Everyone’s favorite cannibal, Hannibal Lector, returns to the silver screen in HANNIBAL the third film to deal with his sanguinary exploits. While audiences flocked to see SILENCE OF THE LAMBS in 1991, most people missed the film that introduced the character. In 1986 director Michael Mann delivered what is considered one of the best crime thrillers ever made MANHUNTER.

This seminal film was based on Author Thomas Harris’ novel RED DRAGON, which dealt with the search for a serial killer who has been labeled The Tooth Fairy because of bite marks he leaves on his victims. Special Agent Will Graham (played by the vastly underrated William Peterson) is brought out of Retirement to find the slayer. Will Graham became famous for putting away one of America’s most dangerous and despicable serial killers in History, Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lector. Graham is what has since become known as a profiler. He uses the crime scene facts to delve into the psyche of the killer to create a roadmap of the perpetrator’s madness. When doing so with Lector he almost lost his mind, resulting in some time in a mental ward. He finds himself having to confront Lector again to get information on the current case. Director Michael Mann, fresh off his major success with MIAMI VICE, chooses a cerebral and, at times, spiritual take as opposed to a visceral one. The result is a movie that is immediately captivating and deeply disturbing.

The performances in this film are flawless. William Peterson essays a vulnerability that is rare in a movie hero. Tom Noonan plays the Tooth Fairy with a haunting sense of sadness. His performance says more with his eyes than most modern actors can in an entire monologue. The sequence where he thinks he sees the woman he loves cheating on him is among the best moments of filmmaking and acting in American cinema. The real revelation here is Brian Cox as Hannibal Lector. His performance is a very internalized and specific, avoiding all the over the top theatrics that Anthony Hopkins employed to bring the character to life. When Hopkins plays Lector he is frightening, yet likable, friendly even. With Brian Cox’s interpretation he is stone cold terrifying. Critically acclaimed actress Joan Allen turns in a winning role as the Tooth Fairy’s blind lover.

In theaters the film was shorn of three minutes of important footage. This newest release of the film from Anchor Bay Entertainment finds the film available in two versions. One is the standard theatrical release and another which is slightly longer that is the directors cut. There is also a limited edition two disc DVD set that contains both versions. All the new versions of the film are letterboxed at the scope ratio of 2.35 for the first time witch preserves the incredible and complicated cinematography the way it was intended to be seen.

MANHUNTER has been ignored over the years in favor of the better known follow up film(s). Now is the opportune time to remedy the situation.