Hungry for Hannibal

From a book series to the big screen, Hannibal has made a comeback on the small screen.

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“Hannibal” is a suspenseful horror crime drama that will have you craving for more.

I have recently acquired a taste in the saga that has been created from the fictional character known as Hannibal Lecter.

The latest addition to the series is a modern-day reimagining of the first book in the “Hannibal” saga titled “Red Dragon,” written by Thomas Harris.

Hannibal Lecter is a brilliant forensic psychiatrist who has a dark secret, he is a cannibalistic serial killer.

In the television series Dr. Hannibal Lecter, played by Mads Mikkelsen, is counseling Will Graham, Hugh Dancy, an FBI consultant who is helping Agent Jack Crawford, Laurence Fishburne, track down serial killers or murderers in Maryland and neighboring states.

Graham has the unique ability to understand the killers he is helping to capture.

“Interpreting the evidence” is what Graham calls his ability.

At the end of each analysis Graham concludes with the phrase, “This is my design,” referring to how the murderer completed their kill.

Each time Graham enters this state he drifts further away from reality, seeing different hallucinations as his condition worsens.

The most prominent hallucinations are of a Stag covered in feathers and a man colored pitch black with antlers coming from his head known as the wendigo, which looks eerily similar to Dr. Lecter.

The wendigo is significant because it is a mythological creature commonly associated with cannibalism, of which Dr. Lecter is guilty.

Dr. Lecter is charged with counseling Graham and treating him during his time working for the FBI.

What Graham does not know is that instead of helping him, Lecter is pushing him further into the darkness that lives in his mind.

From what I have watched of the first season there are several things that stood out to me.

Visually the show is a feast for the eyes, from the lighting to the decorations and meals that are identified with Hannibal.

The lighting in the show is never very white, the lighting is usually an aqua or yellow color.

The easiest way to describe how the show looks is each episode seems to have been shot on a day with an overcast either in the spring, winter or fall.

This lighting is used subtly but yet it shows a lot of detail, especially in the faces of the actors.

The music in the show sets a matching mood with the lighting, giving the viewer a feeling of dread and mystery throughout each episode.

Some of the sounds used as instruments are hard to place, a sound that is often used during mind-bending portions of the show.

The easiest way to describe the mind-bending portions of the show’s music is a combination of different percussions set in discord.

Each episode introduces a new killer unique in their way of slaying victims.

One that stood out to me was a man who killed people to turn their intestines into violin strings, similar to how cat intestines were once used to make strings.

The show is not meant for everyone, it is very gruesome.

I watch it sparingly because I feel that watching too much at once could be unhealthy both spiritually and mentally.

As an avid television viewer I find it easy to get caught up in the shows we watch and they can become more than just entertainment.

They can challenge our ideals, beliefs and way of thinking.

“Hannibal” is one of those shows that sets new standards in horror and psychological thrillers.

I would consider myself to be what pop culture has started to refer to as a “fannibal,” a fan of “Hannibal.”

The show’s new season will air some time in the late spring of 2015.

You can catch up on the show by watching the first season on Amazon Prime while the second season is on the “Hannibal” website.

So, if you’re famished for a new show to start watching, “Hannibal” will satisfy your hunger. Just be careful not to over-indulge.