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Manhunter (1986)
imdb.com rating: 7.2/10
my personal rating: 8/10
I just watched Manhunter for the first time this past week. I thought it was actually better than Red Dragon. I had the feeling when Red Dragon first came out it tried too hard to copy The Silence of the Lambs feel, and sure enough I was right. In Manhunter Hannibal Lecter is held in a white box-cell in white clothes. In contrast in The Silence of The Lambs/Red Dragon Lecter is held in a dungeon cell so it is a differen look.
I thought Manhunter had the creepier victim scenes and more suspense. For me Will Graham and Francis Dollarhyde were more interesting characters in Manhunter. I never got a dark, creepy, or disturbing vibe from Red Dragon's Dollarhyde either. I believe technically Red Dragon is a good movie in its own right, it did have its moments including the capture of Lecter which I have always wanted to see. But I also feel it falls a bit short to the original. I also liked the ending better in the older version. Mann embraces the psychological and emotional sphere much better than Ratner ever could, who was in over his head IMO.