Hannibal, and you can bet this isn't a TV series based on the Carthagian commander of old (although that too would be worth a watch), it's a name synonymous with a brilliant psychiatrist turned serial killer with a certain appetite for human flesh. I was kind of familiar with the books by Thomas Harris but never sat down and read one through properly, it was in the incredible film The Silence of the Lambs that first introduced me to the Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Played to absolute perfection by the great Anthony Hopkins who gave a truly chilling yet mesmerising performance, despite being on screen for only 24 minutes or so, he really put the character on the map. Yet, I'm sure I wasn't the only one who thought of what lead up to him being incarcerated at Baltimore State Hospital? Peaking through his cage of a cell mocking Clarice Starling's Southern drawl or enjoying a census taker's liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti. What was he like prior to being that infamous serial killer? What were his crimes exactly and how did he eventually get caught? These were juicy questions, then some years later I hear a buzz around my workplace about this show called Hannibal that explores the character's past and thought well I cant really refuse now can I?
True to their word, Hannibal is exactly that and I was immediately hooked within the first few episodes. It is a gripping and grisly (no shocker there) psychological thriller/horror series with a stellar cast and a really striking visual style that I haven't really seen on TV before. I literally watched about seven episodes in a single night which is quite rare for me, but it's so absorbing and thrilling that you can't help but lose yourself in it. The first season mainly follows gifted, but troubled criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) who is cursed with a gift, he can see directly into the minds of serial killers often at the cost of his own sanity. He is asked by the head of the Behavioral Sciences division of the FBI Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) to assist in investigating the disappearances of several young girls. Inevitably, the bodycount starts to stack up and they get involved in some pretty bizarre and gruesome cases. Bringing Will Graham back into the field though poses risks to himself, namely his ability to directly empathise with killers so Jack Crawford enlists the help of none other than Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) to watch over Will and his mental state.
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| The menu of the first season and it's main offerings: Will Graham, Dr Alana Bloom, Special Agent Jack Crawford, Special Agent Brian Zeller, journalist Freddie Lounds, Special Agent Beverly Katz, Special Agent Jimmy Price and Dr. Hannibal Lecter. |
The Hannibal Lecter we meet in Hannibal is a calm, collected, cultured culinarian, a lover of the fine arts and an accomplished psychiatrist. You may know Hannibal Lecter, but you haven't seen him quite like this before, this is how he started out before his rise to notriety. Mads Mikkelsen really does bring a lot to the role, he oozes sophistication, charm and a razor-sharp intensity yet deep down under the veneer of this well-adjusted, intelligent, seemingly benign exterior is a monster lurking and waiting to pounce. The relationship between a vulnerable Will and Hannibal is at the heart of this show and the chemistry between them is perfect. You can really feel the tendrils of Hannibal's subtle psychological trickery slowly affecting Will, manipulating and influencing events, this is the Hannibal you know. I have to praise Hugh Dancy for taking on such a challenging role, he too captures Will's fragility and brilliance so well and his decent into the minds of these various killers is one of the highlights of the show. He has this unique insight into their methodology, possible motives and psychology, he can think like them and with all the consequences that come with that. You can see him slowly losing his grip on reality and of all the people to try to bring him back he has the most gifted serial killer of all to turn to, this makes for some truly compelling television.
The supporting cast are also great, you have the lovely Dr Alana Bloom who was a student of Hannibal's and a psychology professor who is also Will's colleague and friend. She has a certain affection for Will despite his issues and their relationship becomes tested throughout. Laurence Fishburne is also really good as Jack Crawford, a hard-nosed and assured leader who brings Will Graham back into field. You've got the gutsy journalist Freddie Lounds who like most journalists is the typical self-seeking opportunist, played by a woman this time around which I thought was an interesting choice but she nails the character. The FBI squad are also on hand to provide good banter with some comic relief here and there in what is quite an all-round serious show which is always welcome. It really captures the atmosphere of that nail-biting, goosebump-inducing psychological horror that The Silence of the Lambs did so well. Due to it's rather...explicit nature it won't be for everyone, for someone whose become somewhat desensitised to TV violence from watching shows like Game of Thrones, True Blood and American Horror Story, it still did disturb me at some parts. If you love gritty shows like Criminal Minds, Homeland, Dexter, The Following etc. then you'll definitely like Hannibal.  |
| Will sitting down with Dr. Lecter. As gruesome and weird as the cases become it's still all about these two. This criminal profiler whose discerning eye and mind can visualise and at times predict criminal behavior can't see the one sitting directly across from him... |
The horror elements are like a delicate mix of Hitchcockian suspense with all the surrealist, macabre imagery that wouldn't look out of place in a David Lynch/Eli Roth film or a Stephen King novel. It's unique aesthetic, namely Will's reconstruction of a particular crime through the eyes and actions of the killers he is investigating is striking and very effective. The imagery is deliberately unsettling but intriguing and it draws you in right from the first episode.
The Verdict
Hannibal is an engrossing and grisly blend of edgy psychological thriller and horror with a great cast and a unique style. It's suspenseful with some choking tension and packed with some memorable moments and a finale that will leave you hungry for more, I certainly can't wait to get stuck in to season two. This is a hidden gem that's unfortunately been somewhat overlooked in favour of some of the more mainstream shows, but there the ones who are missing out. You have an appointment with Dr Lecter, don't be late and this is not for the faint of heart, one of the best of shows on TV right now.
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