Manhunter (1986) – Review (SPOILER WARNING ⚠️)

Watched Manhunter the other night… and yeah, not gonna lie, it didn’t really do it for me.

I don’t mind older films at all, but this one felt a bit rough, maybe because it’s clearly part of a larger story. I’ve been told it makes more sense if you watch Silence of the Lambs first, which I didn’t, so maybe that’s on me. But still, it just felt confusing most of the time, and I never fully got into it.

That being said, it is very 80s coded, the music was intense and kind of over-the-top, which made it weirdly fun. The dramatic zoom-ins with tense synths every time something “important” was happening? Iconic in the most goofy way. It definitely has that vintage crime thriller vibe going.

But overall… not the most exciting or gripping film. I wouldn’t say it was a waste of time, but I’d definitely say: lower your expectations and just let the 80s energy carry you through. Then you’ll be fine. 😅