Film Review: Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

About Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)A highly controversial film that took several years to be released on video. Henry (Michael Rooker) works as an exterminator and murders strangers for fun. He lives with drug dealer Otis (Tom Towles) and Otis’s sister, Becky (Tracy Arnold), who has moved in with them to escape her abusive husband. When Henry shows Otis the ins and outs of serial killing, Otis takes to it with enthusiasm.

Starring: Michael Rooker, Tracy Arnold, Tom Towles, Mary Demas, Anne Bartoletti

Directed by: John McNaughton

Runtime: 83 minutes

Studio: Dark Sky Films

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Review: Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 

Partly based on serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, the film focuses on the everyday life of Henry (Michael Rooker), a serial killer that tends to target women. Henry is sharing an apartment with Otis (Tom Fowles) who he met in prison and at the outset they have a new guest in the form of Otis’ sister, Becky (Tracy Arnold) who has left her husband. In the heart of Chicago, Henry’s life as a serial killer takes a sudden turn when Otis begins to join him on his killing spree while back home Becky develops feelings for Henry.

Gritty and often violent, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer leaves no stone unturned in its depiction of a killer at work. There are no good cop hunts down the bad guy storylines here. This is purely about Henry and the time we spend in his company. Henry takes Otis under his wing and begins to teach him the many methods he applies to being a serial killer. These range from using a different weapon or technique to kill each victim, the idea being to prevent the police linking a string of murders together, but most importantly there is the need to stay on the move and avoid the local law enforcers.

In many ways Henry, Becky and Otis are victims of troubled childhoods. Henry reveals to Becky that he murdered his own mother as she abused him while Becky reveals her father molested her as a child. Otis is often dangerous, a sexual predator whose advances are not bound by sexual preference or even affinity. Henry is the opposite, seemingly incapable of sexual desire and though he is fond of Becky, he is uncomfortable when they become closer and she clearly wants to take things further. Something has to give and in the end only violence can resolve brewing indifferences amongst the trio. The ending is shocking but at the same time the audience may be left thinking they should have known what was coming.

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer will not be for everyone. It is violent and often unpleasant but on the same level this is a fascinating study with great central performances from the three leads. The ending is hard-hitting and there is nothing positive by the film’s final credits. This is real-life plain and simple.

Verdict: 4/5

(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)

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