Yes it has an air of doom hanging over it which is enhanced by the photography and score. A depressing film and the downbeat atmosphere is sustained beautifully.

I agree. The tooth fairy frightens me and reminds me of a real serial killer. Infact I think I like Brian Cox better than Anthony Perkins. He really gets the gravity of the situation into the forefront

Michael Mann nailed the atmosphere... So many day light scenes but with a dark mood... It has the heaviness you'd expect from an old black and white noir movie..

And yes, a very 80s vibe... in a cool and refined way

Not just that. It feels so sensual as the tooth fairy seduces Rita. Its like the btk killer a blank slate who made his wife believe she loves him. Rita was convinced and was shaken by him. So was I as I believed he cared for her.

I felt the chemistry.

It's been a long time since I've watched this but I agree it has a great vibe to it.

I rewatched it a few weeks ago... Holds up very well... a lot more moody than I remmbered

I'm listening to the sound track right now pretty much on repeat. It's amazing.

Its great. I'll see about ordering it

I should order the blu ray for this...

Massively agree with all the praise here for this film, the music, cinematography... Everything... This is for me the perfect 80s thriller (alongside To Live and Die in L.A. - for similar reasons) but I've got the Blu-ray (UK version from Optimum/Studio Canal) and it's not that great an improvement on the dvd (although it does have the theatrical and directors versions) it's a very grainy transfer...

*Edit Just popped this on and realised it's only the directors version that is a ropey transfer whereas the theatrical is very nice...!

I'm so sorry but how in the hell can anyone even try to compare Brian Cox's Hannibal Lecter to Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter and then claim Brian Cox''s is the better version?

Both actors are equally top-notch but they got different approaches for this character, so it wasn't Brian Cox's fault at all.

In Manhunter, Hannibal Lecter is treated like merely a small character. In The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal Lecter is treated like THE character from the movie.

Point is: Anthony Hopkins' Hannibal Lecter version is 1000000 times better than Brian Cox's. It's not even close.

@Strannger18 said:

I agree. The tooth fairy frightens me and reminds me of a real serial killer. Infact I think I like Brian Cox better than Anthony Perkins. He really gets the gravity of the situation into the forefront

I know you meant to say Anthony Hopkins but the reason Brian Cox was so good is that, like Anthony Perkins in Psycho it isn't immediately obvious that there's something not quite right about him. And that's important given that Lecter had patients and worked with the police.