Hannibal Lecter remains the media's most notorious cannibal
The unique character of Hannibal Lecter has captivated audiences in his different novels, films, and television series since the early 1980s. The iconic cannibal’s first appearances can be traced back to two books by Thomas Harris. In this duology, Lecter is introduced to the world in Red Dragon (1981), where he must aid in capturing a murderer named “Tooth Fairy,” who appears for a second time in the novel The Silence of the Lambs (1988). Both books are excellently written, and it’s a shame most don't know Lecter originated within them.
Despite popular belief, the first on-screen appearance of Lecter came not from The Silence of the Lambs (1991), but in Michael Mann’s film Manhunter (1986), which is an adaptation of Red Dragon (1981). In this film, we follow retired FBI agent Will Graham as an incarcerated Lecter aids him to help find the “Tooth Fairy.” Here Hannibal Lecter is played by Brian Cox—a man with a unique, subtle, and reserved interpretation of the character compared to later actors, and one that has grown on me over time.
In this movie, Lecter is as intelligent and maniacal as ever; even though he’s in a prison cell the entire runtime, he still turns the tables in his favor, creating a monumental impact on the film's story. While Manhunter (1986) may have Hannibal Lecter take more of a backseat role in comparison with his source material, it does not diminish the vitality of his appearance.
Lecter’s next big screen appearance is his most popular: the Oscar-winning film The Silence of the Lambs (1991). In this movie, FBI agent Clarice Starling receives assistance from Lecter as they eagerly hunt down “Buffalo Bill.” This film introduces us to the iconic portrayal of Hannibal Lecter, played by the revered Anthony Hopkins.
Hopkin’s portrayal of Hannibal is much more intense and intimidating than Cox’s. From his first appearance as Lecter in this movie, we can already feel the weight of his piercing eyes as he analyzes the protagonist. Even though Lecter is behind bars, his presence makes you feel imprisoned with him. Unlike in the first film, we spend more time with the cannibal and see him formulate an escape from his imprisonment while actor Hopkins does what he does with most of his roles—kills it! If it wasn’t already obvious, his portrayal of Lecter is easily my favorite.
It takes Hannibal Lecter ten more years to appear on the big screen in the direct sequel to The Silence of the Lambs (1991): Hannibal (2001). This adaptation of Harrison’s novel Hannibal (1999) depicts Lecter taking sanctuary in Italy, and Hopkins returns in this film to portray a more animated and goofy Hannibal this time around.
While Hopkins gives his best effort, the unfortunate truth is the character suffers from poor writing in this film. The audience still gets to witness Hannibal do some vile things to unfortunate individuals, but some specific sequences take you out. This is the first time we see Hannibal not behind bars for most of the runtime, and the movie certainly takes advantage of that. Overall, Hannibal (2001) is a fine film but a big step down from the previous entry.
Just one year later, Red Dragon (2002), a different adaptation of the first Hannibal novel, was released. Unfortunately, this film continues this new ‘flanderization’ of Hannibal Lecter. Hopkins returns to the role one last time, and similar to Hannibal (2001), the poor character writing of Hannibal dampens any quality scenes. This film showcases Hannibal before his imprisonment, and we see more of the relationship between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham (which I found very cool to see). Despite this, Red Dragon (2002) is another step down for the series.
The franchise, unfortunately, hits its low point with the movie Hannibal Rising (2007). Here, we see Hannibal Lecter's origins as a young cannibalistic Lithuanian child and the events that shaped him. This film is atrocious—save your time and don’t watch it; tragically, this was Hannibal Lecter’s last film appearance, and he went out on a whimper.
Fortunately, Lecter debuts in television within one of the most underrated TV series, Hannibal (2013-2015). Everything about this series is nothing short of excellent, from how it handles FBI cases to getting more time with Hannibal. This series takes place in a timeline separate from the films, and Hannibal is played by a personal favorite actor of mine, Mads Mikkelsen. The Danish actor’s interpretation of Hannibal is mostly reserved and tactically similar to Brian Cox’s, but also has moments of intense intimidation similar to Hopkins' portrayal, making his performance a healthy blend (the second-best Hannibal performance, under Hopkins).
Hannibal and Will Graham’s (who have a professional relationship through the FBI) dynamic is the heart of the show’s success and makes for a thrilling ride throughout its three seasons. Hannibal (2013-2015) is a must-watch series for anyone, especially if you're a fan of the character.
Although the character of Hannibal Lecter has had some highs and lows through his different medium appearances, Hannibal the Cannibal’s story has made for some excellent films, novels, and TV series. Additionally, brilliant actors like Brian Cox, Anthony Hopkins, and Mads Mikkelsen have given Lecter justice through their portrayals. I hope everyone’s favorite cannibal eventually returns, but if not, it’s safe to say that Hannibal Lecter has had a great run in the zeitgeist.
Thumbnail photo of Anthony Hopkins courtesy of Wikimedia Commons