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Questions about Graham's Detective Skills/Dollarhyde's Plan

posted 10 years ago by pacersoldaway
2 replies | jump to latest

We already know that Dollarhyde had the next family picked out for the upcoming full moon but he does not go after them because he gets laid the night before, altering his state of mind.

After he has sex, we can see that his personality quickly changes (the morning scene), but it could be due to the fact the he believes, as implied by Lecktor and understood by Graham, that he now has become a person who is wanted, desired and accepted because of his killings, use of mirrors, etc. Or it could simply be that he merely needed others' to desire him and soon as he does become desired (or so he thinks), he feels satisfied and thus has no need to kill again.

I'd go with the latter based on what we see the next morning.

So here's the part that I don't understand.

In the revelation scene (Graham: "you've seen these films, haven't you, my man?), one of my favorite scenes, Graham figures out where Dollarhyde works.

Now, why would Graham go to Dollarhyde's home given that it was so close to the full moon? In other words, wouldn't Graham's best bet be, GIVEN THE INFORMATION HE HAS, at catching Dollarhyde, to call where Dollarhyde works and request for information on the latest family film requested by Dollarhyde?

Don't give me some *beep* that it was at night and the office was closed. If FBI requested it, the local police could go in and figure out the rest without Crawford and Graham having to fly over there.

I am emphasizing GIVEN THE INFORMATION HE HAS because since it is so close to the full moon, Dollarhyde would most likely be already at the next family's house, killing them. Yes, of course it is important to search Dollarhyde's place for clues/evidence, however, that could've been done later as Graham and Crawford should be assuming that DOllarhyde is at the next victim's house not at his own.

So, my two questions are:

1) Does Dollarhyde decide to stop killing people because he feels desired as a result of his actions? (Obviously when he misinterprets the hug as a kiss he goes back to his old self, but prior to that, he starts acting differently -- awkwardly nice). Or does he just want to be with the girl so bad that he forgets about his plan to murder the next family?

2) Shouldn't Graham and Crawford's next move be figuring out who the next family is without traveling to Dollarhyde's town (based on the film he requested -- we already know he has it in his home because he shows it to Lounds and watches it when the girl is over at his house also) and then hustle to make it to THE FAMILY'S HOME before full moon?

[–] Edward_de_Vere 10 years ago

1) Does Dollarhyde decide to stop killing people because he feels desired as a result of his actions? (Obviously when he misinterprets the hug as a kiss he goes back to his old self, but prior to that, he starts acting differently -- awkwardly nice). Or does he just want to be with the girl so bad that he forgets about his plan to murder the next family?

Dollarhyde is presented as a man with a Jekyll and Hyde persona. There's clearly a part of him that desperately wants an emotionally normal life and who wants to stop killing, so my guess is that Dollarhyde did not intend to murder the next family after his tryst with Reba. Since he stays closet to home (initially hoping to be with her) during the night of the full moon, the next target family probably wasn't on the agenda. When the "Red Dragon" persona took over, of course, he was back to his murderous, psychopathic state, but the only available victim then is Reba, not the family from the home movies.

2) Shouldn't Graham and Crawford's next move be figuring out who the next family is without traveling to Dollarhyde's town (based on the film he requested -- we already know he has it in his home because he shows it to Lounds and watches it when the girl is over at his house also) and then hustle to make it to THE FAMILY'S HOME before full moon?

I was wondering the same thing, but how would they have known which family was next on Dollarhyde's list? They would have to contact every single family whose home videos were in the photo lab's (or at least his section's) possession, since they didn't link the home videos to either of the families until after the murders took place.

[–] AnneOnymous 10 years ago

1) Does Dollarhyde decide to stop killing people because he feels desired as a result of his actions? (Obviously when he misinterprets the hug as a kiss he goes back to his old self, but prior to that, he starts acting differently -- awkwardly nice). Or does he just want to be with the girl so bad that he forgets about his plan to murder the next family?

It's a while since I read the book, but I think what vaguely happens is:
- the 'Red Dragon' voice in Francis' head is really angry that Dollarhyde gets together with Reba, as he is straying from his path. I think the voice tells him it's never going to work out, and he should kill her/leave her and get on with the other killing, so 'new' Francis is in constant battle with the Dragon part of his persona (I think it is an outside force, like some kind of god). Dollarhyde tries to kill the Dragon by eating the Blake painting of the Red Dragon and the woman clothed with the sunhttp://uploads2.wikiart.org/images/william-blake/the-red-dragon-and-th e-woman-clothed-with-the-sun-1805.jpg - it's in the remake (not great).
- When Dollarhyde sees the 'kiss,' the Dragon takes over again, saying 'I told you so,' and demands Reba as an alternative victim.

But basically, in answer to your question, yes, I think Dollarhyde discovers the joy of a genuine relationship in which he is desired for who he is for the very first time. He realizes he doesn't need to follow the Red Dragon's orders.

2) Shouldn't Graham and Crawford's next move be figuring out who the next family is without traveling to Dollarhyde's town (based on the film he requested -- we already know he has it in his home because he shows it to Lounds and watches it when the girl is over at his house also) and then hustle to make it to THE FAMILY'S HOME before full moon?

This is a really good point. What I could say to explain their actions is that when they're going through the listed employees at the lab, Reba's name comes up. Will, with his serial killer telepathy/mindset going on, maybe gets a hunch about her being a potential victim and decides going to his house might be a good bet. The fact that her being blind is also revealed in the profile could support this - she is the perfect victim as she wouldn't be able to judge him. Also, it's more likely that Dollarhyde would have the VHS in his home, so they could identify the next victim more easily, perhaps?