Directed by Brett Ratner

Starring: Anthony Hopkins, Edward Norton, Ralph Fiennes

Rated R for violence, grisly images, language, some nudity and sexuality

Red Dragon is a prequel to The Silence of the Lambs, directed by Brett Ratner. In Red Dragon, Will (played by Edward Norton) is pulled out of retirement from the FBI and is tasked with help finding the “Tooth Fairy”, a serial killer who murders families. Will is forced to seek Dr. Hannibal Lector (played by Anthony Hopkins), a cannibal who was captured by Will years prior, and hear his advice on who the serial killer may be.

Red Dragon serves as a prequel to The Silence of the Lambs and while viewing this film, I could not help noticing the similar plot points to it’s predecessor. While both films are based off the novels by Thomas Harris, I am not sure how much part of the film was from the book and how much of it is original. It goes without saying that Lambs is a fantastic film and I could see the filmmakers wanting this film to be on par with the other. While this film is not on par with the other film, it does stand out on its own and is very enjoyable to watch. For one, Edward Norton is a very likable character the audience roots for. He is given a family, so that is something that makes him relatable. He knows Lector well and doesn’t take his shenanigans from him. While in Lambs, Lector had control over Starling, mostly due to being a trainee at the FBI, Lector has no control over Will. I would go as far as saying as these two are equals, but on the opposite ends of the spectrum.

Anthony Hopkins, as Dr. Lector, also stands out in the role, mostly due to playing such an iconic character. While he is not as menacing as he was in the previous films, he is still frightening. He is very intelligent and knows how to exploit someone’s weakness. While is he mostly restricted to being behind a cage, he is not as terrifying as the main villain, the “Tooth Fairy”. Francis Dolarhyde (played by Ralph Fiennes) is a serial killer who had a tragic upbringing. He was raised by an abusive grandmother which still affects him well into his adulthood. He is made to be more human when he has a romantic relationship with Reba (played by Emily Watson), a blind woman who is oblivious to his crimes. The romantic relationship brings his character down to be a bit more human, instead of being a full monster who is unsympathetic.

The film is a pleasant watch and is a bit suspenseful when it needs to be. Unfortunately there are some elements of the film that are very unbelievable that almost take the audience out of the film. For example, in the beginning of the film, we see how Will captured Dr. Lector. This capture includes Will getting brutally stabbed and Dr. Lector also getting stabbed and getting shot multiple times. While these two characters eventually survive, it is a bit ridiculous that someone can survive what they had to endure. I know this is a film and its all made up, but this moment almost took me out of the film. Also, the film does have a few notable cliches such as a retired law enforcement agent being pulled back in for one last job or the few jump scares the film tries to do. These elements do not take away enjoyment from the film, but it is worth mentioning as it does stick out like a sore thumb.

But disregarding that, Red Dragon is still an intriguing thriller. The film features a great cast who all turn in a wonderful performance and try to make their characters relatable or sympathetic. It also has a lot of twists and turns that will make the audience on the edge of the seat. The film knows that it won’t be on the same level as The Silence of the Lambs, but the film still attempts to a worthy addition to the Hannibal Lector series. I would say anyone who enjoys The Silence of the Lambs would like Red Dragon and find appreciate the film.

3/4