Manhunter

If Red Dragon had been made in the 1980's it would be this film.

Oh, wait.

It has. It is.

You know what? This film is not bad at all. Sure, it isn't as stylish as the later incarnation of the book Red Dragon, or stylish in a distinct 1980's way (read: dated), but the actors are as stellar as the ones who play the same roles in 2002. Although some of them may have faded into obscurity.

Will Graham is here played by William Petersen (yes, he of CSI fame, basically inventing his later role here), the tooth fairy/red dragon is played Tom Noonan (you have seen him before, I am certain, but you may not remember the name), Joan Allen plays the blind woman and the late Dennis Farina is Jack Crawford. And, oh yes, there is Hannibal Lecter (on IMDB it is spelled Lecktor), a role forever associated with the brilliant Anthony Hopkins. How could poor Brian Cox (also a brilliant actor) ever stand a chance of being remembered for it.

The music is as 1980's as the clothes are. Everything that you have seen later is here, as well, Will Graham digging into the criminal mind, the journalist rolling downhill while on fire, the weird teeth bit.

The two films even have the same score on IMDB. I get that films fade into memory of those that have concsiously lived through the times they were made in and Red Dragon serves a valid purpose for later generations. Myself, I have lived through both incarnations (yes, I am that old) and am ok with both versions.

7/10