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A review by zsabella
Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
having been a long-time fan of the hannibal television series multiple times, reading red dragon made sense for the completionist in me and it didn’t disappoint. not only was the plot just as fresh and thrilling, but reading hannibal’s advances towards will got me kicking my feet in delight. dr. lecter really was that interested will graham—it’s not even subtext, it’s just text!
and when the source material already comes preloaded with quotes like: “Why shouldn't [killing] feel good? It must feel good to God—He does it all the time, and are we not made in His image?”, it makes perfect sense for a screen adaptation to take all of its darkness and drama and run with it. props to thomas harris for knowing exactly what he was doing writing iconic characters like dr. lecter and francis dolarhyde from the start, all while ensuring the tension and dread leaps off the pages.
and when the source material already comes preloaded with quotes like: “Why shouldn't [killing] feel good? It must feel good to God—He does it all the time, and are we not made in His image?”, it makes perfect sense for a screen adaptation to take all of its darkness and drama and run with it. props to thomas harris for knowing exactly what he was doing writing iconic characters like dr. lecter and francis dolarhyde from the start, all while ensuring the tension and dread leaps off the pages.