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IMDb > Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
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Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) More at IMDbPro »

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Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) -- Based on the true life serial killer, Henry Lee Lucas.

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   8,072 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 21% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
John McNaughton
Writers:
Richard Fire (written by) &
John McNaughton (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
September 1990 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Thriller | Horror more
Tagline:
Yeah, I killed my Mama... more
Plot:
Based on the true life serial killer, Henry Lee Lucas. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
9 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(19 articles)
Reminder: See Penance Tomorrow Night! + Two New Clips!
 (From Fangoria. 29 May 2009, 3:35 PM, PDT)

Fangoria's Midnite Madness Presents: Penance
 (From Fangoria. 24 May 2009, 9:06 PM, PDT)

User Comments:
A realistic portrayal of a serial killer. more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Mary Demas ... Dead Woman / Dead Prostitute / Hooker #1

Michael Rooker ... Henry
Anne Bartoletti ... Waitress
Elizabeth Kaden ... Dead Couple - Wife
Ted Kaden ... Dead Couple - Husband
Denise Sullivan ... Floating Woman
Anita Ores ... Mall Shopper #1
Megan Ores ... Mall Shopper #2
Cheri Jones ... Mall Shopper #3
Monica Anne O'Malley ... Mall Victim
Bruce Quist ... Husband
Erzsebet Sziky ... Hitchiker
Tracy Arnold ... Becky
Tom Towles ... Otis
David Katz ... Henry's Boss
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
83 min | Australia:77 min | Norway:78 min | Sweden:78 min | Italy:75 min (edited for TV)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
New Zealand:(Banned) (original rating) | New Zealand:R18 (re-rating: cut) | Australia:R | Finland:(Banned) (1992) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1998) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1997) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1992) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (DVD rating) (2001) | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | France:-16 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:Open (rating surrendered: 1989) | USA:X (original rating: 1988) | West Germany:18 | Iceland:(Banned) (video rating) | Iceland:16 (original rating) | Italy:VM18 (1992)
Filming Locations:
Austin, Texas, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Director John McNaughton and actor Tom Towles both considered the character of Ottis to be a comic buffoon, and they consciously presented the character in a darkly humorous manner. Interestingly, Towles', a former US marine, formal training was in improvisational comedy, not dramatic acting. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: "Otis" is misspelled in the opening caption. more
Quotes:
Henry: Guns are easy to get... I can make a phone call and get a gun. Anybody can get a gun, Otis. more
Soundtrack:
Morning Dew more

FAQ

What's the purpose of the unusual sound effects used several times throughout the film?
A NOTE REGARDING SPOILERS
Who are the five dead bodies seen early in the movie?
more
14 out of 18 people found the following comment useful:-
A realistic portrayal of a serial killer., 12 January 2001
9/10
Author: HumanoidOfFlesh from Chyby, Poland

Henry Lee Lucas was the son of a prostitute and a railway worker.His mother seems to have detested the child and treated him with sadistic cruelty.In January 1960 he murdered his mother during the course of a quarrel,slashing at her with a knife.He was sentenced in a forty years in prison,but was recommended for parole after ten years.After that he met another drifter Ottis Toole.The two teamed up and left a bloody trail through Michigan,Ohio,Indiana,Illinois and Wisconsin.When Lucas was arrested he confessed to a total of three hundred and sixty murders(many of these admissions proved to be false).Both-Lucas and Toole-were sentenced to death."Henry:Portrait of a Serial Killer" is a pretty good film.Michael Rooker as a psychopathic killer is really believable.The supporting cast is also great.The scene when Lucas and Toole watch themselves murdering a family,who they tie up and kick to death,is very disturbing.A must see for any fan of the genre.Check it out,you won't be disappointed.

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