Blu-ray review: ‘Manhunter’ (Collector’s Edition)-Shout! Factory

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Note: this originally appeared in my Austin Horror Examiner column on May 22, 2016. Given that site is now defunct and Manhunter celebrates its 30th anniversary  on August 14th, this deserves a repost!

While ‘Silence of The Lambs’ made Hannibal Lecter famous, it wasn’t the first film to feature the sophisticated psychiatrist turned cannibal

That honor goes to 1986’s “Manhunter,” the underrated Michael Mann directed adaptation of Thomas Harris’s novel “Red Dragon,” which featured actor Brian Cox in the role Anthony Hopkins would make famous three years later.

The story revolved around protagonist Will Graham (William Peterson), an FBI profiler out to stop dangerous serial killer Francis Dolarhyde (Tom Noonan) who slaughters whole families to feed his sick fantasies.

To find him, one must think like him, and that’s Graham’s particular skill set. But there’s a caveat: Graham quit the business after nearly losing his sanity (and his life) while capturing Lecter (spelled “Lecktor” in Mann’s film).

Once he’s lured back in after FBI chief Jack Crawford (Dennis Farina) pleads for help, he must consult Dr. Lecktor to regain the mindset. But even behind bars, Graham realizes he’s still at danger, with Lecktor threatening his mental health, along with another dire threat I won’t reveal due to spoilers.

While “Manhunter” never gained wide box office or critical success to equal “Lambs,” it’s grown into a beloved cult classic, credited with introducing the concept of forensic scientists and obsessive FBI profilers into the language of cinema (and television—Peterson’s starring role on “CSI” clearly owes a debt to his work here).

It’s also noted for it’s stylish 80’s visuals, electronic soundtrack and a more nuanced approach to the source material than “Lambs” (it’s also vastly superior to 2002’s “Red Dragon” cinematic adaptation).

And thanks to the new collector’s edition Blu-ray (due out May 22, 2016 via Scream Factory, a subsidiary of Shout! Factory), it looks and sounds better than ever before, usurping all previous home video releases.

The Scream Factory release contains two-discs, the first of which is the theatrical cut, in a pristine HD transfer. Mann’s neo-noir compositions pop in all their neon, art deco and pastel soaked glory. There is an extra lurid luminescence in scenes like Dolarhyde’s terrifying reveal and Lektor’s pristine white prison cell.

The audio quality is also superb. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 gives the film’s synth-fueled soundtrack (featuring groups like Shriekback and The Reds) maximum punch, while never trampling on the dialogue.

Some critics of the film have claimed that Mann’s 80’s visual and audio aesthetics have dated “Manhunter,” but it’s a pretty flimsy argument, given all films are products of their era. If anything it acts as vibrant time capsule of, beautifully represented here.

The second disc features the director’s cut, and it’s a notable improvement over the botched, fuzzy disc from the 2000 DVD release. But it’s worth mentioning the director’s cut footage is in SD. Nonetheless it should satiate Mann fans.

One of the highlights of all Shout! Factory Releases are the special features, and “Manhunter” doesn’t disappoint, with a bevy of excellent featurettes sure to please aficionados of the film.

The principal cast, including Peterson, Cox, Noonan and Joan Allen are all featured in engaging interviews: Peterson is the focus of “The Mind of Madness” where he notes Mann’s obsession with detail, including a painstaking shot of a hotel elevator, as well as how the film upped his game as an actor.

“Francis is Gone Forever,” is an interview with Noonan, a soft-spoken and jovial presence, who clearly enjoyed freaking out the cast and crew, and spooking a shopper who spotted him in a grocery store. Allen takes center stage in “Courting A Killer,” which includes highlights like her scene with a live tiger.

But the crown jewel is Brian Cox in “The First Lecktor,” a 40-minute in-depth discussion on his memories playing the character. It’s an illuminating interview, with the actor discussing a real life murder case that inspired his performance, his thoughts on Hopkins’ interpretation of the character and much more.

Fans of the soundtrack will sink their teeth into “The Music Of Manhunter.” It’s a real treat, featuring interviews with all the musicians who contributed to the film.

Shriekback’s Barry Andrews is particularly engaging; discussing how he feels his work enhanced the source material. And film geeks will enjoy “The Eye of The Storm,” with cinematographer Dante Spinotti’s recollections from the film shoot.

In addition to all the above features, the director’s cut disc imports all of the 2001 special features, including commentary by Mann, and additional making-of featurettes.

“Manhunter” is somewhat infamous for having many incarnations, most notably it’s original VHS release, which included footage that for whatever reason hasn’t been included in any subsequent release, including this Blu-ray.

But that’s really the only apparent omission. Shout! Factory has once again knocked it out of the park, giving “Manhunter” a home video release that does it justice, and a must-have for diehard fans.

You can order ‘Manhunter’ from Shout! Factory’s from Amazon below: