Review of Manhunter (1986) by Mateusz Z — 22 Feb 2008

A movie that must have been almost perfect at the time it came out. The plot is perfect, building up suspense very slowly and yet never getting dull (however, to be fair, we owe that mainly to Thomas Harris). The direction and cinematography (with the extensive use of colours as symbols) are trademark Mann (although unfortunately trademark 80s-Miami Vice-Mann rather than 90s-Heat-Mann). The cast ensemble works perfectly, with one important exception- the lead William Petersen, who did particularly bad in the scenes where he tries to assume the mental attitude of the killer.

However, despite it's few significant shortcomings and the fact that it simply did not age well ('The Red Dragon' was a much needed and very fateful remake), it is a very smart and stylish movie that has to be apprecuated as a springboard to Mann's amazing future career.