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Michael Rooker, Tom Towles, Tracy Arnold, David Katz, Rick Paul ... see more see more... , Flo Spink , Waleed B. Ali , Eric Young

Though the title makes Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer seem like a cut-rate slasher flick, the film is actually one of the most disturbing and terrifying examinations of mass murderers ever filmed.... read more read more... Loosely based on the story of confessed murderer Henry Lee Lucas, the film follows Henry (Michael Rooker) as he selects innocent victims--occasionally with his roommate Otis (Tom Towles)--and kills them, capturing their murder on videotape. Many of these murders rank among the most brutal and violent ever portrayed on film. The violence and the clinical, detached portrayal of Henry and his horrifying actions make Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer a disturbing, thought-provoking film, but it certainly isn't one for every taste. Finished in 1986, the film wasn't released until 1990, when it was greeted with both positive reviews and considerable controversy. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Rovi

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42 critics

NC-17, 1 hr. 30 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 (882)

  • StarCrossedVoyager
    May 19, 2012
    StarCrossedVoyager
    Yes, the acting was brilliant from Rooker and it was an involving story but it just seemed to drag and some of the performances were horrendous. There were many times when I just wanted to turn it off and at the end I felt like I had sort of wasted my time as there was no change ... read morefrom the start of the movie. More people were murdered and Henry just kept on doing what he did with no remorse. I'm not suggesting that Henry should have been caught or 'turned around', I just wanted more than to see him drive off with no consequences.
  • blkbomb
    October 10, 2011
    blkbomb
    Henry: Guns are easy to get... I can make a phone call and get a gun. Anybody can get a gun, Otis. 

    "He's not Freddy. He's not Jason. He's real."

    Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is a dirty, raw and dark film. It isn't anything like the average slasher. This wasn't made for f... read moreun and it isn't fun; it's disturbing. The film makes live an everyday life of a serial killer. The movie wasn't quite as graphic as I thought it would be, but it's still in your face. There are murders and rapes, disgusting moments and chilling moments. The movie reminds me of a more serious Man Bites Dog. 

    We are thrown into Henry's life. Henry has already been to jail; he killed his mother; with a knife, no with a baseball bat, or wait was it a gun. I don't know because Henry doesn't even know. That gives some pretty deep insight into the psyche of this man. He's an illiterate, who came from an abusive upbringing and he has mommy issues. He's the very description of a serial killer. He can't get close to anyone and he definitely can't love anyone. 

    The movie doesn't really have a plot. If I had to give it one though, I would say it's basically Henry killing and then also teaching his pal, Otis, to kill also. He also gets into a bit of a relationship with Otis' sister. That's about as deep as the movie goes plot wise, but it goes very deep into the psyche of a serial killer and puts some chilling ideas and images into the viewers mind. The last scene of this movie was one of the more chilling scenes I have seen; not because it shows us anything, but because it doesn't. It makes for a perfect ending. 

    Henry... isn't really a movie meant to be watched as pure entertainment or for fun. Nothing about it says, "Like me." But it is very good at what it's trying to do. In my eyes this is sort of an Anti-Slasher. All the other slashers do is have chase scenes followed by violent murders. Slashers are normally meant to not be taken seriously and try to be fun, just in a violent way. Henry... is the opposite. The point isn't to entertain and the violence isn't what it is trying to sell. It's powerful, scary stuff. People like this are roaming our streets. Real life is always scarier than a huge, supernatural, moron like Jason.
  • theunknownhobo
    September 18, 2011
    theunknownhobo
    Now this is what low budget horror is all about people! A remorseless killer, plastic heads with corn syrup blood and senseless murder after senseless murder, with no retribution in sight! A truly amazing piece of cinema that has survived the test of time for one reason and one r... read moreeason only - it is one of the best low budget horror movies ever made.
  • fb619846742
    August 6, 2011
    fb619846742
    An unflinching look at an emotionless serial killer, loosely based on a true story, in which director John McNaughton takes a look at a killer through detached lenses, and the result is something horrifying and truly haunting. Although it never reaches the heights of being a "gre... read moreat" film (more dialogue and development of the relationship between Henry and Otto could have been added), this is a terrifying film experience, and it is all because of McNaughton's minimalist effort to his entire project, capitalized by a simple, scary turn from lead star Michael Rooker (his finest performance, without question). Sometimes I like movies to get inside the characters' heads and to give us more development in certain areas, and there are certain times when I felt 'Henry' needed more work. However, you have to give McNaughton credit for never overstepping his emotional bounds, and not drifting into a serial killer movie such as, say "Mr. Brooks", which goes too far into the psychological and "emotional high" element of the killing process - this one gets it just right, and it is fascinating as well as scarring.
  • mjgildea
    June 27, 2011
    mjgildea
    I haven't seen Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer in a while and maybe my priorities have shifted since the last time I've seen it, but this is a seriously skeevy movie. It also seems way more disturbing (the home invasion footage scene was particularly hard to shake) this time a... read moreround but despite the low budget Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is a very powerful and intensely gritty movie. A rough but very worthwhile watch.
  • cancercapricorn2002
    May 1, 2011
    cancercapricorn2002
    I watched this film again with a group of my friends who had never seen it Instead of the whooping, hollering and cheering that accompanied most of the other movies we watched together, Henry was met with a deathly silence. Its gritty and gripping tale was so different, so fresh,... read more and just so plain nasty, that my friends were lost for words.

    Even today, Henry still has the power to render the viewer speechless, such is the brilliance of the direction and performances in this powerful and shocking movie.

    Recently released from prison, murderer Henry (Michael Rooker) is earning a meagre living as a bug exterminator; in his spare time, however, he prefers to seek out bigger prey, committing a series of indiscriminate murders in a variety of grisly ways. On a night out with ex-prison-mate, and now flat-mate, Otis (Tom Towles), Henry slips into full-on murder mode, doing away with a couple of hookers, and ends up recruiting his impressionable friend as a willing accomplice to his extra-curricular activities.

    Between spraying roaches and teaching Otis the secrets to being a successful serial killer, Henry also forms an unlikely relationship with Otis' sister, Becky (who is staying with her brother, after leaving her violent husband). But when sexual deviant Otis takes the idea of brotherly love a little too far, Henry steps in with devastating consequences for all.

    Director John McNaughton shows that he means business from the very start by opening his film on a slow reveal of a naked female corpse, which has been dumped unceremoniously in some shallow water. Several gruesome bodies later (including one of a woman with a broken bottle jammed in her face) and the audience know that they're in for a rough ride. This film doesn't intend to make murder glamorous; it means to show the ugly side of killing in every nauseating detail. The result is a truly haunting experience that will stay with the viewer long after the film has finished.

    As the film progresses, the levels of violence escalate, and the unflinchingly graphic manner in which the depravity is captured make this one of the most harrowing studies of psychotic behaviour ever filmed. McNaughton's sparing use of his unsettling score, coupled with some particularly stylish and clever storytelling techniques (most noticeably, the ferocious 'house invasion' scene, which I believe to be a big influence the effectively sickening August Underground pseudo-snuff movies) make this a chilling character study that pulls no punches: nihilistic and disturbingly graphic, the film presents violent death without the glossy veneer that would be present in a Hollywood production.Highly Recommended
  • rubystevens
    November 7, 2010
    rubystevens
    another film i've been somewhat leery of watching given it's reputation and it is fairly disturbing. the lead actor is very good and the home invasion scene kinda made my skin crawl. well done on a very low budget. i would like to mention that this is about as 'true' as the bl... read moreair witch project and what's even more disturbing than this film is the way law enforcement officers used henry lee to close over 600 cold cases, where evidence is now so muddled they may never be properly solved. henry lee lucas' death sentence was commuted by none other than george w. bush when it was proven he wasn't even in the same state as the woman for whose murder he was sentenced to die
  • 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 morest 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 moreortable viewing.
  • RCCLBC
    August 11, 2009
    RCCLBC
    All things considered, a decent film.

View All Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer Reviews

Critic Reviews

Jonathan Rosenbaum
October 20, 2008
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader

Certainly not for everyone, but if slasher movies are your cup of tea this is a lot better than most, and the use of Chicago locations is especially effective. Full Review

Daniel M. Kimmel
April 16, 2007
Daniel M. Kimmel, Variety

[T]his is a movie that will anger and frighten audiences... Many will also find this one of the most impressive film debuts of the '80s. Full Review

Caryn James
May 20, 2003
Caryn James, New York Times

Mr. McNaughton's observations are so chilling and precise that they gain some artistic stature even when they cross the line that makes the audience voyeurs and accomplices. Full Review

Peter Travers
May 12, 2001
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

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

Roger Ebert
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

Hal Hinson
January 1, 2000
Hal Hinson, Washington Post

The emptiness in Henry seems like an artistic convenience or, worse, an evasion. What we suspect, finally, is that the deficiencies belong more to the artist than to his subject. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
September 24, 1986
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

The fact that Henry is affectless on the surface but commits exploitation-movie mayhem on the side is, by now, less an unsettling revelation than a rote banality. Full Review

Christopher Lloyd
September 5, 2011
Christopher Lloyd, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

From a technical standpoint, Henry is amateurish. But ultimately it's not the gilded frame that made it a modern horror classic, but its unblinking portrait of a remorseless killer who stares back at ... Full Review

October 20, 2008
Film4

McNaughton, co-writer Richard Fire and Rooker have pulled off an amazing feat -- a portrait of a damaged mind that refuses to explain, judge or glamorize psychopathic violence. Full Review

October 20, 2008
Empire Magazine

This is sicko territory with a vengeance but certainly has an impact. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Becky Otis's Sister: Oh, wh-what was he in for?
    • Otis: You don't want to know.
    • Becky Otis's Sister: What did he do-- kill his mama?
    • Otis: Uh, huh.
    • Becky Otis's Sister: Come on, what was he in for?
    • Otis: You don't want to know.
    • Becky Otis's Sister: What did he do, rob a bank or something?
    • Otis: You were right the first time.
    • Becky Otis's Sister: Huh?
    • Otis: You were right the first time. He killed his mama. Don't you ever tell him I told you.
    • Becky Otis's Sister: I love you, Henry.
    • Henry: I guess I love you too.
    • Henry: Otis, plug it in!
    • Otis: (his video camera breaks, while filming outside the car window) - Look what you did! Oh, god! Oh, Jesus! Look at it, it's ruined! Damn, Henry you ought to look where you're driving!
    • Henry: Who the hell told you, to stick your head out the window anyway?
    • Otis: You could of killed me!
    • Henry: Sure. Blame it on me!
    • Otis: Oh, this fu*king camera! [Otis throws the video camera out the car window]
    • Henry: What did you do that for?
    • Otis: It wasn't any good anymore.
    • Henry: Could have fixed it.
    • Otis: Sh*t, the lens was busted right off!
    • Henry: Could have fixed it!
    • Otis: How do you know? You a camera repair man? ...You should have said something.
    • Henry: You threw the fu*ker right out the window!
    • Becky Otis's Sister: I don't want to talk about Leroy!
    • Otis: Okay, we don't have to talk about him! You hungry?
    • Becky Otis's Sister: Yeah.
    • Otis: Good, I'm hungry too. I wonder if Leroy's hungry. (laughs)
    • Henry: Guns are easy to get. I can make a phone call and get a gun. Anybody can get a gun, Otis.
Submit a Fact | View All

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