First of the film versions of Thomas Harris's novels featuring the dastardly Dr Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter (or Lecktor as he is here), Michael Mann's 1986 movie is arguably the best of the bunch. If you can ignore its dated feel (it's understandably heavily rooted in the 1980s), it's a tremendous mad whirl of a psycho-chiller, perhaps too slick and glossy at times but with less emphasis on blood and gore than the re-make and sequels.
The film follows former FBI agent Will Graham (William Petersen) as he's brought out of retirement by Jack Crawford (Dennis Farina) to track down the Tooth Fairy (Tom Noonan, pictured), a serial killer who appears to select his victims at random.
To get his teeth firmly into the case, Graham has to enlist help from Lecktor - his most deadly adversary who he put behind bars - and a psychological battle ensues. As Lecktor, played strongly here by Brian Cox, indulges in mind games with Graham, the clock ticks away for the FBI man, and the murderer lines up more victims...
Re-made as Red Dragon in 2002, this under-rated original is well worth watching.
Manhunter is a Film programme that first aired in 1986 and has been classified a 18 certificate.
