Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer poster & wallpaper

Michael Rooker, Tom Towles, Tracy Arnold

What would you do if you found out that the person living right along side you is really a serial killer, who engages in bizarre acts of sex with people and animals, living and dead, who killed his ow...( read more  read more... )n mother? Well, meet Henry. He is a typical under-paid bug spray guy who lives amongst you. He is not Freddy or Jason, he's real. Henry was serving time in jail for killing his mother. He cannot seem to keep his story straight in his head, he can't really recall how he killed that one. She was cruel to him. She made him wear a dress to school, and she made him watch her have sex with dirty old men. He couldn't take it anymore, so one day, he just killed her. No remorse. He hooked up with a friend named Otis, and the two are living together. Otis' sister is moving in too, because she doesn't have any money. They are an interesting trio, each with their own set of morals. Otis' sister begins to fall for Henry, who has wonderful manners and seems to look out for her. Otis on the other hand, he just wants to see his sister naked. Henry and Otis go out for beers one night, and Henry introduces him to the act of murder. They kill a few prostitutes, and a "hot" items salesman. There is no limit to what they will do once they get a taste for it. Otis is becoming quickly addicted, and he can't pull himself out of the web Henry has weaved. That poor girl has no idea what is going on with them. She begins to date Henry. The two appear to fall in love. The cops don't have a clue. Henry is too smart for them. If you shoot one, and stab another, they will never make the connection between the two murders. It all becomes so random that it seems normal death to the police. Henry also has transportation on his side. He travels from town to town once the heat gets too heavy. He can pick up a few hitchhikers on the way and kill them. Bingo! A new guitar. This movie is very shocking, because you only see one or two of the fifteen murders happen, the rest you just see the before and after, with no middle. It makes you wonder what the hell was going on in between.

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73% liked it

7,383 ratings

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41 critics

NC-17, 83 min.

Directed by: John McNaughton

Release Date: September 24, 1986

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DVD Release Date: November 17, 1998

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Flixster Reviews (665)

  • DrZeek
    October 4, 2009
    DrZeek
    Otis: I'd like to kill somebody.
    Henry: Say that again.
    Otis: I'd like to kill somebody.
    Henry: Let's me and you go for a ride, Otis

    Partially based on a true story, this film is an intense character study about a man, seemingly normal, who commits acts of murder on almo...( read more)st a weekly basis. Low budget, but finely acted by the two main leads, its creepy and effective to an extent.

    Michael Rooker stars as Henry, an ex-con living an average life during the day. He seems non-threatening, if a bit distant, but that only masks his true nature, a vicious serial killer. Henry shares an apartment with Otis, another ex-con, whom he was friends with in prison. Otis is basically a red neck, but seems to be living a honest life after prison.

    At the start, we know that Otis' sister Becky has arrived, living with the boys until she gets a new start on life, after leaving her abusive ex-husband. Upon meeting and getting to know Henry, Becky is curious and smitten with him. She wants to know more, and only believes him to be a little private, but nothing threatening. While Becky and Henry become more acquainted, Otis seems frustrated by not being able to act on any urge he may have towards his sister (did I mention the red neck thing?).

    One night out, the boys pick up a couple of women, but during some dirty deeds, Henry kills one of them. Otis, initially put off, soon relishes the idea of murder and begins to join in on Henry's night time activities.

    Made in 1986, but not released until 1989, the film sparked controversy among the ratings boards due to its brutal subject matter. Watching the film now, its not particularly brutal (even for its time) but I can understand the objection. The portrayals of murder in this film are very matter of fact. Henry does not have a showy personality. He is not funny, ironic, or a cool anti-hero. Henry's actions are simply put on screen. Many of the murders are shown after the fact, but the few that we do see are just presented straight-forward and it is cold and chilling. Rooker is very good in this role.

    The film, as a whole, is not great. It is low budget and the cast is made up of non-actors, which shows. The film is short, but its not made in a snappy-paced sort of way. Its certainly not the kind of movie I want to watch again. Its brutal and unapologetic, but its fueled by a strong lead performance.

    Henry: If you shoot someone in the head with a .45 every time you kill somebody, it becomes like your fingerprint, see? But if you strangle one, stab another, and one you cut up, and one you don't, then the police don't know what to do. They think you're four different people. What they really want, what makes their job so much easier, is pattern. What they call a modus operandi. That's Latin. Bet you didn't know any Latin, did you kid?
    Otis: Big fucking deal.
    Henry: What?
    Otis: Nothing.
    Henry: It's like a trail of shit, Otis. It's like the blood droppings from a deer you shot, and all they've got to do is follow those droppings, and pretty soon, they're going to find their deer.
    Otis: Why don't you use a gun?
    Henry: You can use a gun. I'm not saying you can't use a gun. Just don't use the same gun twice.
  • SirPant
    October 1, 2009
    SirPant
    A very chilling and quite disturbing, albeit, inaccurate portrait of Henry Lee Lucas. I have to admit, it?s not as good as I'd been lead to believe but I did enjoy it, it?s very well directed and the music is ace! I just didn't like as much as, say, Maniac! Interesting but uncomf...( read more)ortable viewing.
  • RCCLBC
    August 11, 2009
    RCCLBC
    All things considered, a decent film.
  • BloodyKitten
    June 24, 2009
    BloodyKitten
    The first word that pops to mind concerning Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is "perverse." It is a raw, gritty film with absolutely no conscience, but that is what makes it so intriguing. Unconcerned with lessons and morals, the film can simply observe, and we get an unsettl...( read more)ing glimpse into the psyche of a serial killer. Not a criminal genius Hannibal Lecter or an unstoppable, undying Michael Myers, as those are creatures of fantasy. This film drives us into the head of a true-to-life serial killer (in more ways than one, with the titular character based on Henry Lee Lucas) - an emotional wreck who, while seemingly calm and softspoken, in fact nurtures a deep, psychotic loathing for society and everyone therein. I couldn't recommend this film enough, but with it I offer a warning: it will shock you, sicken you, disturb you ... but fascinate you. Be prepared for a movie-viewing experience like no other.
  • MalumMosIncrebresco
    April 1, 2009
    MalumMosIncrebresco
    This one had been on my "Must see" list for long, now.
    Too long.

    Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer should be compulsory viewing for true fans of the genre. What genre, you ask?

    Hard to say.
    But the greatest accomplishment of this film is definitely its grip of realism. ...( read more)Sometimes it's intense, sometimes it's slow, sometimes it's surprising, sometimes it's very sick and perverse.
    But it's always real.

    Keeping in mind that it was NOT intended to portray Henry Lee Lucas in an accurate way, the movie has the ability to pull you in, to make you a part of it as a spectator, because it gives you absolute freedom.
    It has no morale.
    It does not judge.
    It's simply there, waiting for your perception to match its eyes.
    Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is completely free from interpretations, until it meets you.

    So I suppose what you make of this movie tells more about you than it seems at a first glimpse.

    Which is definitely not easy to pull off in cinema.

    This one lives up to its reputation.
    Great achievement.
  • christopherjaques
    October 23, 2009
    christopherjaques
    Crazy movie a must watch
  • CocoCoopah
    October 21, 2009
    CocoCoopah
    Could of been better!
  • annubis44
    October 11, 2009
    annubis44
    A micro-budget masterpiece that is both starkly chilling and blackly humorous. Perhaps the finest film inspired by a real life serial killer, and one that can only be rivaled by "Psycho", or the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre".
  • SummonMorphling
    September 19, 2009
    SummonMorphling
    A tale of murder and insanity is mixed with love and betrayal when Henry, played by Michael Rooker, meets his roommate's, Otis who is an ex-con played by Tom Towles, roommate's sister.

    Henry is a murderer but he is very good at what he does and is never caught. The movie open...( read more)s with a bunch of scenes of aftermaths of people he murdered. It is actually pretty gruesome some of them. When one day the place Henry is staying at is introduced to a new guest, which is his Otis' sister. Henry in a way begins to fall for her but doesn't really show it but he protects her when her abusive brother is about to hit her. Otis is crazy and wants Henry to kill with him. So Henry does and they go and kill people. Otis even likes to film what he is doing, he films them raping this women in her own home and Otis watches it back over and over and over.... Henry isn't the true insane person and will Otis become too obsessed with killing? And will Henry be able to protect the gril forever....?

    This movie was really really good and the story was great. The acting was good too. This movie was easy to watch and enjoy and I love movies where the main character is a killer because it lets you get into the characters mind and see what they are doing but this one takes that and multiplies it by making two killers and one enjoying it like it was sex or something. Michael Rooker did a great job with his character and was very good in this movie and same with Tom Towles. This movie is also brilliantly directed by John McNaughton who also directed an episode for the MOH series.

    This movie isn't too gory but it has its moments, and it has some kewl moments taht are pretty brutal in a way. Like a TV being smashed on someone's head or the part when the man is shot on the street. Both of those are pretty......I don't know how to explain it but they aren't gory just powerful...I guess....You'll just have to see!

    This movie is great for all horror fans and some non-horror fans to watch. It is a great movie in general and is awesome.


    I give this movie a 9/10.
  • envyishername
    September 18, 2009
    envyishername
    This movie is loosely based on the crimes of Henry Lee Lucas and his inbred-looking,crooked toothed partner in crime,Otis O'toole. This movie has been and still is(as far as i know)banned in several countries and heavily edited in the ones that have allowed it. I find banning thi...( read more)s movie for it's "gore" lame and hard to believe, the film showed very little of the murders that occured in it. The only thing you witness, were the aftermath of the crimes a replay of the sounds as the last precious moments of life before it was snuffed out.

    This movie had no more gore than any ole horror movie out there, it was TAME by my standards and probably by alot of other people's as well. So why was it banned then? simply, because of its realism. This movie scared the hell out of people because, Henry didn't fit thier idea of a serial killer. Otis, whom Henry turned on to murder a bit later into the movie, seemed more like one than Henry did.

    It's easy for people to sit back and say, Now there's a monster, with 100 percent confidence in their voice, when their ideas of one are present. You couldn't do that with Henry. Henry wasn't what one pictured when the words "Mad dog killer" comes to mind. He didn't look sinister or unusual, he looked like any other regular guy. If that wasn't bad enough, Henry's behavior punched in more holes in people comfortable vision, he didn't walk around claming to be Jesus or beating off in public. Henry on the surface was poliet, soft spoken and charming, probably all the things a serial killer should be in order to lure prey.

    Henry, at times was also a protector, There's two scenes in the movie where, Henry takes on the hero role of sorts. One scene where he straps on the cape, is where Otis, asks his sister Becky for a beer, she complies but not before informing him she was not his maid and kicking up a fuss,when she returns to the table with his beer, Otis grabs her by the the wrist and yanks her down to his face and kisses her, Henry grabs him by a tuff of hair and says "Don't do that Otis, she's your sister! Tell her your sorry,now tell her you won't do it again!"

    Suddenly the bottom of your idea falls out. How do you figure out who's a monster and who's not? The reality of it is, you can't determine these things,these people can appear shockingly,quite normal! There are no set rules of behavior really, that you can point to and that's one of the reasons why this movie was so unnerving, it ripped the ideas people had of killers to shreds.

    This movie never really explains why Henry kills either which just adds to the creepiness of it all. Henry kills without any reason at all, so often when movies about serial killers are made,the writers give you insight into why he kills. This isn't the case in this movie. Henry is nothing more than a hunter out in the woods tracking down deer,he kills with out mercy ,with out remorse.

    Henry kills simply to kill why he does or what drives him to continue is a mystery.

    I recommend this movie and demand that everyone who can track down a copy to view it. Other films have tried have fell flat on their faces IE(gein,bundy)they pale in comparission to this chilly and unsettling masterpeice

View All Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Reviews

Critic Reviews

May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

This film gives off a dark chill that follows you all the way home. full review

January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

A low-budget tour de force that provides an unforgettable portrait of the pathology of a man for whom killing is not a crime but simply a way of passing time and relieving boredom. full review

View more Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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