Review of Manhunter (1986) by Tony P — 22 Feb 2018
The first cinematic introduction to the Hannibal Lecter character here in 1986 some years before the more famous Silence Of The Lambs.
Manhunter refers to an FBI serial murderer investigator Will Graham (William Peterson). Left psychologically scarred by his investigations into a notorious serial killer Hannibal Lecter some years previously.
Now there is a new serial killer on the loose who attacks every full moon and has earned the monicker The Tooth Fairy.
Graham is coaxed out of 'retirement' to hunt down The Tooth Fairy who it transpires is in communication with Lecter.
The film has an excellent if not a harrowing screenplay but has the feel of a television movie at times. Perhaps it is the age of the film.
On closer investigation it actually had a higher budget than the more famous Silence Of The Lambs film 5 years later.
The director Michael Mann had connections to the 1980s TV show Miami Vice. As does the synthesizer heavy soundtrack!
I didn't recognize any cast members except the LA cop Al from Die Hard!
However the film is stylish and the cast do deliver good performances.
Lecter himself is played by Brian Cox. A performance as chilling as Anthony Hopkins in his Hannibal films.
This review of Manhunter (1986) was written by Tony P on 22 February 2018.
Manhunter has generally received positive reviews.
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