Review of Manhunter (1986) by John M — 14 Feb 2010

I have difficulty not calling this Michael Mannhunter. So everybody knows Silence of the Lambs, right? Well, this is actually the first one, with Silence of the Lambs being a sequel. It was also the first novel in the Thomas Harris series (under the name Red Dragon), but it is actually the middle one chronologically (it's slightly confusing when you think about it).

Anyways, it's a really well done gritty crime movie. Will Graham (William Petersen) is a former FBI agent who is persuaded to come back to catch a serial killer who is known as "The Tooth Fairy" (I'm not going to give anything away in describing him).

Graham is really good at what he does, but is a bit on the edge because to catch serial killers, he fully immerses himself in the case, thinking like the serial killer does and everything. The strongest point of Manhunter is that it has a really great cast; Petersen and Dennis Farina are fantastic as FBI agents, Tom Noonan is perfect as a psychopath, and Brian Cox is actually really good as Dr.

Hannibal Lecktor; I'm not saying that Brian Cox isn't a highly skilled actor, just in comparison to Anthony Hopkins' adaptation, ANYONE would pale. Now, this movie really isn't about Hannibal Lecktor; he plays a fairly small role in the film, and while Cox isn't AS good as Hopkins, he's still fascinating as the doctor, even if it is a different interpretation.

I really like the shot composition; Michael Mann is talented and knows how to set up shots. The only real problem I have with the movie is a problem I have with a lot of movies made in the 80's: it has a jarring soundtrack/score that yanks you out of the movie.

This is a rock solid detective movie that really deserves more viewers. It's not AS good of a crime movie as Silence of the Lambs, but what is?