One review on 07 Oct 2023

USA 1986

Running time: 120 mins

Manhunter

Director : Michael Mann 

Setting: USA
Summary: The first Hannibal Lecter film


Cast:

  • William Petersen  Investigator
  • Brian Cox  Lecktor


Aspect Ratio: 2.35 (anamorphic)

Colour: Colour

Sound: Stereo

Camera: 35mm



First Seen: Sat 7th Oct 2023
Catalogued: 8th Oct 2023

Synopsis

Stressed out FBI psycho investigator (William Petersen) is called back to track down a new serial killer. His technique is to try and get into the mindset of the killer which leads him to interview Hannibal Lecktor (Brian Cox) in prison who he previously helped capture. Mastermind Lecktor manages to turn the new serial killer around to attack the investigators family. Much 'drama' in the FBI offices as the rush around in hellicopters trying to head off and find the killer. Yawn.

Reviews

by Roger CO on Sat 7th Oct 2023 DVD proj @ home

Yawn

Summary

Ridiculous over dramatic and not really thrilling

Full review

Frankly today this appears somewhat absurd. The role of the pscho-investigator who gets into the mind of his subject is now an overworked trope, and the "dramatic" action in the FBI offices and helicopters as they try and close in on the serial killer before a deadline comes across as laughable - rminiscent of the old channel 4 tv series Treasure Hunt with Anneka Rice rushing around in a helicopter trying to solve clues for a team of investigators in the studio managed by avuncular Kenteth Kendall - at least that was entertaining at the time. Manhunter is not.

Of interest only because it was the first Hannibal Lecktor film before Silence of the Lambs (which was a bit better) and watched because I stumbled across a reference to it in a completely different context which made it sound interesting. It really isn't.