The films adapted from Thomas Harris’ novels about Hannibal Lecter have a very strange continuity. The first film produced was Michael Mann’s thriller Manhunter, which is an adaptation of the first novel in Harris’ series, Red Dragon. Although The Silence of the Lambs was an adaptation of another one of Harris’ books, it was not a sequel to Manhunter, as it replaced Brian Cox with Anthony Hopkins as Lecter. The popularity of The Silence of the Lambs, which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, inspired both the sequel Hannibal and another version of Red Dragon that was set in the new continuity. Although it’s not nearly as terrifying and well-executed as Manhunter, Red Dragon features some incredible performances, including Ralph Fiennes as the serial killer Francis Dolarhyde, also known as “The Tooth Fairy.”
Although Fiennes had given one of the all-time greatest depictions of evil with his Oscar-nominated performance in Schindler’s List, the fact that he had joined the cast of a horror franchise was a huge deal. Given that Fiennes had not yet taken part in blockbusters like Clash of the Titans, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, or 28 Years Later, it was unusual to see an actor best known for period dramas taking part in genre fare. The weight of expectations was quite high for him, as Tom Noonan’s portrayal of “The Tooth Fairy” in Manhunter was iconic in its own right. However, Fiennes crafted a realistic, sadistic, and surprisingly tragic portrayal of a killer who managed to be the scariest character in a film that also featured Lecter.
What Is ‘Red Dragon’ About?
Red Dragon establishes that FBI Agent Will Graham (Edward Norton) has been recovering from his arrest of Lecter, and has been asked to return to the agency by his friend and mentor, Jack Crawford (Harvey Keitel). Although Graham had been determined to remain with his family in their retreat in Florida, Crawford has found it impossible to collect evidence on Dolarhyde, who murdered two separate families during full moons. With another full moon approaching, Graham is sent to track down Dolarhyde, who has committed his atrocious murders as he’s controlled by an alternate personality that he refers to as the “Red Dragon.” After Graham discovers that Lecter has secretly been trying to connect with Dolarhyde, he begins a committed investigation in order to locate where “The Tooth Fairy” is before he strikes again.
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Red Dragon builds suspense surrounding Fiennes’ characterization of Dolarhyde, as he is obscured from view during many of his opening scenes. Although the viewer is already aware of the atrocities that he has committed, it can be discomforting to remember them upon seeing the tormented, awkward version of Dolarhyde that Fiennes brought to life. It was important for Red Dragon to note the differences between Lecter and Dolarhyde, and Fiennes successfully gives a performance that couldn’t be more distinct than Hopkins’ Oscar-winning role. While Lecter is a respected professor and very eloquent, Dolarhyde has primal instincts, and often appears to have the emotional capacity of a child. This makes it even more haunting when the two characters interact, as it’s easy to see how Lecter’s manipulative words could plant dangerous ideas in Dolarhyde’s head. In one of the film’s most unsettling scenes, Lecter admits to Graham that he cannot totally comprehend Dolarhyde’s motivations, which only heightens the tension.
Fiennes makes an interesting choice to depict Dolarhyde as a downtrodden, wounded character whose fragile ego makes him susceptible to suggestion. Although initially it appears that Graham might be able to take advantage of his sensitivities, the plan backfires after Dolarhyde ruthlessly captures and tortures Freddy Lounds (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a sketchy reporter who had slandered him. It’s made evident that Dolarhyde isn’t only preying upon his victims for sadistic pleasure, but to prove some larger point that will heal his wounded ego. During the captured scene, Dolarhyde forces Lounds to take back his statements, all before killing him in graphic detail. Although Hoffman does a great job at turning Lounds into a despicable character, it’s hard to not feel at least somewhat sympathetic for him after the pure terror he faces when confronted by Dolarhyde.
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“The Tooth Fairy” Is a Terrifying, Complex Villain
Fiennes brings a surprising amount of nuance to his portrayal of Dolarhyde, as he captures the struggle that he faces when caught between different personalities, each of which urges him to do different things. Although the film provides some background on his traumatic childhood that explains some of his deepest fears, Fiennes does an excellent job at showing why Dolarhyde may be sensitive to some triggers, specifically when Graham tries to demean him when his family is in danger. There’s a great deal of conflict within Dolarhyde, which Fiennes expresses in a great physical performance that relies heavily on body language. Although Dolarhyde has to act erratically in order to keep the narrative progressing, Fiennes is so specific in finding the emotional truth of the character that the twists and turns never feel inconsistent.
Fiennes took a risk in making Dolarhyde slightly sympathetic, such as in his scenes with the blind woman Reba McClane (Emily Watson). This is one of the more distinct differences from Manhunter, as Noonan gave a performance that was nearly devoid of humanity. Given that he perceives Reba to also be a victim who has been cast aside because of her abnormalities, Dolarhyde begins to feel protective of her, and even takes part in some of his maternal fantasies. This is made even more complex when Dolarhyde is ultimately unable to kill Reba; while it does not in any way negate the danger he presents to Graham, it does prove that he is a real character, and not just a faceless villain.
Fiennes is the best part of Red Dragon, a film that has not aged particularly well when taking into consideration its failings in comparison to Manhunter, as well as the allegations against director Brett Ratner. Nonetheless, Fiennes dug into the original source material to create a dynamic villain, and managed to outperform a cast filled with some of the greatest modern actors, including Norton, Hoffman, and Keitel. While a younger generation will always remember him as Voldemort, Fiennes has never been scarier than he was in Red Dragon.
