When it comes to fandoms, I like to think that everyone has a variety of loves that they can debate, talk and obsess over. They cross over and as you grow older, more films and shows come into your life that you adore. Fandoms are limitless; you can love plenty at any one time. Yet, if you ask anyone with a passion for something, you can boil all that down to one subject; one that they know everything inside and out. It could be anything, but there is that ultimate singular and possible first obsession that never leaves your side. For others, it could be a certain Superhero, a Time Lord or a fantasy television show. For me, however, it was Hannibal Lecter.
So I picked up the books, I read them all constantly. I immersed myself in the Thomas Harris world. The juicy lines, the twists in the story, the heart pounding chase to catch a demented killer. All three were legendary books and Harris brought this character into our nightmares. I followed the movie journey to the sketchy Hannibal, to the prequel Manhunter and then to the “I secretly like this but shouldn’t” remake Red Dragon. I could tell you every line, pick out every actor, play you every song. There may have been a trip to Florence and a Hannibal tour (with a glass of Chianti). Everything seemed to be going so well; Hannibal Lecter was one of the greats, he was an intellectual, charismatic villain who killed for the most horrifying reason of all; he enjoyed it. And that is what made him so brilliant...
And then Thomas Harris decided to release Hannibal Rising… and then they made it into a movie. The world around me was shattering. They gave him back story, a reason and a rhyme that totally shattered what was good about the character. I flat out refused to and still haven’t seen or read either. I chose to keep my villains in the dark and found new outlets, such as Christoph Waltz.
I bet you are wondering why I am confessing all this, like Clarice to Lecter. It is because with this mindset, I forced myself to sit and see Hannibal: The TV Series. With a roll of my eye, bated breath and my hands over the keyboard of rage, I watched the pilot.
I have never been so wrong in my entire life.
Hannibal, the television series, is based on the characters of Red Dragon. It focuses on FBI Special Investigator Will Graham who is called in by Jack Crawford to find a serial killer. However, Graham’s trick of getting inside the head of a killer is psychologically damaging him. Losing his grip, he turns to a psychiatrist, Dr Hannibal Lecter. The series focuses on their relationship, the brutal murders that follow and Lecter’s own killings as he evades capture.
While Hannibal could have become a hashed prequel to Red Dragon where facts are loose, Bryan Fuller creates a wonderfully chilling world. Feeling more like a reboot than a prequel, Hannibal is a tasty treat for television lovers. It’s smart, creepy and horrific, full of some striking imagery and haunting scenes, Hannibal really gets to the grizzle of murderers. The graphic violence is plentiful but it is used in such a mastered way that it is imperative to the storyline and drives a pulse through it. It’s a slick drama that delves into the sadistic mind of killers as well as the troubled minds of those who try to catch them. And Hannibal isn’t solely based around Lecter. While he is the driving force, each character has their background and story that is fleshed out in brilliance. Hannibal is full of intricate layers that the viewer will love to unfold and discover.
But above all this, Fuller really has pulled a tooth comb through the source material and used it to homage Thomas Harris’ work. For a fan of the previous films and books, Hannibal really utilizes lines, scenes and even music from prior work to make this a feast of all the great things of Lecter. Even parts of the book that were skimmed over by the prior movies are used in great detail. It is wonderful for those with a taste for Lecter and Fuller just doesn’t miss a beat with this delicious television feast.
So Hannibal may not be to everyone’s palette and those with a nervous disposition really shouldn’t watch it; the graphic violence is thick and plentiful, and there is at the genuine fear that this could become a really tedious mash up of CSI, The Mentalist and Dexter. However, Hannibal has many turns, many sub plots and character development to keep the engines going. It is awash with some fantastic dialogue exchanges and thrills with its gorgeous cinematography. It towers above most television shows with an air of elegance and thrives on the mind, playing horror with the nightmares. But the best thing about Hannibal? We finally have our mysterious and sadistic killer back who scares in silence and kills for pleasure.
TTFFFFFFFFFFFN,
Cookie.