Manhunter (1986)

Manhunter (1986) is an American thriller film directed and written by Michael Mann, based on the 1981 novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. Will Graham, a former FBI criminal profiler who captured cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecktor, has since retired following a mental breakdown. At his Florida home, Graham’s former boss, Jack Crawford, asks for help with a new serial killer case. Despite promising his wife he will only search for evidence and not put himself in harm’s way, Graham agrees to visit the most recent crime scene in Atlanta. There, he delves into the killer’s mindset and finds fingerprints. After consulting with Crawford, they are approached by tabloid journalist Freddy Lounds. Later, Graham seeks insight from former psychiatrist Lecktor in his prison cell about the killer’s motives.

After agreeing to review the case file, Lecktor slyly acquires Graham’s home address while pretending to call his lawyer. Soon after, Graham heads to the first crime scene in Birmingham, Alabama. Crawford reaches out to him and connects him with Lecktor’s warden Frederick Chilton, who has found a note in Lecktor’s belongings. Together, they realize that the note is from the Tooth Fairy and expresses admiration for Lecktor and an interest in Graham. Crawford then brings Graham to Washington, where they carefully analyze a missing section of the note that was removed by Lecktor. Through their investigation, they uncover a plan for communication through the personals section of the National Tattler, which happens to be Lounds’s newspaper.