Crowds of people in formal suits and dresses pace around a decorated dining hall. When they are seated, food worthy of a Michelin star is laid before them. The host is far from boring. For he is a renowned psychiatrist and lover of the arts: Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Yet, outside the dinner party, the Chesapeake Ripper has recently claimed five more victims.
NBC's 2013 show, Hannibal, is a masterfully crafted horror-thriller. It actually follows Will Graham, an FBI profiler that has Hannibal assigned as his psychiatrist. The whole show has a very washed-out color palette, enhancing the atmosphere of the show with a constant dreariness. At times, the brightest pops of color will be the blood at crime scenes.
Speaking of blood, don’t watch the show if you can’t handle blood and gore of any intensity. As a psychological horror, the writers didn’t seem to stray from body horror either. For example, one episode depicts a man undergoing surgery while he’s awake. The make-up artists and costume designers deserved the utmost praise for their hard work. At times, I even found myself squirming with discomfort at a particularly gruesome scene.
All of the shots seem very artistic, and crime scenes are laid out like paintings. The story itself is layered in suspense yet tempered with ample tragedy. While some may see plot twists coming, that doesn’t make them any less potent or impactful. I can’t guarantee that you’ll shed tears, but I can predict that your heart will be swayed.
On the subject of character writing, it's only right that we start with the main character. Will is a very interesting main character. He is portrayed very humanely, and his actor, Hugh Dancy, is phenomenal at portraying stress, distress, and mental torment. Obviously, I don’t believe I would ever meet someone like him in real life, but he’s not exactly unrealistic or over the top. He’s distant but not cold, too empathetic for his own good, and socially awkward. Paired with the formal image of Hannibal, he appears much more like a regular person. Characters are memorable and distinct from one another, yet still feel real.
While the story is not for everyone, I push you, dear reader, to at least give it a try. Though you may solve the mystery yourself, the characters within the show are still unaware. Will they realise the killer amongst their ranks before it's too late? Or are they fated for a dinner plate?
