David Grove of "Film Threat", who gave the film four stars out of five, said: "Is "Red Dragon" a better film than "Manhunter"? I don't know. I think it stands on its own, but I wonder how much people who are intimately familiar with "Manhunter" will be shocked by it, although the ending is altogether different and much more realized, I think". Rick Kisonak, who also wrote for "Film Threat", also gave the film a positive review, but he gave it three stars out of five, saying: "The only downside to this delectable third course? The regrettable likelihood that Lecter fans will have to make do without dessert."