Review of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) by Mel L — 29 Nov 2006

[font=Courier New][i]Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer[/i] opens up with various shots of murdered victims scattered throughout the city of Chicago. As we see each mutilated victim, we hear their screams play in the background, generating a creepier experience than if we actually saw these people murdered. All of these bodies are the work of one man; Henry (Michael Rooker). Henry was abused as a child, and never had the chance to grow up into a life that anyone would consider ?normal.? Now he resides in a shoddy looking apartment with his friend Otis (Tom Towles) and Otis? sister Becky (Tracy Arnold).

After picking up some prostitutes, Henry kills one of them in front of Otis and the other prostitute without any care. After the other is disposed of, Otis joins Henry in his exploits. The two go around the city, killing anyone they choose. After obtaining a camera, they begin to film their horrific deeds. It is in these scenes where the film?s effectiveness shows.

[i]Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer[/i] isn?t your standard serial killer movie. There is no cop on the edge looking for these two monsters. There is no heroine that the film centers around. And the movie doesn?t try to make Henry or Otis into likeable characters. There are no needless comedic moments that make death seem funny. Director John McNaughton , along with the screenplay he co-wrote with Richard Fire, generates a film that doesn?t soften the violence, nor does it try to glorify it.

I was inspired to watch this film again after watching [i]Slither[/i] a while back, in which Michael Rooker starred in. [i]Henry[/i] is an impressive film because of Rooker?s intense performance. While watching the film, I didn?t feel like I was watching a stylized creation but rather a real man. Like this wasn?t a movie at all, but real life. I know little of the real life Henry Lee Lucas, who this film is loosely based on, but I can honestly say Rooker?s Henry is one of the most frightening killers in horror history.

So why consider this a [b]Great Film[/b]? As far as horror films go, there are few of them that impress me this much. Most serial killer films ultimately boil down to being a standard slasher flick? with exceptions like John Carpenter?s [i]Halloween[/i]. But with [i]Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer[/i], we have a film that wants to show the brutality of murder, and not try to tone itself down into something like [i]Friday the 13th[/i]. This movie is difficult to watch, I won?t lie. But those who can sit through it might see what I am getting at. This is a very impressive film, and one of the best horror films ever made.[/font].