Review of Hannibal Rising (2007) by Kenneth H — 22 Apr 2010

Hannibal Rising is a much-needed origin story that takes us from Hannibal Lecter's childhood through the beginnings of his career as a murderer. (Thank goodness it's not another rehash of The Silence of the Lambs.) Unlike the previous Hannibal movies which had the air of creepy but cultured mystery, this one has a grim, dark, savage, almost animalistic feeling. The end, in particular, is rather gruesome - in general Hannibal is not pleasant to behold when he's not safely behind glass.

Unfortunately, the movie's pacing drags noticeably, especially in the first act that shows Hannibal's childhood in Lithuania and his encounters with the gang of soldiers he would taken revenge upon later in the film. The sluggish pacing, constantly dim lighting (is it ever daytime in Hannibal's world?) and grimly savage mood made for an unpleasantly oppressive movie to watch.

Of equal critical importance is Gaspard Ulliel's portrayal of a young Hannibal Lecter. I understand that people change over the years, but Ulliel's Hannibal bears little resemblance to Anthony Hopkins's. Ulliel plays him more like a weird, awkward, disturbed and effeminate killer, in contrast to Hopkins's suave and cultured character. Ulliel also seems more murderous and sadistic, and lacks Hopkins's subtlety and restraint (this might be due to having gotten older and wiser over the years). Finally, with his background in Lithuania and France, the movie offers no explanation for Hopkins's Lecter's English-ish accent.

The movie ends with him still being a young man. I think that, while not absolutely necessary, a movie that fills in the hole between this movie and Red Dragon, and details his career as a brilliant psychiatrist and police consultant by day and cannibalistic murderer by night, could be interesting if done properly.