Mads Mikkelsen’s First Cannibal Role (Before Hannibal)

A decade before Mads Mikkelsen starred as the cannibal Dr. Lecter in Hannibal, he portrayed a serial killer butcher who sells human meat in The Green Butchers. Both productions are thematically similar, however the Danish actor’s characters are significantly different in terms of personality. Incidentally, The Green Butchers remains a unique gem in Mikkelsen’s resume.

The character Hannibal Lecter was created by author Thomas Harris and was first introduced in the 1981 novel Red Dragon. Ten years later, Anthony Hopkins won an Academy Award for his interpretation of the cannibal in The Silence of the Lambs. From 2013 to 2015, Mikkelsen enhanced the villain’s pop culture legacy further with his stoic and chilling performance in Hannibal, opposite Hugh Dancy as Will Graham.

Written and directed by Danish filmmaker Anders Thomas Jensen, The Green Butchers stars Mikkelsen as a business owner named Svend who runs a meat shop with friend Bjarne (Nikolaj Lie Kaas). When an electrician accidentally dies in a meet freezer, Svend prepares the deceased man’s leg and sells the meat to an unassuming gentleman. Shortly after, the “chicky-wickies” become incredibly popular, which prompts Svend to murder locals to keep the business alive. Whereas Hannibal’s Dr. Lecter is cultured and creepily suave, Green Butchers’ Svend has a noticeably high hairline and acknowledges his unnerving demeanor. “I’m very aware that I’m not a charming person,” he tells his charismatic colleague, Bjarne; a moment that implies his desperation can be resolved by offering a quality product. If Dr. Lecter is arrogant and calculating, Svend is calculating and emotionally insecure, the result of a childhood tragedy and growing up without loving parents.

The Green Butchers’ Svend further differs from Hannibal’s Dr. Lecter because he’s not technically a cannibal. He is a killer, one who prepares his victims’ flesh in a special marinade, but Mikkelsen’s character doesn’t actually consume his chicky-wickies. Instead, Svend is mostly invested in protecting his secret from the community and customers, who seem to enjoy the taste of the marinade more than the meat. Svend isn’t necessarily a born killer, but rather someone whose circumstances make him feel detached from society.

According to the HBO documentary Crazy, Not Insane, Svend’s serial killer motivations could indeed be linked to his childhood trauma. While it’s unclear if he was physically abused, what’s certain is his parents’ tragic deaths led to unresolved psychological issues. When Svend kills for the first time, he immediately recognizes the benefits for his business and thus continues with his murder spree – an egocentric act. In that sense, Svend is very much like Dr. Lecter in Hannibal. Plus, both men appreciate the art of preparing a good meal. The difference, however, is that Svend’s humanity emerges through various conversations, which suggests his behavior results from a failure to maintain meaningful relationships, rather than an uncontrollable urge to kill.

About The Author

Q.V. Hough
(1892 Articles Published)

Q.V. Hough is a senior writer at Screen Rant. He’s also the founding editor at Vague Visages, and has contributed to RogerEbert.com and Fandor.

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