Manhunter (1986) – 8/10 – A Methodical, Clinical Hunt for a Monster
Overall
Manhunter is a psychological thriller about an FBI special agent in a chase after a serial killer. Manhunter was one of director Michael Mann’s earlier works that didn’t have high-budget or star-studded casts, despite his reputation for those sorts of movies. This covers themes such as resilience, obsession with finding the culprit, madness, and the line between the relationship between the hunter and hunted. The iconic aspects that I expect many to recognize are Hannibal Lecktor and the intense mood it builds. It’s reminiscent of SILENCE OF THE LAMBS with a lower budget. The story here appears familiar to the later Hannibal Lecktor movies, but this is neither a prequel nor a sequel to any of them. The story is set in its own little world, and it works overall.
Would I recommend this?
If you enjoy methodical action, I recommend this visually stunning movie. The characterization and story might discomfort you, but it’s not meant to be horror. The movie implies several graphic scenes without showing them, so it controls the restraint. I never believed it excessive. All said, Manhunter is fascinating to watch unfold, but not without flaws. My rating is 8/10.
Plot (spoiler-free)
A serial killer dubbed the Tooth Fairy is on the loose. FBI supervisor Jack Crawford asks for help from former FBI master profiler Will Graham (William Petersen). Graham had retired years earlier from stress and trauma resulting from catching the serial killer Hannibal Lecktor (Brian Cox). Graham hesitates initially, but he agrees to take the assignment after Jack (Dennis Farina) shows case information. To catch the Tooth Fairy (Tom Noonan), he must seek help from Hannibal in prison. However, things go wrong when the Tooth Fairy gets in touch with Hannibal.
Technicals
Manhunt is a well-made, meticulous film from top to bottom. The acting, direction, writing, background music, cinematography, camera work, and intricate subtleties are remarkable in holding your attention. This film is very detail-oriented, including details of the serial killer’s MO. The atmosphere, sensation and performance surrounding the Tooth Fairy are excellent enough to make you uneasy. Noonan intentionally avoided contact with the cast before and during the filming to maintain isolation, key to his character. Hannibal Lecktor’s portrayal in a side-role isn’t as good as Anthony Hopkins, but it’s respectable. Hopkins is of course more talented than Brian Cox. Petersen is outstanding as an FBI agent, but no Jodie Foster from an empathy angle. The locations were fitting and memorable, especially Lecktor’s hospital. As flaws go, the ending is abrupt. It began with a sense of empathy for Graham and his family, built on it, but I felt nothing for them at the end. Second, I think tighter editing would have helped increase pacing and fix several sequences that dragged.
*Obtained trivia facts from IMDb’s trivia page and plot/basic history/name information from Wiki
