The scariest stories are those that deal with human nature and what happens when that nature gets the best of us. “Red Dragon” (Universal, R), based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Harris, is a story of transformation. Just as a caterpillar can weave itself into a cocoon and emerge a beautiful butterfly, a psychopath can evolve from a long history of abuse into a horrendous killer.

In this film, a prequel to the Academy Award winning “Silence of the Lambs,” the audience is allowed insight to how Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) was arrested for having a too-refined pallet when it comes to cuisine. Revisiting Lecter’s character is refreshing for any fan of “Silence,” especially any fan who was disappointed by its sequel, “Hannibal.”

Although a few of the trademark “Hannibal” characteristics need a pulse check, Hopkins’ portrayal of the infamous character is in top shape.

While the previews for “Red Dragon” marketed on Lecter’s appeal to gain ticket sales, I noticed that viewers stayed glued to their seats by a surprisingly chilling performance from Ralph Fiennes as the original sicko ‘The Tooth Fairy.’

Having been tormented by his grandmother (whose voice was supplied by the fabulous and off-screen Ellen Burstyn), the shy and emasculated Francis Dolarhyde grows up to become an enraged and lonely man whose obsession over William Blake’s painting “Behold The Red Dragon” causes him to begin a ghastly transformation into the creature itself.

Named ‘The Tooth Fairy’ by a tabloid rag called The Tattler, the character uses interchangeable sets of false teeth to bite and torture his victims. Acting as the yin to The Tooth Fairy’s yang, Edward Norton plays retired FBI agent Will Graham, who assists his superior Jack Crawford (Harvey Keitel) in catching the creature before he kills again.

Employing the help of Lecter to learn about the villain he is hunting, agent Graham is faced with having to revisit past demons shared with Lecter and overcome his fear as he grows closer to a new source of evil.

While “Hannibal” failed to revive the dynamic characters that “Silence” introduced, this film is successful in treading lightly on the Hannibal Lecter gimmicks, which could get old fast, and concentrating more on how his character came to be. Knowing that audiences love when movies within a trilogy make tongue-in-cheek references to the movies within it, this one contains one of the best in the final scene.

More disgusting in concept than it is visually, this film does contain a few shockers that should please even the most avid horror movie fan. But while it is bloody in parts, “Red Dragon” is not too gory a movie for the entire family to enjoy together on a quaint Sunday afternoon.

It is a given that no movie featuring these characters will ever top the dynamic chemistry shared between Hopkins and Foster in “Silence,” but as long as Thomas Harris continues to write books about them, why not put it on film? Until the day movie-goers are subjected to something along the lines of “Hannibal Eats Hollywood” or “Dr. Chilton’s Revenge,” any film based on a Harris book really can’t go wrong.