Watch Hannibal Rising

Hannibal Rising is a 2007 thriller movie that explores the backstory of one of the most notorious villains in modern cinema history, Hannibal Lecter. Directed by Peter Webber, the movie is based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, who also wrote the famous series of books that spawned the previous films Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal, and Red Dragon.

The movie begins during World War II, where a young Hannibal Lecter (played by Aaron Thomas) lives in Lithuania with his parents and younger sister. The family is caught in a crossfire between the Nazis and the Soviet army, and Hannibal and his sister witness their parents' brutal murder. The trauma deeply affects Hannibal, and after escaping from the Soviets with his sister, they are forced to flee to a Soviet orphanage.

There, Hannibal (now played by Gaspard Ulliel) becomes fixated on avenging his parents and protecting his sister. However, the orphanage's head, Grutas (Rhys Ifans), and his band of criminals soon kidnap and traumatize Hannibal's sister before she is killed. Hannibal, filled with rage and grief, then embarks on a quest for revenge against Grutas and his associates.

Along the way, Hannibal meets the beautiful and enigmatic Lady Murasaki (Gong Li), who takes him in and guides him on his moral descent. Hannibal becomes more and more obsessed and twisted as he begins to take violent revenge on those who have wronged him and his family. Eventually, he becomes the Hannibal Lecter we all know and fear, complete with his sophisticated tastes in cuisine and his ability to manipulate and deceive his enemies.

One of the hallmarks of the movie is the impressive performance by Gaspard Ulliel in the titular role. He manages to convey the terrifying nature of Hannibal Lecter while also adding depth and complexity to the character. Rhys Ifans is also excellent as Grutas, the sadistic war criminal who serves as Hannibal's primary antagonist. Gong Li's portrayal of Lady Murasaki is enigmatic and captivating, adding a touch of romance and intrigue to the dark story.

The movie's visuals are also stunning, with beautiful cinematography that captures the lush landscapes of Lithuania and other European locales. The score by composer Ilan Eshkeri adds to the ambiance, combining a hauntingly beautiful melody with unsettling atmospheric sounds.

Hannibal Rising is not for the faint of heart, as it contains plenty of gory violence and disturbing imagery. However, it's a must-see for fans of the previous movies or the book series, as it explores the backstory of one of fiction's most fascinating and terrifying characters. The movie's exploration of Hannibal's descent into darkness is compelling, and the performances by the cast are top-notch.

Overall, Hannibal Rising is a must-see for anyone who loves chilling thrillers and horror movies. It's not only a great addition to the Hannibal Lecter film series, but it's also a well-made movie in its own right. The movie's exploration of Hannibal's origins is fascinating, and the performances by the cast are sure to leave a lasting impression on viewers.

Hannibal Rising is a 2007 crime movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 1 minute. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 35.