Manhunter

B

Watching Manhunter was less about watching a film, than watching a Hannibal Lecter film. Worse, the only reason I watched Manhunter was so that I could have a basis of comparison for Brett Ratner's much-ado-about-nothing Red Dragon. So I felt a little underwhelmed by Manhunter, constantly being ahead of the story and the characters. Even so, Manhunter evoked a chill that surprised even me.

A serial killer, nicknamed The Tooth Fairy, is on the loose. He kills families during the full moon cycle. The FBI calls for it's leading ex-agent, Will Graham (William Petersen), to assist in the investigation. Graham has the uncanny ability to peer into a killer's mind, and in his last assignment he caught the evil-genius Hannibal Lecktor, getting himself fatally wounded and trapped by the evils of Lecktor's mind. Now, he must peer into the mind of another murderer, and he risks death or insanity or both. Worse, he has to face his past-demons once again as he needs to use Lecktor's genius to gain perspective on the Tooth Fairy, and he later he discovers the evil doctor has a plan of his own.

Thematically, there's something odd about Manhunter. Like watching CSI Miami (ironic since Michael Mann's next movie is Miami Vice), the canvas is filled with unfiltered colours and the heat seems to seep through the screen. At times this is an irritant since we are presented with latent energetics instead of a cold and spooky atmosphere; and this combined with the claustrophobic and rigid angled camera-work makes the aundience restlessly uncomfortable.

As I previously mentioned, it's impossible to watch this movie and totally separate this from the elements of Silence of the Lambs and Red Dragon (that is if you have watched all three movies). This is especially true when some parts of Manhunter and Red Dragon are identical, and it's unfortunate that I watched the inferior Brett Ratner movie first hence imbuing a pre-emtive bias on Manhunter. Then there's Hannibal Lecktor/Lecter. After watching Anthony Hopkins getting under the skin of the cannibalistic psychopath in three movies, it's hard to see Brian Cox's performance as anything but derogatory and ultimately unsuccessful. Furthermore, Lecktor was never associated with cannibalism, making us feel betrayed that the best part of our favorite villain has been incompetently taken away from us.

Despite these "flaws", for which it would be unfair to lay blame on anyone involved in Manhunter, Michael Mann had crafted a taut and often chilling thriller and psychological drama. It is not as haunting as Silence of the Lambs nor as thematic as Hannibal, but, to be fair, Manhunter is not that kind of movie. This is a crime drama first and foremost. And hence it is able to stand alone and be judged and be praised.
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