If you love horror and suspense films, you have probably seen Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs as Hannibal Lecter, one of the most chilling portrayals of a serial killers in cinema. In early 2013, NBC set to bring back Hannibal Lecter in one of the most suspenseful and gruesome TV series they have ever hosted, starring Mads Mikkelsen as the killer.
While there were only three seasons made and the series felt the executives axe before the show could introduce the iconic Clarice, the show is still more than worth a watch – if you can stomach it.
The thing that makes the Hannibal television show so beautiful is the cinematography paired with classical music or screeching violins. While not always suspenseful, the times you will find yourself on the edge of your seat will make your palms sweaty and your mind race with the possibilities of what is to come next.
Mads Mikkelsen shines as psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter, and Hugh Dancy takes on the role of Will Graham, a far cry from his usual stints as a Broadway actor. Dancy however, plays well off of the magnetism that is Mikkelsen and the two are engaging and thrilling on screen. You never quite know what the two will get up to, or the danger they will encounter next.
The third season of the show sees the adaptation of the novel Red Dragon, where Richard Armitage appears as the chilling killer Francis Dolarhyde. Gillian Anderson also makes a reoccurring appearance throughout the seasons as Hannibal Lecter’s psychotherapist.
With a stacked cast, the show rarely disappoints, but it isn’t for the faint of heart. Gruesome scenes were often reported as being ‘too much’ for evening television and even some horror buffs found their stomachs turning.
If you can manage it though, you can binge watch the entire series on Netflix and you will want to watch one after another because the story is so captivating. Despite the series being cut short, the ending of the third season will answer all your questions and will only leave you craving more of the story that is Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter.
TV HACK Rating
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Hannibal