Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

Rating:
Summary: Interesting psychopath movie
Review: "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" is, not only because of its realism or its interesting main character, a very good movie.

With this movie, I discovered an actor that never really attracted me, maybe because of SOME of his more recent projects: Michael Rooker. I know, he played in "Replicant" with Jean-Claude Van Damme, but except for that, I was pretty impressed by his filmography. Mr.Rooker is far away from being a bad actor, really. And this film, along with other productions, proves it. It was his first film, and definitely a great role to start. Many actors started their path through glory with a bad guy role. But Henry is more than a simple bad guy...

The film, in 1986, had brought a strong wave of controversy. I have to admit that it's pretty violent (not SO much, but I can understand why it was censored in the 80's). I saw a 81 minute version, which is not the whole runtime, and sometimes it was obvious that some murders had been cut. But too bad, it's true to say that the sadism and brutality of the violence brings something really intense and somehow disgusting in the film, but even with the 81 minutes version I felt its effect completely. (SPOILERS) Many murders are atrocious to see because of the graphic aspect, others are gratuitous, and others are disgustingly brutal. The graphic aspect makes it a sometimes pretty gory film, like the guy that gets his head smashed with a TV, or the guy that is stabbed in the eye and then gets his head cut off. These murders bring a sense of strong disgust to the viewer. The gratuitous murders, like when Henry gives a gun to Otis and tells him to kill anyone to see how it feels to kill someone, are probably the ones that show how sick Henry (and Otis) are. The brutal ones, without pretending that they are not ALL brutal, are the worse to watch. If you've seen Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange", you'll understand. There is a very disturbing rape scene in "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer". But it's not only the rape that is SO disturbing, it's also the fact that they are filming everything, and Otis just can't stop watching it later. Those who found "Deliverance"'s rape scene shocking, don't see this, really, because "Deliverance"'s scene was very soft and had NOTHING brutal compared to "Henry"'s.

But, the most important point, the realism. The setting is very common. Henry, Otis and his sister live in a very small house, have very normal jobs, are not wearing some Versace clothes, and are simply looking like anybody you could meet on the street. There's a scene where Henry cleans the floor with a broom, you know, all these things you have to do in every day life, but that are never shown in movies. Movies usually show the extremes: either very rich people or poor people. But the middle-class environment is so well delivered. But we still have to understand that this is a low budget film, so even if they had wanted to make a richer environment, I doubt they could have done so. But believe me, it's a very good element of the film. The characters are also very affected (in a good way) by a near setting. The way the speak, their accent, vocabular, their jobs, their clothes, everything.

It appears that the character of Henry is an interpretation of the not THAT renowned killer Henry Lee Lucas. It's an interesting concept to make a movie about a killer that is not known as THE MOST DANGEROUS killer off all times. They could have made a movie about Charles Manson's life, but they decided to make it on someone a little less known's life. And that's good. It's like the film "Sweet and Lowdown", with Sean Penn, who plays the SECOND best guitarist of all times. It's good to see that they give second places a chance.

The characters are not so important, except for Otis and of course, Henry. Henry plays some kind of teacher (in mass murdering) to Otis, but he has more personality than that. He's a man full of contradictions, a man that has a very hard choice to make in the end of the movie, a man that has is full of nuances, but that still consists into a very dangerous serial killer. We have many hints of his past life, and it somehow justifies all of his horrible acts. Otis is different. He discovers a passion in murder and rape, but doesn't control himself, "exaggerates" too much. And Henry is aware of that. The character of Otis becomes slowly something totally different than what it was before. At first, he's a pretty normal man, with a minor violent behavior, but discovers suddenly a way to express his rage. To me, Otis seemed like a stupid junkie while Henry seemed like an experimented and cautious addict of killing people. Otis' sister, Becky,is important, but not for her evolution. She falls in love with Henry, who simply doesn't know how to react to somebody's feelings. Becky doesn't have a very important role, but her character becomes useful for one thing, and only one: love. And that's the point where Henry will be full of contradictions. And that's the most important thing, because it tops Henry's deranged mind. Henry is a nice character to analyze.

But, even with all that said, you'll never know how brilliant the ending is if you don't see it. So, overall, the urban yet middle-class setting makes this film very realistic, the complex characters make it twisted, the brutality makes it shocking and intense, and the music, directing and atmosphere are a huge contribution to this movie, that is, for sure, not the most interesting to watch, because you somehow stay pretty distant to the characters and atmosphere, but the whole thing has lots of qualities. Pretty enjoyable, and terrifying enough. "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" is a great movie. It's a different approach to a serial killer's life, way more original than movies such as "Strangeland", "Resurrection", and other thrillers that are not bad, but do not focus enough on the killer's mind...and in "Henry", they did not make that mistake.

I give it 7/10, but it's really close to an 8.

And, by the way, I just couldn't believe they made a sequel to this film. Really, this fact deceived me (though I haven't seen the second film), because the ending of the first one was perfect, and a sequel simply ruins all of its meaning.

Rating:
Summary: Good, but I'll never watch it again.
Review: "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" is based on the life of Henry Lee Lucas, who got his jollies by committing gratuitous acts of murder in a variety of forms. It's a brutal piece of filmmaking, an in-your-face horror film that possesses little story but really does not need one. This is not a movie about solving a mystery or finding a killer's identity; it's about murder, and little else.

What makes a film such as this scary is the fact that Henry is not a killer in a hockey mask, or someone who comes back only on a certain night each year to claim a victim here or there. He kills as he pleases, something he does to relieve his tensions and stresses. No money? Go kill a man and take his Visa card. It's this kind of blunt attitude that permeates the entire picture.

He lives with his friend Otis, whose sister has come to live with them until she gets on her feet. As Otis's sister becomes strangely drawn to Henry, Otis also begins to uncover the sensation one gets when killing someone, and begins going on drives with Henry to exercise that sensation.

There's little else to discuss in terms of plot; the movie is not concerned with developing the story. Director John McNaughton throws out any and all horror clichés and creates a film that is strikingly original yet extremely controversial. Some have hailed it as a masterpiece, while others have slammed it for its excessive use of violence and brutality.

I find the film to be very interesting. Watching Henry driving his car, walking the street at night, makes me think just how many people with similar skeletons in the closet do those same things each day. It makes you think about just what kind of people could be living right next door to you, or standing behind you in the grocery store. It's very chilling and unique.

But I'll never watch it again. For all its brilliance, "Henry" is too disturbing, too gruesome, too realistic in its acts for me to stomach another viewing. These scenes do have a purpose, yes, but once seen, they are hard to strike from the mind. A scene involving the murder of a family is haunting and almost unbearable, while the climax involving Henry and Otis is excessively violent.

So what is my final consensus on the film? A positive one. "Henry" is about a simple man who commits complex crimes, someone who is no different in his appearance than anyone we know in real life. The horror is more shocking than it is frightening, and while the substance is minute, the brutality is not. "Henry" will be remembered by all who see, even those who choose not to recall its events.

Rating:
Summary: Henry is worthwhile
Review: "Henry: Portriat of a Serial Killer" is one of the most controversial films of all-time. This film deals with Henry (played with such calibur by Michael Rooker) who goes on a pointless killing spree (him and his partner in crime Otis). The brutal murders are shown in explicit detail. Not for the squemish or the weak hearted. Also starring: Tracy Arnold & Tom Towles. Not Rated (originally Rated X) Contains: graphic violence, gore, nudity, rape/incest, suggested sex, drug use and profanity. Directed by: John McNaughton.

Rating:
Summary: ONE OF THE BEST OF ITS KIND
Review: ... What I find most horrifying in movies is human sadness, tragedy. In other words, the depiction of characters we can identify with being forced to suffer at the hands of characters who feel no remorse for their actions. What's even more horrifying is when the viewer can actually care for or identify with the culprits. That's the kind of movie "Henry" is. What's really scary about this movie is that it dwells more deeply inside the psychology of a killer than any movie I've ever seen, and that once you get to know him...he's really not such a bad guy. This is somebody you might be seeing every day in a gas station or restaurant, wishing him a good day, and having him respond in kind. And then you part ways and go on with your lives. You know what you're going to do, but he could be going to do the things Henry does in this film. That's what's horrifying about this. The character of Otis is much more obviously demented, actually, than Henry : He just simply is one that would be rejected by society automatically. But Henry actually has good qualities. He seems human. Everybody in this movie seems human. And by the end of the film you get the sense that there is no human life Henry is capable of valuing enough for it to break through the sickness in his soul. It's painful, it's depressing, it's gut-wrenching, and it's very disturbing. It's like watching a real-life documentary of the type of person we hear about on the news constantly. I would put this on a list with my favorite horror movies. The list would also include "The Exorcist," "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre," "Last House on the Left," "The Blair Witch Project," and "Halloween." Like those movies and other favorites, what makes "Henry" so effective is that it's set in such a realistic setting. That's what makes the horror so, well, horrifying. It's damn good filmmaking. Interestingly, I know people who saw this film and weren't scared by it at all, or disturbed. I could never understand why, but I know people who had the same reaction to the other films I just mentioned. One time I insisted some friends of mine see this, telling them how horrifying it was, and they weren't impressed at all. One of them even said it wasn't as scary as Freddy Krueger. Interesting. Then another, who was more knowledgeable about the art of film, said something to the effect of : it could be the times we live in. I think he was onto something. More appropriately, some people expect spectacle from a horror movie. When they don't get it, they feel they were cheated, which is why "Blair Witch" had so many detractors. Most people I know who saw this movie told me it really got to them. Like "Chainsaw Massacre" and "Last House," it's a little too real for many people's good. And like those, I had to prepare myself to watch it. You should too. And know that it could upset you greatly.

Rating:
Summary: CULT MOVIES 28
Review: 28. HENRY: portrait of a serial killer (horror-thriller, 1992) Henry (Michael Rooker) lives with his ex-prison buddy Otis whose sister Becky moves in with them. Despite his shy nature Henry and Becky are attracted to each other. One night Otis and Henry go out with 2 prostitutes. In a fit of rage Henry kills one of them and with Otis' help kills the other. At first having second thoughts Otis gets a taste for killing and they set out on a murder spree. Otis first shoots down a passing motorist. They then break into a house and slaughter a whole family (dog and all). They record everything on tape. Otis begins to lose control as his perverse sexual urges lead him to rape his own sister. When Henry finds out things take a turn for the worst.

Critique: This graphic, low-budget venture was made in 1986 but due to the material was released 6 years later. The story is based on the confessions of serial killer Henry Lukas (who allegedly confessed to more than 500 murders). Since the plot eschews from any reference of real events the theme is poorly presented. Writer-director John McNaughton concentrates more on the nature of killing and the people that commit them. The only sure thing we know as being Henry's murderous excuse was that his prostitute mother beat him up, and sometimes forced him to watch her have sex with clients. Besides that the scary thing is that we don't really get to understand his (or anyone else's) motives for killing. As is the case with most low-budget films the use of grainy stock footage and cheap props prove very realistic. McNaughton shows flair by the use of hand-held cameras (particularly in the disturbing 'family slaughter') and good use of cinematography (invoking a visionary paranoia and suspense). The ending further distances us from the nature of evil.

QUOTES: pawnbroker: "Of course it's black and white. What do you expect for 50 bucks? ****** 3-D for God's sake?"

Rating:
Summary: Henry: The Man, the Myth, the Legend
Review: A friend recommended that I buy this movie because I am enthralled by serial killer movies like 8mm and Seven. As the story unfolded, I began to realize that this is a movie all in itself.

Most other movies about serial killers involve the pursuit. This movie is essentially filmed inside the mind of a serial killer. It was very disturbing. The movie wasn't gory like Seven, Henry just matter-of-factly killed people. Seeing it in a stripped down version as compared to other movies, it garnered a greater sense of realism. I felt as if I was Henry! If you are a fan of horror, you don't know what horror is until you view this movie!

Rating:
Summary: masterpiece
Review: a realistic,expertly crafted documentary-like study of a serial killer named henry.

Rating:
Summary: without question one of the best docu-horrors ever made.
Review: A well-deserved cult classic and my personal horror fave of all time, this chillingly real flick is the perfect anecdote for those of you who are tired of having your intelligence insulted by Generation X movies like "Scream" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer".

Rating:
Summary: Less Horror, More Drama
Review: After having spent half an hour searching through the severely limited horror section of my local video store, I stumbled upon a tape entitled "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer." I had heard of this film before and was at first hesitant to rent it. I had heard the rumours that this was one of the most horrifying movies ever made, but was rather surprised to find that the feeling I was left with was sadness, not disgust. It clearly and unmercifully illustrates psychotic numbness in a mundane setting. Henry comes off as a somewhat sypathetic character in comparison to his retarded and incestuous partner Otis. I was also stunned by Tracy Arnolds' often uncredited performance as the pretty and innocent Becky, Otis' abused sister. She plays her role with a sincerity and helplessness that is at times to sad to watch. An intense and beautiful story of putting love and hate in the wrong places.

Rating:
Summary: Now THIS is a truly scary horror flick
Review: After watching the entire run of 'Nightmare on Elm Street' and a few of the 'Friday the 13th' flicks, I found myself rather unimpressed by the whole slasher-horror deal. I was given a couple starts here 'n' there, and was occasionally grodied-out by a few of the more gratuitous scenes of gore, but overall I didn't find any of the flicks particularly scary or disturbing. Thanks to these movies I was about to give up on the horror scene, seein' as how I wasn't actually scared, shocked, or all that disturbed by what I had witnessed. That's when 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer' came to the rescue. Now, THIS film really is quite disturbing, and is very scary at times. It's most likely due to the fact that it's loosely based on the exploits of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, and was set in the real world where there aren't any Christmas-sweatered burn victims killing you in your dreams, nor a seven-foot-tall hockey-masked machete-wielder aimin' to hack you to bits. The whole this-could-actually-be-happening-right-now-somewhere angle helped fill me with a good sense of dread, and gave me more of a scare than any ghost-&-goblin fare could ever hope to.

I couldn't believe the pleasure the titular character and his buddy, a near-'tard of a killer-in-training, took in the murder of a motorist and an abusive fence (stolen goods dealer). Then there's the home invasion that they video taped for posterity, which I understand caused some viewers to walk outta the theater at a few of the film festivals this played in. The eye-stabbing scene was pretty hard to witness, even though it was a rather brief cut, and it was apparent that the head that received the eyeball-stab was a dummy head made up to sorta look like the character who suffers the injury. Topping things off is the utterly strange 'romance' that develops between Henry and Otis' sister, which culminates in one of the saddest most eff'd-up endings I've ever witnessed. Put these all together and combine 'em with Henry's deceptive façade of harmlessness, and you've got a horror movie that's truly horrible. I'd finally found what I was lookin' for...

Included with the DVD edition of the movie is a half-hour-long interview with writer-director John McNaughton, who discusses his filmmaking background, what inspired him to create 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer', and a few of the difficulties he encountered making the movie and keeping it within its low budget. Also thrown in are brief text production notes, English subtitles, and trailers for 'Henry' 1 and 2. Although I haven't heard too many good things about Part 2, the trailer to it looked promising. Methinks I know what I'll be checkin' out, next time I hit the local Blockbuster...

'Late