Five years before “Silence of the Lambs” made Hannibal Lecter a household name, director Michael Mann released this stylized neo-noir classic, the first movie to feature the iconic villain.

Based on the book “Red Dragon” by Thomas Harris, the movie stars William Petersen of “CSI” fame and Brian Cox as Hannibal Lecktor. Though it did not receive the respect it deserved upon release—perhaps because it was ahead of its time—the movie has since attained cult status. Interestingly, “Red Dragon,” a movie released in 2002 where Sir Anthony Hopkins reprised his role as the cannibalistic Lecter, was also based on the novel “Red Dragon.”

The plot of “Manhunter” is set in 1980, when Agent-In-Charge Jack Crawford (Dennis Farina) meets Will Graham (William Petersen), a retired FBI criminal profiler, on the shore of a Florida beach. Jack is persuading Will to return from retirement and take on the investigation of a series of murders committed by a maniacal killer known as the Tooth Fairy.

Graham, who lives with his wife Molly (Kim Greist) and young son, helped apprehend the diabolical Hannibal Lecktor, a psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer. The undertaking caused Will a mental breakdown, leading to his resignation from the FBI and a promise to his wife not to return to his job.

Crawford insists that Graham will only review the evidence and will not be actively working on the case, thus not risking danger. Despite Molly’s protests, Graham accepts the case. After conducting a forensic investigation of a crime scene in Atlanta, the site of the latest murder by the Tooth Fairy, Graham meets with Lecktor to gain insights on the case from the criminal genius. Brian Cox, who plays Lecktor in this movie, brings his own unique flavor to the character. Less theatrical than Anthony Hopkins’ portrayal, Cox looks more diabolical, his face suggesting a thousand secrets.

For those who have seen “Red Dragon,” the interaction between Hannibal and Graham in “Manhunter” will be reminiscent of those between the same two characters, also played by two talented thespians in the newer movie.

Frederick Chilton (Stephen Lang), a persistent but unscrupulous journalist, captures photos of Graham meeting with Hannibal and publishes them in the local newspaper. When the Tooth Fairy, who idolizes Hannibal, catches wind of this news, he takes an interest in Graham, placing the latter and his family in great danger. To make matters worse, Lecktor manages to clue the Tooth Fairy in on the location of Graham’s residence in Florida.

Graham is now in a race against time to catch the Tooth Fairy and has to make an unholy alliance with Chilton to set a trap for the killer. Many critics, including yours truly, prefer “Manhunter” to “Red Dragon.” William Petersen’s portrayal of Graham is far more convincing than Edward Norton’s; Petersen’s serious focus and dedication are tailor-made for the role.

While Anthony Hopkins’ brilliant dialogue delivery stands out as the most popular Lecter, Brian Cox’s performance cannot be understated. The cinematography is slick, packing many intense noir scenes in the dark. Many critics believe that the stylized cinematography in this film was ahead of its time.

Though the movie did not perform well at the box office, there was a silver lining. William Petersen, who plays Graham, was fascinated by forensic science while playing his role. This motivation led him to play another forensic expert, Gil Grissom, in the phenomenal TV series “CSI.” The success of this series, which ran for 15 seasons from 2000 to 2015, established its franchise, launched numerous spinoffs, and won numerous awards for itself and Petersen.

All in all, Mann’s direction and the performances of the entire cast deserve kudos. This almost-forgotten movie is a hidden gem and a must-see for all film noir fans, even those who have seen “Red Dragon.”