Review of Manhunter (1986) by Jon L — 03 Jan 2010

FBI Agent Will Graham (William Petersen) is called out of retirement to catch a serial killer known as the "Tooth Fairy". Every time the moon turns full, the Tooth Fairy strikes, systematically murdering a family in a diabolical and methodical fashion. Graham must somehow find a way to catch this serial killer before he kills again. But Graham cannot solve the mystery of the Tooth Fairy alone. So he seeks help from the very man Graham had earlier captured in his career--the insane but brilliant Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Brian Cox), who can help Graham understand the mind of a serial killer. In order to catch a killer, Graham has to think like one...

Michael Mann's Manhunter is a superb exercise in psychological terror. First of, the film's cinematography and look are stunning. Mann's deliberate choosing of color and lighting enhances the mood of this fiendish masterpiece. It's a breathtaking film to watch, but by the same token, the film's ambience conveys a sense of terror--reminding us to constantly stay on our toes. The acting is also uniformly superb, considering the absence of big name stars. Instead, the cast itself is comprised of solid character actors who manage to give extraordinary performances. Particularly impressive is William Petersen as a frustrated FBI agent who must get into the mindset of a serial killer. Petersen gives a very credible performance and he makes us want to empathize with him, especially after his investigation has taken a toll on himself. Brian Cox gives an understated but amazing performance as Dr. Lecter. His restrained performance makes Lecter all the more frightening; we are never able to fully predict what he is up to. We can never truly tell what crude thoughts are on his mind. Both Cox and Petersen show how subtlety is a vital part of great performances.

What I really enjoy about this film is how we witness Petersen's character, Graham, deconstruct the thought patterns of the Tooth Fairy. In essence, we watch Graham try to imagine how the Tooth Fairy thinks and what his personality is like. Though it may not be entirely accurate to real life, Manhunter demonstrates the power of psychology.

One of the film's weaker points is the rather dated and cheesy soundtrack. The pop song "Heartbreak" especially seems so inappropriate for a psychological thriller. And don't get me started on the Iron Butterfly song "In a Gadda da Vida" which accompanies the film's climactic chase (though I admit this song was somewhat catchy). The film's slow pace also may turn off some viewers, but ultimately, Manhunter is a rewarding experience for the patient viewer.

Manhunter is a tautly made thriller right from the beginning all the way to when it reaches a thrilling crescendo that will make you want to check your pulse. This is one of the finest thrillers to date.