Silence of the Lambs Influenced Daisy Ridley’s New Movie Magpie

Silence of the Lambs Influenced Daisy Ridley's New Movie Magpie

As a cinephile who has traversed through countless tales spun by the silver screen, I find myself utterly captivated by the creative journey of director William Yates. His latest work, “Magpie,” not only showcases his mastery over storytelling but also demonstrates his keen eye for detail and profound understanding of cinema’s rich history.


The movie features Daisy Ridley as Anette, a mother of two whose marriage is deteriorating due to her husband Ben (Shazad Latif)’s growing affection for the renowned actress Alicia (Matilda Lutz). Ben’s infidelity escalates when he starts an intense text conversation with Alicia. As Yates revealed in our chat with MovieWeb, this is where Demme’s groundbreaking film comes into play. Yates wanted to find a unique way to depict text messages on screen so that it wouldn’t just be countless shots of phones, and he shared: “I really sought a means to bring text messages to life…

Afterward, I began to observe, and I found that “The Silence of the Lambs” was incredibly inspiring in a truly remarkable way. This is because it skillfully demonstrates how certain techniques are employed. Initially, notice how it subtly introduces the subject, creating a close-up view. Jodie Foster’s character typically avoids looking directly down the barrel of the gun, making her the focus of the shot. However, this changes when Hannibal is introduced, and by the end, Foster’s character has taken control of the scene. This was impressive because it subtly portrays a character gaining power and dominance over the camera.

Yates additionally discussed his appreciation for the noir genre and a significant influence on the development of “Magpie“. “I find it intriguing, I guess, how neo-noirs or noirs portray individuals acting in morally ambiguous ways and pushing regular people to their limits. So I’m quite fond of that. There are many films that do this… We were drawn to movies such as… Gone Girl, thrillers with a sense of mystery where you’re not always sure what’s happening but something is brewing beneath the surface, and those that rely heavily on strong acting performances.

From Daisy Ridley to Anjelica Huston

In the future, Yates will be directing the upcoming miniseries “Towards Zero” for BBC and Britbox, which is based on Agatha Christie’s work. The series boasts a stellar cast headlined by Anjelica Huston, who Yates described as “totally delightful and a wonderful actress.” He added that she was perfectly suited to her role as Lady Tressilian, a formidable matriarch. Despite her fierce character, Huston brings an incredible dignity and subtlety to the part, making her a true force to be reckoned with.

Indeed, it’s quite extraordinary, isn’t it? There you are, and suddenly you realize Angelica Houston is getting out of the car, preparing to work on set, and she’ll be in that bed playing her role. To put it simply, I think this feeling is universal when it comes to actors, but when they’re Hollywood legends whom we’ve admired for years, it adds an extra layer of excitement. Honestly, I just adore actors, so I always find myself looking forward to their performances.

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2024-11-04 08:01