Movie #296 Henry: A Portrait of a Serial Killer *1986*

Lead by a great performance from character actor Michael Rooker, Henry is an after school special like movie about the dangers of serial killers.  The movie is set in Chicago and tells the story of Henry.  A ex-con who allegedly killed his mother.  He now works bit jobs and lives with another ex-con / sexual deviant, Otis and Otis' little sister.  Henry's real passion though is killing.

This movie is based on the life of a real person named Henry Lee Lucas who was reportedly responsible for nearly 600 murders.  One of his practices was that he wouldn't fall into cliches for serial killers.  Meaning; he didn't also kill woman, he didn't always cut them up or shoot them or hang them, he didn't always kill whites or blacks or adults or kids.  He killed anyone and usually did it for no real reason other than it was like a passion for him.  He even get's Otis involved with his obsession.  At first Otis is bothered by the thought of killing innocent people, but he is a quick convert.

The little sister in the film falls in love with Henry, not knowing of his "hobby".  She has had a checkered past with an abusive father and brother that is constantly trying to molest her even still.

The movie is bleak and gruesome.  If not in its depiction of violence then in its themes of hedonism and nihilism.  One of the most disturbing sections of the film is where Otis and Henry have obtained a VHS camcorder.  They use this camera to record some of their murders.  I thought these scenes worked very well and still held up even today with the resurgence of "found footage" horror films.  There is something about watching horrific events play out on very amateur recording devices that adds some authenticity to the piece.

I thought Henry was a well crafted and well executed (minor pun intended) film.  It does look a bit dated, but that can add to the atmosphere.  I give Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer ★★★1/2.