REVIEW: ‘Manhunt’ Makes The Annals Of History Piercingly Modern

If one statement holds true in the age of streaming, it’s that audiences crave a good murder plot. Particularly if it involves the killing of someone important, like the leader of the “free” world. Creator Monica Beletsky’s Manhunt (2024) offers exactly that and then some, transforming the annals of history into something piercingly modern.

While the limited series embodies its title, capturing the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the subsequent search for his assailant, it also renders it a misnomer. Manhunt (2024) is as much about the heated pursuit of John Wilkes Booth as it is about the pitfalls of the American experiment. It reckons with the bigoted schisms and inherent hypocrisies that are embedded in the Nation’s ever-shifting idea of democracy. Its most intriguing sequences poke holes in the ideas of even the most honour-bound. The result is a series that’s especially timely for an America that constantly feels at war with itself.

The series, adapted from James L. Swanson’s similarly titled book, explores the minutes, months, and years leading up to and after the assassination of President Lincoln (Hamish Linklater). While the motivations and machinations of John Wilkes Booth (Anthony Boyle) are certainly the draw, we find our protagonist in Secretary of War Edwin Stanton (Tobias Menzies). He heads the titular chase, all while navigating the perils of American Reconstruction.

These latter moments make up the meatiest, most thought-provoking parts of Manhunt (2024). In addition to being a historical thriller, it’s also an assured historical account. The series takes its time to deftly examine the various misgivings, miscalculations, and concessions that shaped the nation after the Civil War. In doing so, Manhunt (2024) impactfully comments on the road America still must travel to curb bigotry and inequity within its largest systems. Much of the series’ drama rings true today, interrogating the struggle for agency many Americans still face. By not shying away from these conversations, Manhunt (2024) lends a distinct, sharply modern edge to a timeless, much-pondered moment in history.

Each riveting debate and conversation reverberates with a painful irony. The effect resonates in moments where the venerable Stanton declares America as a nation that replaces “presidents with elections, not with coups.” It seems some things never change, and Manhunt’s (2024) layered dissection continually prompts us to question whether we have truly moved on from that fateful night.

Even as the series zips away to focus on Booth’s arduous trek from Washington D.C. to Richmond, Virginia, Manhunt (2024) never loses its biting thematic sensibilities. Booth is often aided by the very African Americans he believes are beneath him. It’s a choice that tactfully critiques the hypocrisy of his cause and the selfish motives that underpin his decisions

Beyond these discussions, at its core, Manhunt (2024) is a riveting procedural. The central chase abounds with catharsis and pathos, much of it the outcome of rich character work and detailed production design. Manhunt (2024) luxuriates in its 1860s setting. It’s bustling with beauty and grit while pulsating with grandeur and intimacy. The show marries these dichotomies with impeccable pacing and seamless transitions.

Across seven hour-long episodes, Manhunt (2024) funnels us through unforgiving woodlands and equally stifling office chambers. The show finds a powerful throughline between Booth’s bigoted violence and the cunning statecraft that empowered him. From secret Confederate cells in Montreal to looming pardons for high-ranking rebels, Beletsky’s series skilfully digs into the seedy underbelly of American insurgency.

Manhunt’s (2024) impressive ensemble is its strongest card. The infamous Booth has never seen such texture, with lyrical performance pulling the curtain back on a much-lampooned figure. He vibrantly captures a man propelled by an outsized ego. It often lends him an aura that is both endearing and detestable, but always human. Boyle especially nails his inherent theatricality, imbuing Booth’s background as a famous stage actor with a sinister edge. This is captured best in a sequence where he recites Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven.” It’s a nuanced turn that vibrantly taps into the tragedy of misguided ambition.

Menzies’ asthmatic Stanton is also never made a monolith. He lends layers to an honorable man who makes devious, deeply questionable choices in his pursuit of justice. Linklater’s earnest turn as “Honest Abe” is sure to draw comparisons to Daniel Day-Lewis. Yet, he adds his own subtle flavours of tenderness that stirringly capture the President’s conflicted spirit. Linklater’s performance truly shines in the flashbacks that shed light on the herculean task of healing an intrinsically divided nation. The slightly miscast Patton Oswalt is also a hoot as Lafayette Baker, a determined and resourceful Union Army investigator.

At times, Manhunt (2024) can be a little too overt for its own good. Characters spell out the themes and moral conflicts verbatim. Nonetheless, it’s a fascinating and rewarding account of a seminal moment in American History. Come for the murder plot, stay for a prescient look at America’s frayed heart.

Manhunt (2024) premieres on Apple TV+ on March 15^th