Do you know about one of the most brilliant and recognizable horror thrillers of the 90s? Yes, we are talking about The Silence Of The Lambs. The movie has no doubt one of the best opening scenes in a horror movie ever. With plenty of unsettling scenes and great acting, this movie became a pop culture phenomenon everyone was talking about. If you also want to know where was The Silence Of The Lambs Filmed, then find it in the article below.
The Silence Of The Lambs is a psychological horror thriller starring Anthony Hopkins and Jodie Foster that was released in 1991. The movie was based on Thomas Harris’s book of the same name and received various critical acclaim from the audiences. This movie also was the first horror movie to win 5 major academy awards. While the movie was known for brilliant performers, the locations also did extremely well to persuade fear in the audience.
Now, coming to the locations, a major part of the film was mainly filmed in Pittsburg, Pennslyvania, with some of the scenes also shot in North Virginia and the Bahamas. We are going to discuss all these filming locations in detail, so keep reading.
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The Plot Of The Silence Of The Lambs | A Cat And Mouse Chase!
In order to catch a serial killer, an over-achieving FBI trainee Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), is given a task to interview Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), a serial killer and cannibal. Hannibal is a genius psychiatrist now locked in an asylum, but he could be the key to understanding the behavior of another enigmatic killer named “Buffalo Bill,” who is known for killing and skinning his victims.
When the series of interviews go by, Clarice and Hannibal develop a complex bonding. With Clarice and Hannibal sharing the events of their personal lives, the latter is persuaded by Clarice’s troubled childhood. The parallels between both characters join together, and Hannibal finally agrees to help Clarice in finding out the notorious serial killer on the loose.
Where Was The Silence Of The Lambs Filmed? The Famous Locations Seen In The Movie?
The film successfully portrays the behind-the-scenes cat-and-mouse chase between a killer and an FBI agent. The gripping locations and dark scenes string us toward the story while introducing us to the world of killers and cannibals. The filming crew did their best to create a setting at locations that make The Silence Of The Lambs a masterpiece and an epic thriller. Let us discuss these locations and tell you where was The Silence Of The Lambs filmed.
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
One of the main locations where the filming of the movie took place is in Pittsburg, which lies in western Pennslyvania. The exterior scenes of the Baltimore Hospital where Hannibal was locked were filmed at an administrative center building of an old mental hospital. This abandoned hospital is in Canonsburg, which lies in the south of Pittsburg.
Many interior scenes of the movie were filmed at an abandoned turbine factory in Westinghouse, whose name might have changed now. The funeral home shown in the movie was also a real location that was on Main Street, Rural Valley, which lies on the east side of Pittsburg.
Some of the other Pittsburg filming locations in the movie were the Allegheny County Jail, Greater Pittsburg National Airport, and Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum.
Quantico, Virginia, USA
The FBI training headquarters scenes where Clarice Starling works were also filmed at the real US Marine Corps Base, FBI HQ in Quantico, Virginia. Quantico lies in the southwest of Washington, DC. This Marine Corps Base in Quantico remains home to civil personnel for training. The FBI Academy and Drug Enforcement Administration buildings are also located here.
The mesmerizing filming locations and plenty of resources make Virginia a thoughtful choice for filmmakers and the production crew for filming. Some of the movies that were filmed in Virginia are Argo, National Treasure, and Lincoln.
Bimini Islands, Bahamas
The Bahamas is a group of Islands located in the Atlantic Ocean lying southeast of Florida. The place is known for its beautiful beaches, resorts, and coral reefs.
Hannibal Lecter’s retirement home shown in the movie is located on the Bimini Islands in the Bahamas. The Tropical Islands of the Bahamas have always been the favorite filming locations of various film productions. The most well-known movies that have been filmed in the Bahamas, along with The Silence Of The Lambs are Wolf Of The Wall Street, Black Widow, and Pirates Of The Caribbean.
Final Words
We have discussed our way through the various locations where The Silence Of The Lambs was filmed and gave you all the insights. We really hope that you found the article useful, and if you enjoyed reading it, do let us know your opinions in the comment section below. For more filming location articles, you can check out our website as well.
For more interesting movie location reads you can check out where was The Matrix and Black Panther filmed.
Is The Silence Of The Lambs a true story?
No, The Silence Of The Lambs is not a true story. The Movie is based on a book of the same name by Thomas Harris and it draws a lot of inspiration from real-life people and events.
How many awards does The Silence Of The Lambs win?
The movie was the first horror film that won the big five Academy Awards that included Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, Best Writing, and more.
What is the runtime of The Silence Of The Lambs?
The total runtime of the movie is 1 Hour and 58 Minutes including the starting and end credits in the movie.
Why is The Silence Of The Lambs rated R?
The movie is rated R because of the use of violence, gore, nudity, and use of vulgarity in some scenes which makes it only suitable for mature audiences to watch.
