Manhunter (1986)
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A retired FBI profiler must confront his past and a deadly serial killer to solve a new case.
The story
Will Graham, a former FBI criminal profiler who retired following a mental breakdown after being attacked by serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecktor, is sought out by his former superior, Jack Crawford. Crawford asks Graham to help investigate a new serial killer known as the Tooth Fairy. To assist, Graham must confront the psychological toll of his past and consult with the incarcerated Lecktor. The investigation leads them to a series of crime scenes where Graham must attempt to enter the mindset of the killer to find clues, while navigating the dangers of a case that mirrors his own traumatic history.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Will Graham, a retired FBI profiler, is pulled back into service by Jack Crawford to track a serial killer dubbed the Tooth Fairy. Graham consults the incarcerated Hannibal Lecktor, who provides insights into the killer's motives but also manages to obtain Graham's home address. The investigation leads to a series of crime scenes and a dangerous interaction with a tabloid journalist, Freddy Lounds, who is eventually kidnapped and harmed by the Tooth Fairy. Graham discovers that the killer, Francis Dollarhyde, is driven by a desire for acceptance and is stalking a woman named Reba McClane. After a tense standoff at Dollarhyde's home, Graham confronts the killer. In a violent final confrontation, Dollarhyde is killed by Graham, and the investigation concludes as Graham returns to his family.
- First release year
- 1986
- Runtime (minutes)
- 120
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Michael Mann
- Writers
- Michael Mann · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- William Petersen · Will Graham; Tom Noonan · Francis Dollarhyde; Dennis Farina · Jack Crawford; Brian Cox · Hannibal Lecktor; Kim Greist · Molly Graham; Joan Allen · Reba McClane; Stephen Lang · Freddy Lounds
- Genres
- crime thriller
- Themes
- duality; psychological toll of profiling; symbiotic relationships between hunter and hunted
- Tone and mood
- stylized; suspenseful
- Setting
- Various locations including Florida, Atlanta, Birmingham, Washington, D.C., and St. Louis.
- Premise and plot tags
- serial killer; FBI investigation; criminal profiling
- Source material / true-story basis
- Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
- Reception
- Initially a box-office failure with mixed reviews, it has since been re-evaluated as a cult classic with high praise for its acting and stylized visuals.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 75 · scale: 100 · review count: 22
- Awards and nominations
- Edgar Award · Best Motion Picture · 1987 · Nomination
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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