Dr Hannibal "The Cannibal" Lecter
An offshoot of the Norman Bates killer would be the Intelligent Psychotic killer and the portrayal of Dr. "Hannibal the Cannibal" Lecter would set a standard not seen since Psycho. In the movies Silence of The Lands and Manhunter, Dr. Lecter portrayed a man of refinement and grace, an artist, a scholar and a most noted genius in his field. Yet we would also see a man of quick wits and predator like prowess.
The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)
Manhunter (1988)
"John Doe"
A similar if not more mysterious killer would be portrayed by Kevin Spacey as John Doe in Seven. John Doe (his real name unknown) himself was also an intelligent man and a deep scholar of religious text and classical literature. His masterful murders were shocking if not ingenious, and yet his trail would ultimately lead to tragedy for his pursuing detective. This recent trend is a great welcome in a field dominated by nameless teen body count killers.
Se7en (1995)
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