycho. She was an old black lady, and I’m sure she didn’t know what was coming at all. My brother and I were probably 7 and 8 yrs old. I didn’t sleep for a week! And one other thing I remember from that night, we couldn’t figure out the AC thermostat, and we were absolutely freezing freezing and all huddled up on the couch under blankets, with the lights off!

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I haven’t read the whole thread, but I remember seeing Silence of the Lambs in the theater with my husband when his sister managed a movie theater, so we got in for free. I’m not a fan of horror/thriller movies in general and I don’t remember much of the movie other than that I felt queasy for about 3 days afterward and wasn’t able to eat for the rest of the day. I remember thinking “well, I’ll never see THAT movie again!”