Manhunter (1986)

Before Jonathan Demme brought Hannibal Lector to life so memorably in Silence of the Lambs (with a little help from Anthony Hopkins) there was Michael Mann’s Manhunter, an adaptation of Red Dragon (which itself would later be remade starring Hopkins). Whilst this is a Lector story (here spelt Lektor curiously enough) he exists largely on the film’s periphery, instead the focus of the film rests on FBI Agent Will Graham (William Peterson), who is brought out of semi-retirement, imposed after he arrested Lektor, but was injured in the process. Still vulnerable and scarred (literally and mentally) from the encounter he is tasked with tracking another serial killer on the loose, who attacks every full moon, giving a nice sense of urgency to the investigation.

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I’m generally a big fan of police procedurals, and Mann creates a compelling and mysterious case right off the bat. Peterson is a great foil for Lektor in the film, his brilliance offset by his nature of getting too deeply involved in his cases, the time period of the film also allows for a more down to earth investigation with few of the high tech gadgets and information that you would find nowadays. Mann’s sense of mood and atmosphere is ever prevalent, the neon cityscapes and shady locations ably amplified by the fantastic electronic score. The film is unmistakably of its time, but works all the better for it, the synth soundtrack menacing and distinctive.

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Brian Cox does a good job as Lektor in the film, it’s a little strange now to view a different take on the character (even though his came first) but he captures the intelligence and underlying danger of the man effectively. It is in the psychological that Lektor is most effective and the film wisely sticks to this as he slowly starts to get under Will’s skin. The main villain of the piece though is played by Tom Noonan and he makes a convincing loner. The film spends a surprising amount of time with him, focusing on a budding relationship he forms with a blind woman from his place of work and somewhat humanising (or at least explaining) his compulsions.

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At its heart Manhunter is just a damn good detective film, it is constructed with a confidence and a sense of pace that draws you in to the end. Even though I had seen Red Dragon previously (and remembered very little) the film felt fresh and unfamiliar which could also be seen as a slight on the quality of Brett Ratner’s remake. This is a great film that can rightfully stand alongside Silence of the Lambs as an effective thriller, and as a cinematic depiction of cinemas most famous serial killer.