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7

Compi24Jan 14, 2015

Michael Mann kicks the dread and psychological terror up a notch in "Manhunter," a fresh and unsettling thriller with brilliant imagery drenched in vivid color paletting.

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8

LuciusMcGibbonFeb 27, 2018

Brian Cox as Lecter... weeeeird! But very good. Just don't expect to see too much of him.

This movie is steeped in its own 80's-ness, but what a fantastic job everybody does. The visuals direction and the soundtrack, all quite commendable.Brian Cox as Lecter... weeeeird! But very good. Just don't expect to see too much of him.

This movie is steeped in its own 80's-ness, but what a fantastic job everybody does. The visuals direction and the soundtrack, all quite commendable. William Petersen is interesting enough, and the original Red Dragon... yes, please. And let me say this... Dennis Farina. Right, end of review.… Expand

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9

FranzHcriticJan 21, 2015

A blasphemous statement to most Lecter fans, but I found this to be the best film based on a Thomas Harris work. It's style and visuals give it a unique look to the 1980's thrillers, as well as having tense yet subtle performances by theA blasphemous statement to most Lecter fans, but I found this to be the best film based on a Thomas Harris work. It's style and visuals give it a unique look to the 1980's thrillers, as well as having tense yet subtle performances by the cast. The whole film is more terrifying than 'Red Dragon' or 'Silence on the Lambs', because it terrifies and gives suspense not with blood or gore, but with quality cinema.… Expand

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10

adaniil2Mar 5, 2014

Alongside with "Heat" and "The Last of the Mohicans" - one of the best Mann's movies. Unlike 2002 "Red Dragon", "Manhunter" is an extremely talented and deep adaptation of Harris' brilliant novel. It is in no way your regular maniac thriller,Alongside with "Heat" and "The Last of the Mohicans" - one of the best Mann's movies. Unlike 2002 "Red Dragon", "Manhunter" is an extremely talented and deep adaptation of Harris' brilliant novel. It is in no way your regular maniac thriller, in which terrifing murders shown and tension grows high every minute. And it's not a Lecter movie. Instead, it concentrates on psychological deepness of the main character, FBI special agent Will Graham, whose ability to identify himself with wanted murderers puts him to the edge of the sanity. William Petersen did a superb job of creating one of the deepest movie characters of all time, and it's a pity that he never became a huge star (in 80's he also was great in Fridkin's "To live and die in L.A.")

Movie is unforgettable not only because of it's detailed, psychological storyline and wonderful acting, but also vivid visuals and extraterrestial soundtrack. The way Mann and his team use colors and music creates a very special, unrepeatable atmosphere and eve helps in character development. All in all, "Manhunter" is a true masterpiece, both entertaining and thoughtful, and i deeply regret that it is so unpopular nowadays. Everyone should watch it.… Expand

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10

horcrux2007Sep 3, 2014

"Manhunter" is a very exciting and well-made film. There are many twists and turns that keep the audience guessing, and some very intense and suspenseful scenes. The film's main character, Will Graham, is very complex and likable, and the"Manhunter" is a very exciting and well-made film. There are many twists and turns that keep the audience guessing, and some very intense and suspenseful scenes. The film's main character, Will Graham, is very complex and likable, and the movie has some great acting. I think this is even better than "The Silence of the Lambs", and I highly recommend it.… Expand

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9

kyle20ellisMar 22, 2022

There's always going to be inevitable comparisons between Manhunter and Silence of the Lambs. To keep comparisons brief, to me Silence of the Lambs is the superior film, but Manhunter is almost as good and a great film in its own right.

It'sThere's always going to be inevitable comparisons between Manhunter and Silence of the Lambs. To keep comparisons brief, to me Silence of the Lambs is the superior film, but Manhunter is almost as good and a great film in its own right.

It's very stylishly made, with use of colour and lighting that is beautiful and gritty and photography that is both luminous and unnerving, while Michael Mann's directing is top-notch and some of his tightest ever. A clever and incredibly thought-provoking script helps as does the strong characterisation(Dollarhyde is particularly well realised here). The story, which does a credible job compressing an in some ways unfilmable book in two hours(even if you wish there was more detail sometimes), in Manhunter is very arresting, with a particularly suspenseful first half and an atmosphere that gives one chills. It begins grippingly, setting up what's to follow very well indeed, and ends excitingly if slightly anti-climatically. Pacing is deliberate but never dull.

When it comes to individual scenes, three really stood out, both as three of the best of all the Lecter films and also as an example of how great a director Mann is. One is the Tooth Fairy Letter analysis, two is the Dollarhyde and Rena encounter and three is Graham's nail-bitingly dream-like visit to Lecter. Nothing to complain about the acting, coming off particularly strongly is Tom Noonan who is truly frightening as Dollarhyde while also giving room for pity. Brian Cox's Lecter is very different to the more iconic performance of Anthony Hopkins, it's more ambiguous and more understated but no less creepy or entertaining(in fact because Cox acts like a killer-acting-completely-normal-to-the-outside-world it's somewhat more realistic and unsuspecting). It may not be as well known a performance but it's a great one in its own way and shouldn't be overlooked just because of it being different. William Petersen's lead performance is fine too, at times appropriately haunting.

My only complaint actually is the music, a couple of the song choices come off well and fit, especially In a Gadda Da Vida, but most of them come over as cheesy and misplaced, Heartbeat being the biggest offender. The electronic score is also at times too intrusive, often really doesn't fit the tone of the film at all and has a really dated sound to it, even for a film made in the 80s. Overall though, Manhunter is great, arresting stuff and not to be missed. 9/10 Bethany Cox… Expand

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8

timoneAug 22, 2018

So this is the first time for me to watch Manhunter which is something I'm curious to watch and while I was watching i just realised that some of the elements were taken from Red Dragon starring Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton. I know thatSo this is the first time for me to watch Manhunter which is something I'm curious to watch and while I was watching i just realised that some of the elements were taken from Red Dragon starring Anthony Hopkins and Edward Norton. I know that it's based on the novel by Thomas Harris but why can't the film title just say Red Dragon instead of Manhunter. I mean, surely Red Dragon with Edward Norton had some similarities to Manhunter like the elements like Francis Dollarhyde says "You owe me awe.", a blind woman character, a character named Jack Crawford, these are all in the book and because the prequel to The Silence of the Lambs came out after Manhunter 26 years ago. Hmm, honestly I really check the book out now since I am familiar with the story in the novel. This is the first time that Hannibal Lecter which you will call him Hannibal the Cannibal. He appeared in one or two scenes which I remember. Brian Cox did that performance really well however I think Anthony Hopkins is the best Hannibal Lecter and he does the performance fantastically. The Silence of the Lambs is one of my favourite films of all time and Manhunter is an interesting crime thriller. It was slow paced because Michael Mann is known for making crime films, making them slow paced and that was his style. Manhunter is a terrific gripping film.… Expand

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7

Tyrant719Aug 22, 2021

It’s become en vogue to pretend to hate Red Dragon since Brett Ratner was exposed for the piece of **** he always seemed to be; and since aging hipsters used Wikipedia to find out that this was the first movie to use the same source material.It’s become en vogue to pretend to hate Red Dragon since Brett Ratner was exposed for the piece of **** he always seemed to be; and since aging hipsters used Wikipedia to find out that this was the first movie to use the same source material. Say what you want, but I’ll take Edward Norton over the guy from CSI any day; and I don’t know when it became cool to say Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter was overrated, but I am definitely not apart of that little hype train. That doesn’t make this movie bad. It’s a very good made-for-TV movie that would be featured in a two-and-a-half hour slot on a broadcast network during a decent time of the year. Now that’s something to be said from the guy who brought you such crap as Miami Vice. Sorry, I never did coke in the 80s, the nostalgia of that show escapes me. Have fun watching Manhunter on your way to sleep tonight.… Expand

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10

dpaudiophileJun 13, 2020

The best movie relating to the character Hannibal Lecter, and the best movie based on the novels by Thomas Harris. This isn't the over-the-top and overrated Silence of the Lambs, and if you're expecting that kind of film you probably won't like this.

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8

barnet42Oct 15, 2012

Manhunter, an excellent thriller, is the best film I've seen from Mann's oeuvre. Heat is a vastly overrated mediocrity of a film rife with cliches and an implausible love subplot with the De Niro and Brenneman characters, among other numerousManhunter, an excellent thriller, is the best film I've seen from Mann's oeuvre. Heat is a vastly overrated mediocrity of a film rife with cliches and an implausible love subplot with the De Niro and Brenneman characters, among other numerous silly contrivances and digressions. It's a bloated Hollywood heist thriller. I haven't seen The Insider, yet, but have heard good things about it. Collateral is a merely passable thriller that features Cruise as a Hollywood villain who utters banal philosophy. Public Enemies is fun disposable entertainment.… Expand

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3

BroyaxJan 23, 2017

Deux bonnes choses à retenir de ce "Dragon Rouge" (bizarrement appelé Le Sixième Sens) : la mise en scène soignée de Michael Mann, presque élégante, et la musique électro bien agréable ma foi. A part ça, il est quand même étonnant deDeux bonnes choses à retenir de ce "Dragon Rouge" (bizarrement appelé Le Sixième Sens) : la mise en scène soignée de Michael Mann, presque élégante, et la musique électro bien agréable ma foi. A part ça, il est quand même étonnant de constater que les deux adaptations (1986 et 2002) du bouquin de Thomas Harris n'ont débouché que sur des produits médiocres ou moyens (sans compter les autres) alors que la base est là pour construire un polar de qualité.

Je n'ai pas lu le bouquin et n'ai pas l'intention de le lire mais il est clair que seul le Silence des Agneaux est réussi parmi les portages des oeuvres psychopathiques de l'auteur, sans doute un heureux accident de parcours qui restera inégalé.

Ce "Sixième sens" est très long, très lymphatique et malheureusement, le sémillant et diabolique Anthony Hopkins n'est pas là pour nous aider à faire passer la pillule, décidément très amère et trop dure à avaler ici. J'étais si détaché de ce prétendu thriller que j'ai failli m'endormir plusieurs fois.… Expand

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9

kingzaphodMay 25, 2013

This movie has been criticized for reasons that make it so great. Maybe it's a personal thing but if you want to use your imagination, just let go and let the film absorb you as the visuals and the music suck you into the mood and the mentalThis movie has been criticized for reasons that make it so great. Maybe it's a personal thing but if you want to use your imagination, just let go and let the film absorb you as the visuals and the music suck you into the mood and the mental angst
For me one of the cleverest and by far the scariest film I have ever watched maybe it's the thought of another tooth fairy being out like the one so well played by Noonan I cannot forget for instance his ecstasy watching her stroke the Tiger and by implication the intensity of the emotions that the killer can feel brilliant. The cast are all very convincing. I'd call it the brilliant original of the Hannibal Lechter series.
If you get a chance give this one a go.… Expand

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8

arrivistOct 26, 2022

Haunting, beautiful, frightening; and very stylish. The best out of all the Hannibal film adaptations. It's a real 80's time capsule. Some magnificent shot compositions which rival Cimino or Lynch (who was originally meant to direct).

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6

MrPajamasJul 6, 2022

I really liked The Silence of the Lambs, so when I heard about this movie, I thought I'd give it a shot. Probably after the success of the aforementioned sequel I saw earlier, Manhunter didn't interest me as much. I was bored most of theI really liked The Silence of the Lambs, so when I heard about this movie, I thought I'd give it a shot. Probably after the success of the aforementioned sequel I saw earlier, Manhunter didn't interest me as much. I was bored most of the time. I wasn't enjoying it. It didn't appeal. Not very interested. I don't know how else to describe it. I liked it now and then, but rarely. For me, it was just not very good. Mostly it was the 80's vibe that pulled it for me, which I love. It wasn't bad. The killer pulled it off too and overall it was an okay movie, I just wasn't into the journey to the killer. For me, an above average movie that I don't recommend.… Expand

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