Happy 20th Anniversary, SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

It's true, 20 years ago on Valentine's Day, 1991, a little movie called THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS went into wide release in the U.S.


The film's ostensible star was Jodie Foster, but it was Welsh actor Anthony Hopkins (who had been working regularly for over 30 years but was still far from a household name) that fascinated and captivated audiences with his enthralling portrayal of Dr. Hannibal Lecter. While author Thomas Harris' character had been brought to the screen back in 1986 in fine form by Brian Cox in Michael Mann's MANHUNTER (based on Harris' novel RED DRAGON), director Jonathan Demme and screenwriter Ted Tally realized the potential that existed for Lecter, giving Hopkins the showcase he and the character deserved.



The film did huge box office business and would later go on to become the third film in history to win the quadruple crown of Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress at the 1992 Oscars, a feat all the more amazing when one realizes that the Academy was honoring a film that had been released over a year prior to the ceremony.



So, as you celebrate with your loved one today, raise a glass of chianti to one of the finest moments of counterprogramming on record (right up there with releasing THE EXORCIST on Christmas Day, 1973)!

New Blood at Blood Radio

Howdy folks,

Those of you who have been paying close attention will have noticed a few new faces in the mix over the past week, some fresh blood at Blood Radio if you will. These folks all come with the Doc’s highest hand stamps (and wristbands) of approval – they are horror fans of the finest vintage, armed with wit, wisdom and a passion for the spooky, the splattery, the salacious and the silly. Two of them even contributed essays to 2007’s Rondo Award-nominated literary labor of love, HORROR 101. I’m greatly honored to have them join our merry band of bloggers. They are:

Doc Morbius (aka Christianne Benedict)

Dr. Morbius has pursued scandalous careers as an arms merchant, a gravedigger, an entrepreneur, a graphic designer, a cartoonist, and a dominatrix. She's also a transsexual and a political activist. Her first love was Godzilla. Her second was Boris Karloff. She currently spends her days wandering the Forbidden Zone in a fur bikini, dodging patrols of telepathic mutants and intelligent gorillas. No word yet on whether or not she's found her destiny.

Krisenthia

Krisenthia currently resides in Austin, TX, where she studies criminal justice and forensic psychology. She just kicked a nasty Twizzlers habit, but still struggles with her propensity for taking way too many pics of her cat sleeping. She’s been a horror fan ever since her mom escorted her to the theater to see The Entity when she was 4 years old. (Now, that’s responsible parenting – “A film about a sexually voracious ghost? Sounds like perfect viewing for minors...”) Krisenthia is very excited about joining the WildClaw team and hopes to convey her sense of humor and overall wonder while writing about her favorite hobby – everything dark.

Anna Dynamite

Having embarked several trips to the Windy City, Anna Dynamite has tasted WildClaw goodness firsthand, even going so far as to assay on the role of Silence of the Lambs’ Buffalo Bill in a round of “Scary-aoke” at WildClaw’s first Zombie Bowling. Some of her illustrious titles include The Little Boss of That Area, Tha Patron Saint of Righteous Dudes Everywhere (Tha Church of WIN), and Founder of The Church of the Flying Weenie.



Welcome to the party, ladies! Keep Sharing the Scare and Bringing the Blood! We’ll take all you’ve got…