41 years ago, Thomas Harris introduced the world to the terrifying psychiatrist turned cannibalistic serial killer, Hannibal Lecter, in his 1981 novel and classic. Red Dragon. Since then, the character, who has become one of the most iconic fictional villains, has continued to haunt the collective consciousness. On the big screen, it was Anthony Hopkins’ performance in The Silence of the Lambs in 1991 that established him as one of cinema’s greatest villains. Mads Mikkelsen, as brilliant as he was in the series Hannibal, did the same for television.
But Anthony Hopkins is not the first to interpret this: as Collider recalls, in 1986 Brian Cox had already slipped into the skin of the legendary killer in Michael Mann’s film Manhunter (under the title The Sixth Sense at Home), terribly neglected. A performance that deserves to be talked about.
Less “charming” and less “seductive” than his successors, Brian Cox’s Hannibal is arrogant, rude and aggressively selfish. If other versions of the character are more theatrical, somewhere between horror and comic, the legacy actor’s versions are firmly rooted in reality. There’s no eloquent vocabulary and no empathy when forcing someone to eat their own brains while classical music plays in the background: the actor’s performance here is more restrained and the result sends chills down the spine. Without the mannerisms, Hannibal Lecter (spelling changed) is sincere and very much like real killers. Scarier, more real, more mysterious, it’s probably the scariest.
In addition to Brian Cox’s performance, the film also boasts stylized cinematography and a fantastic performance by William Petersen as FBI agent Will Graham. Michael Mann’s adaptation, by the way, remains one of the greatest films of all time as it follows the source material closely, depicting Graham’s hunt to catch a serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy (Tom Noonan). To do this, he enlists Hannibal Lecter, an incarcerated assassin he helped capture during an event that left him deeply traumatized.
Sixth Sense By Michael Mann Worth the detour: We recommend you discover the film as soon as possible if you haven’t already.
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Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
