Review of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) by Justin S — 16 Mar 2015

Serial killer films have become their own genre of filmmaking with all of their own tropes and stereotypes, but before all of that started, director John McNaughton brought us a gritty and terrifying look into the mind of a disturbed individual with Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Even almost 30 years later this film still has the power to shock and horrify audiences, because of its minimalist approach to telling the story. It doesn't feel like McNaughton is pulling out a bunch of tricks to manipulate the audience, instead it feels like he captured these events on film, and we're just watching them play out.

There's a dirtiness and grime to this film that coats everything it touches. This definitely applies to Michael Rooker who plays the titular character in an uneasy performance that is both charismatic and tense. You never really know what is going on in Henry's mind, but you don't really want to know either. As you watch him in awkward social interactions, you can tell he's not comfortable in normal human interactions. However, you see his real personality come out when he's taunting his victims. Playing with them like a cat with a mouse moments before carelessly disposing of them when they become inconvenient to him. It's a stark performance that will give you chills.

And with Tom Towles to play against, Rooker and Towles have plenty of fun together. As they have fun with murder, you are watching with delight and horror. It's a complicated film that plays with all of your emotions, leaving you feeling guilty for enjoying it as much as you did.