Five years before 'The Silence of the Lambs' Michael Mann directed this stylish thriller based on Thomas Harris' first Hannibal story - Red Dragon. Now recognised as a cult classic it is every bit as brilliant and terrifying as its sequel. Brian Cox is magnificent as Hannibal Lecter the serial killer who holds the key to tracking down a mass murderer who has a perverse penchant for voyeurism. William Petersen as Detective Will Graham is totally convincing as a man with an extraordinary talent that of entering a serial killer's personal nightmare landscapes...
It's been my experience that Michael Mann movies are almost always about something other than the expected genre. For instance 'Heat' was about mutual respect and professionalism, 'The Insider': personal sacrifice and integrity, 'Ali': honour and resistance, 'Miami Vice': infatuation and bureaucracy, 'Collateral': obsession and seizing the day. 'Manhunter', Mann's 1986 adaptation of Thomas Harris's bestseller 'Red Dragon', is no different; in that the overarching theme focuses on the main character's inability to reconcile his gift of matchless intuition with his moral disgust at being able to empathise with the worst elements of society. A film that's built up quite a reputation over the years, and not just because it marks the cinematic debut of the now iconic Dr. Hannibal Lektor or that it was remade in 2002, but because it lays the groundwork for the modern police procedural, which consequently gave rise to classics like 'Seven' and popular TV shows 'Criminal Minds' and 'CSI'. In fact, they've used the template so often now, that what was once innovative, now seems trite and somewhat of a cliché. 'Manhunter' follows FBI agent Will Graham (William Peterson); who solicits the help of psychopathic criminal mastermind Dr. Hannibal Lektor (Brian Cox) to crack the case of the Tooth Fairy serial killer. Mann's heavily stylised mis-en-scene is in keeping with the decade: crisp and sparse; an aesthetic signature he'd go onto develop in 'Miami Vice' but one that occasionally feels at odds with the dark nature of the story. Now Anthony Hopkins's Dr. Lector was more theatrical and grandiose in his movements and manner; ideally suited to the sprawling canvas of 'Red Dragon', black comedy of 'Hannibal' and structured suspense in 'The Silence Of The Lambs'. Whereas Brian Cox's Dr. Lektor has an unthreatening nonchalance about him, and it's only when you look closely that one catches a glimpse of the homicidal madness lurking just beneath the surface. Both actors were excellent in different ways and what 'Red Dragon' lacks in some parts, 'Manhunter' makes up for in others and vice versa. Ed Norton, who played Will Graham in 'Red Dragon', got the character's lethargic disillusion down to a tee, though wasn't required to drive the momentum in the same way as William Peterson is here. Peterson is truly phenomenal in this role, and shows moments of dangerous vulnerability, which make his character all the more real and increase the sense of peril as he gets closer to solving the case. Nowadays, Hannibal Lector is primarily identified as an impression or by a series of catchphrases, but to get back to the essence of Lektor and the deadly duel of intellects, one has to revisit 'Manhunter'. For the brilliantly acted, five minute scene where Graham persuades Lektor to offer his insight, is more powerful and unnerving than any other scene in all the Lektor movies put together. 'Manhunter', though flawed in places, is an overlooked classic that's definitely worth revisiting.
We will publish your review of Manhunter [1986] on DVD within a few days as long as it meets our guidelines.
None of your personal details will be passed on to any other third party.
Former FBI agent Will Graham (William Petersen), who specialises in catching serial killers, is brought out of early retirement to track down a murderer who bludgeons entire families only when the moon is full. Graham's tactic is to enter the mind of the deranged criminal, which turns out to have an enormous emotional strain attached. When he seeks advice from imprisoned psychiatrist/psychopath Dr Lecter (Brian Cox), he ends up endangering himself and his family. Based on the novel which was the precursor to 'Silence of the Lambs'. The 18-minute bonus feature 'Inside Manhunter' is also included.
This site uses cookies.
More details in our privacy policy
