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| Genre: | Thriller |
| Year: | 1986 |
| Rating: | R |
| Cast: | Michael Mann, William Petersen, Kim Greist, Joan Allen |
Predating The Silence of the Lambs by five years, Michael Mann's madhouse of a serial killer flick is equal parts high-gloss visuals and offbeat, creepy acting. Three performances dominate the landscape: Brian Cox as the inimitable Hannibal Lecktor (as spelled in the credits), who adds a whiff more goony humor to the role than the later Anthony Hopkins interpretation; William Petersen as William Graham, the psychologically rich and morally corrupt FBI burnout; and Tom Noonan (What Happened Was...), who defines once and for all how to imbue a length of pantyhose with utter terror. Noonan's soft, boyish voice makes his Tooth Fairy character far more threatening than The Silence of the Lambs's Buffalo Bill. Manhunter is largely about how the investigation of a crime can turn from discovery to shocking empathy. Two versions of the film appear on the limited edition, two-DVD set: a pristine transfer of the theatrical release, running 121 minutes, and the 124-minute director's cut that has made the cable-network rounds. There are substantial differences in both films, particularly in soundtrack cues, and the way "Ina-gadda-da-vida" fits into the final confrontation scene. While not exactly a crowd-pleaser, Manhunter is more mournful and witty than The Silence of the Lambs and its latest successor, Hannibal. Chas Turner
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