Hannibal Rising, a prequel to The Silence of the Lambs, lacks everything that made the original film a horror classic -- including style, drama, suspense, humor, clever writing, direction and performances.

In this latest movie about the infamous Hannibal Lecter, we first encounter him as a child in 1944 Lithuania near the conclusion of World War II. He’s forced to  fend for himself and his 2-year-old sister Mischa (Helena Lia Tachovska) in a cabin in the woods after their parents have been killed right before their eyes. When a desperate militia seizes control of the cabin, it becomes clear the group won’t be leaving soon. Realizing they are unable to get enough rations to last through the winter, their leader Vladis Grutas (Rhys Ifans) begins to eye Mischa.

Later, a teenage Hannibal (Gaspard Ulliel) runs away from the orphanage where he’s been living and travels to Paris in search of his uncle. He discovers his relative has died -- but finds comfort from his late uncle’s wife, Lady Murasaki (Gong Li). In fact, Hannibal murders his first victim, a butcher named Paul Momund (Charles Maquignon), because the man makes a vulgar and racist crack aimed at Lady Murasaki in an open-air marketplace.

When Hannibal enters medical school, he’s given access to cadavers, brain matter, and body tissues for the first time -- and he discovers new ways to kill potential victims. This experience inspires him to seek  vengeance on certain individuals from his past by making them pay the ultimate price.

The main problem in Hannibal Rising involves Ulliel’s (A Very Long Engagement ) performance in the leading role. This young French actor seems horribly miscast and unconvincing as the future cannibal and serial killer. Prior to being cast as Lecter, Ulliel expressed trepidation about trying out for the part because the character is so well known and identified with Anthony Hopkins. His fears were well founded, for despite the  grisly nature of the screenplay written by Thomas Harris (who adapts his own novel), Ulliel’s Hannibal Lecter comes across as soft and not in the least bit menacing.

Director Peter Webber (Girl with a Pearl Earring), best known for his directorial work in television, doesn’t appear up to the task of taking over the reins of the successful Hannibal Lecter film franchise from Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs ), Ridley Scott (Hannibal ) and Brett Ratner (Red Dragon). Webber’s direction of Hannibal Rising is clumsy and far too cautious. He overuses gruesome flashbacks to help establish what ultimately leads to Hannibal becoming a cannibalistic serial killer. Perhaps involving an experienced director and an accomplished actor would have resulted in Hannibal Rising being a more chilling and cleverly executed film.

(Released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and rated "R" for strong grisly violent content and some language/sexual references.)