Red Dragon

MPAA Rating: R

Entertainment: +3

Content: -3 1/2

When two families are murdered by a serial killer, FBI agent Jack Crawford (Harvey Keitel) seeks the help of retired Special Agent Will Graham (Edward Norton). Graham retired after a near fatal stabbing while capturing forensic psychiatrist and serial cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins). As Graham sifts through the clues, he learns that the new killer admires Dr. Lecters work. So Will must face Hannibal again to get the insane but brilliant psychiatrists help identifying the killer. But Lecter plays by his own rules and Will could get more than he bargains for. Fans of the Hannibal Lecter series and mystery-thrillers will especially enjoy this return to the origins and introduction of the social cannibal.

Clues lead to Francis Dolarhyde (Ralph Fiennes), a co-worker of blind film processor Reba McClane (Emily Watson). Although blind, Reba seems to recognize Francis need to have someone care about him. Its implied that Francis was abused as a child, both physical and verbal, which warped his personality. Dealing with his physical defect, a hairlip, pushed Francis mental state further toward insanity. Dolarhyde has a fixation with a painting by poet/artist William Blake called The Red Dragon. He even has the dragon tattooed on his back. And Francis also hears the dragon telling him to commit murders. Blood and gore flow freely, especially in photos of the crime scenes. While the dialogue is peppered with objectionable words, images of violence and bloody wounds overshadow the language. Although one scene implies a sexual encounter between Francis and Reba, no sex acts are shown. However, some breast nudity is seen in photos of victims and brief full nudity of Francis as he runs naked through his house add further damage to acceptability.

Preview Reviewer: Paul Bicking
Distributor: Universal Pictures, 100 Universal Plaza, Universal City, CA 91608

Summary
The following categories contain objective listings of film content which contribute to the subjective numeric Content ratings posted to the left and on the Home page.

Crude Language: Many (15) times Mild 8, moderate 7

Obscene Language: Many (11) times F-word 3, s-word 4, other 4

Profanity: Many (13) times - Regular 5 (GD 2, J 2, C); exclamatory 8 (OMG, OG)

Violence: Many times Moderate and severe (Graphic stabbings, bloody walls/ beds/ floor, bloody wounds seen in photos, man glued to chair, biting implied by bloody mouth, body in flames, man puts gun in mouth, hits on head, gunshot hole in head, pour and light gasoline in house, shotgun threat, blood spatter on woman, house explodes, child threatened with broken glass, shootings, blood flow from gunshot to head)

Sex: Few times - Implied (unmarried couple man in bed/ woman in robe, unconventional act implied once)

Nudity: Several times (Brief female breast in photos of victims, rear male few times, brief male full frontal); Near nudity Few times (bikinis, low cut blouse)

Sexual Dialogue/Gesture: Few times (Comment compares inexperienced man fumbling with womans undergarment, comments about sexual crimes, hand moves up womans leg, blind woman feels sedated tigers crotch, man looks at womans breasts, woman puts hand on mans crotch/ head moves toward lap)

Drugs: Few times Alcohol (beer/ liquor), cigarettes

Other: References to cannibalism/ serial killings/ painting called Red Dragon by poet/artist William Blake, man tattooed w/ dragon on back, implied verbal/physical abuse of child for problems, man has hairlip scar, man eats painting, man implies hear voice in head, comment about God killing people

Running Time: 124 minutes
Intended Audience: Adults

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