Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Former FBI Agent Will Graham, who was once almost killed by the savage Hannibal 'The Cannibal' Lecter, now has no choice but to face him again, as it seems Lecter is the only one who can help Graham track down a new serial killer.
Red Dragon is a solid, well-crafted thriller anchored by exceptional performances — Hopkins reprising Lecter with menace, Edward Norton bringing quiet intensity, and Ralph Fiennes delivering a genuinely unsettling Francis Dolarhyde. The plot is competent but inevitably suffers from comparison to both Manhunter (1986) and the source novel, feeling like a prestige retread rather than a fresh take. Cinematography is polished and professional but unremarkable. Novelty is low: this is a second adaptation of the same Thomas Harris novel, following Manhunter, and largely follows the Hannibal Lecter formula established by Silence of the Lambs. The ending is tense but fairly conventional for the genre. Its reputation as a quality thriller is deserved, driven primarily by the caliber of its cast.