Manhunter (film)/YMMV

YMMV tropes for the film Manhunter:

Awesome Music: "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". Also, most of the soundtrack, if you grew up in The Eighties.
Complete Monster: Dolarhyde is an arguable example, lacking the novels explicit Freudian Excuse or Split Personality but clearly still mentally disturbed and having a brief Pet the Dog romance. Lektor, though, is an absolute bastard- instead of a vengeful cannibal who targets asshole victims or those who have wronged him, this Lektor murdered young college girls. For the Evulz. Because when he did it he felt like he was God.
Covered Up: This film, and specifically Brian Cox's take on the Hannibal "Lecktor" character, has been covered up by the later Thomas Harris adaptations and Anthony Hopkins' portrayal of Hannibal "Lecter".
Fridge Brilliance: You might find all of the stark colors strange, and attribute it to Michael Mann's The Eighties standard, but then you have to understand that the entire film is about perception and seeing ("Ever see blood in the full moonlight? It's quite black"), and Dollarhyde works as a photo developer. It's purposeful irony that his object of lust is blind.
Funny Moments: Falling asleep on an airplane with a folder full of crime scene photos on your tray? Bad idea.
High Octane Nightmare Fuel: The opening scene in which the killer goes to his victim's bedroom - seen through his video camera - just as the mother awakens, Freddy Lounds' fate, Lecktor's subtle lines ("Dream much?") and his phone call are all well and frightening, but Tom Noonan as the Tooth Fairy is pure High Octane Nightmare Fuel, especially when he captures Freddy Lounds.
- Meta example: Tom Noonan didn't want to interact with any of the other actors unless they were filming, to make their reactions to his character's disturbing behavior more realistic. He even went as far as to sequester himself in his trailer between scenes, take different flights to filming locations than the rest of the crew, and even staying in different hotels. The results speak for themselves.
Hilarious in Hindsight: Gil Grissom confronting Hannibal Lecktor.
Moment of Awesome: Will Graham bursts through the window of Dollarhyde's house in slow-motion, set to "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".
Nightmare Retardant: The revelation of what Hannibal's secret code to Dolarhyde is in the letter he sends happens shortly after the letter is published in the original book and 2002 film, and it's a very frightening moment. In Manhunter, it happens directly after the scariest scene in the movie, and in a ridiculously casual way (it's practically "Oh by the way, Will, Lecktor gave away your home address.")

Back to Manhunter (film)