Review of Manhunter (1986) by Archie M — 26 Aug 2009

The first film to feature Hannibal Lector but that's not what makes this worth seeing or one of my favourites. Micheal Mann's exellent directing shines through with unique style and pace - stunning photography, bold statements and squeezing some exellent performances from the cast. Especially William Peterson in his portrayal of Will Graham - the troubled cop pulled back into the thick of action, as another serial killer is on the loose, after previously capturing cannibal Lector. A shame peterson doesn't shine as much during recent years in the hit CSI series (from what I've seen.).

This film is based on the Thomas Harris novel "Red Dragon" and was remade, in recent years, directed by Brett Ratner under it's original title to fit in with the susequent "Lector" films, with Anthony Hopkins taking over from Brian Cox as the caged criminal. Ratner's version was pitiful in comparrison to Mann's underlooked classic and isn't really a good film in any way.

Manhunter must also feature one of the coolest beards in cinema history, sported manly by William Peterson. Also wait for the great use of Iron Butterfly's "In A Gadda Da Vida" in the awsome climax of this cop vs psycho-killer classic! Both this and "The Silence of the Lambs" are the best of the Harris book to screen adaptations, as to which is better? -you decide.