Quick recap: Will Graham, former FBI profiler, is talked into helping solving a particularly gruesome serial killer case. Watch closely and you may see our good friend Hannibal Lecter pop in to lend a hand!

Lector reminds me more of a grown up Eddie Munster than terrifying serial killer

Fun (?) trivia: The scene where Graham visits Lecter was actually filmed at an art museum in Atlanta. Also noted that ‘Lecter’ is spelled ‘Lecktor’ in the film.

Random vet creepily puts his hand on McClane’s back as she lays on a sedated tiger, while Dollarhyde stands in the corner and watches. Weird.

My thoughts: Oh, boy. I’m going to try my best not to compare this movie to Silence of the Lambs because you just can’t. It’s superior, Anthony Hopkins is superior and so it wouldn’t be fair to this movie. I’m also not going to compare Manhunter to its remake Red Dragon, which was released in 2002. Why? Because this movie is a hot mess all on its own without needing any further comparisons.

If I had to put my finger on Manhunter’s biggest problem, it would be that it is an 80’s movie. How 80’s you ask?

Yeah. Director Michael Mann is also known for a little show called Miami Vice so that explains the color choices. I really can’t fault anyone for that because it was the style at the time. What I can fault the movie for, however, is the music. Oh my god, the music. Someone on that crew figured out what a synthesizer was and just went NUTS on the soundtrack. It’s pretty awful. The worst scene is when Dollarhyde the serial killer, watches the girl he likes get back from a date with another man. As he sits in the car, his heart about to break, the most 80’s sounding song comes on and it completely ruins the moment. Totally inappropriate, just like the decision to use Prince on the Batman soundtrack.

Concerning the plot, I was surprised with how gritty Manhunter was.  I remember reading the book a long time ago and really enjoyed it. The scenes where Graham imagines the dead women with mirrors in their eyes was creepy. I wouldn’t go so far to call it horror but it was unsettling, at least. The acting was pretty good, although Graham’s habit of always talking to himself was a little weird. I get the point that he was trying to understand the killer’s point of view but those scenes just seemed silly.

Wheeeeeeee!

Final review: 2/5.

Up Next: Nothing for a month. For some stupid reason, I’ve decided to try NaNoWriMo this year where I will be writing a novel in 30 days. See you guys in December!