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IMDbPro

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

  • 1986
  • Unrated
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
38K
YOUR RATING
Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Trailer for Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer - 30th Anniversary
Play trailer1:47
3 Videos
73 Photos
BiographyCrimeDrama

Arriving in Chicago, Henry moves in with ex-con acquaintance Otis and starts schooling him in the ways of the serial killer.Arriving in Chicago, Henry moves in with ex-con acquaintance Otis and starts schooling him in the ways of the serial killer.Arriving in Chicago, Henry moves in with ex-con acquaintance Otis and starts schooling him in the ways of the serial killer.

  • Director
    • John McNaughton
  • Writers
    • Richard Fire
    • John McNaughton
  • Stars
    • Michael Rooker
    • Tracy Arnold
    • Tom Towles
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.0/10
    38K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • John McNaughton
    • Writers
      • Richard Fire
      • John McNaughton
    • Stars
      • Michael Rooker
      • Tracy Arnold
      • Tom Towles
    • 263User reviews
    • 170Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 9 wins & 8 nominations

    Videos3

    Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: 30th Anniversary
    Trailer 1:47
    Watch Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer: 30th Anniversary
    Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
    Trailer 1:52
    Watch Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
    'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer': Drive
    Clip 2:04
    Watch 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer': Drive

    Photos73

    Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Michael Rooker in Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
    Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Michael Rooker
    Michael Rooker
    • Henry
    Tracy Arnold
    Tracy Arnold
    • Becky
    Tom Towles
    Tom Towles
    • Otis
    Mary Demas
    Mary Demas
    • Dead Woman…
    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
    David Katz
    • Henry's Boss
    John Scafidi
    • Kid with Football #1
    Benjamin Passman
    • Kid with Football #2
    • (as Benjamen Passman)
    Flo Spink
    • Woman in Cadillac
    • Director
      • John McNaughton
    • Writers
      • Richard Fire
      • John McNaughton
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    5.0
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Although the MPAA initially gave the film an X rating, this movie, along with Peter Greenaway's The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover (1989), and Pedro Almodóvar's Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down! (1989), were the main reasons for the creation of the NC-17 rating (an adults-only film, which is non-pornographic).
    • Goofs
      In the opening shot of the movie of a woman's body, the "dead" woman (Mary Demas) takes a few breaths towards the end of the shot, as seen by the movement of her stomach. The filmmakers point this out in the commentary, and show additional footage in the outtakes.
    • Quotes

      Store clerk: How about those Bears?

      Henry: Fuck the Bears.

    • Crazy credits
      Before the film begins the following can be read: "This film is a fictional dramatization of certain events. 'Henry' is not intended to be an accurate portrayal of a true story. The film is based partly on confessions of a person named Henry, many of which he later recanted. As to Otis and Betty, the film is fictional."
    • Alternate versions
      The film has had a long and complex relationship with the BBFC. In 1990, distributor Electric Pictures submitted it for classification with 38 seconds already removed (the pan across the hotel room and into the bathroom, revealing the semi-naked woman on the toilet with a broken bottle stuck in her mouth). Electric Pictures had performed this edit themselves without the approval of director John McNaughton because they feared it was such an extreme image so early in the film, it would turn the board against them. The film was classified 18 for theatrical release in April 1991, but only if 24 seconds were cut from the family massacre scene (primarily involving the shots where Otis gropes the mother's breasts both prior to killing her and after she is dead). Total time cut from the film: 62 seconds.
    • Connections
      Featured in Gorgon Video Magazine (1989)
    • Soundtracks
      Too Old for These Blues
      Written by T.K. Thady

      Performed by Kid Tater and The Cheaters

    User reviews263

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Harrowing and real.
    The real Henry Lee Lucas had one of the worst childhoods that I have ever had the misfortune of reading about. Growing up in Texas, he lived with a family that was totally dysfunctional. He grew up in a shack, that had nothing more than a dirt floor. The father being a legless alcoholic, literally as well as figuratively. The mother worked as a prostitute. Henry was also forced into sexual activity with her clients. They forced him to dress as a girl and then would proceed to have sex with him. He was a child that grew up being raped.

    He then grew up with such an intense rage that he became a serial killer. Are we surprised? Now, I am not trying to justify his behaviour. Rather, I am pointing out the fact that these people do not just fall out of the sky. There is no such thing as an inexplicable evil. That is, the person is just evil because they are. Yes, there seems to be some genetic evidence for psychopaths. However the majority do not become killers. The ones who become killers are made. If you are truly interested in what makes a psychopath, I suggest you read, 'Not Guilty by reason of Insanity ' by Dorothy Otnow Lewis. Serial killers are often portrayed as being like Hannibal Lecter. Smart and talented creatures that have suddenly lost their moral code. The truth is most are a psychological mess. Losers that are full of conflicting emotions. There is also strong evidence to suggest that these people are made by a specific form of brain damage. Basically when you combine trauma in childhood and frontal lobe brain damage, you end up with Henry.

    This movie is what happens when people are treated in an utterly horrific way. Michael Rooker is excellent as a psychopath who seems normal but deep down harbours a psychotic rage against society. He and Otis travel around killing. Why? Why not? The pointlessness of their lives is perfectly captured. People complain about the lack of plot. I think it perfectly captures the plot. It shows the emptiness of these characters. In fact Henry and Otis feel nothing unless they are killing. The emotional side of the characters has been like killed off by previous abuses against them. They are not unlike the living dead. Even when Otis's sister shows some affection towards Henry he cannot reciprocate. He can't relate to people, he can only get off on torture and death. Yeah, this is shocking. But it is also incredibly sad.

    Here in New Zealand there are many shocking drunk driving ads that they play to try and get people to stop this behaviour. I feel that this movie is like that. The movie is an ad for psychopaths, who they are and the dysfunctional psychological world that they inhabit. It is a film that honestly looks at these kinds of people. This certainly does not glorify these people, which is a criticism that has been levelled at the 'Silence of the Lambs' series. This is why I think it shocks people. The serial killer kills for visceral, physical pleasure. As Ted Bundy stated, 'I killed because I wanted to.' Maybe, this is where the film falls down. That the characters motivations are not explained well enough. But either way the viewer is given a shockingly realistic interpretation of a serial killers world.

    Obviously this is a film that was made on a budget! But this just adds to the bleakness. In fact Chicago looks dirty, grimy and not like somewhere that you would visit. The performances of the rest of the cast are pretty average if not bad. So the film has some definite flaws. The exploitation factor is there. But then I think of films like Baise Moi and this film has nothing on that!

    Overall I think this is an objective look at a world that those of us who come from normal backgrounds will find horrific. A world that we prefer would never exist, but however does exist. Maybe one day, as our society matures these people will cease to exist. Stories like these will become completely fictional. I really hope for that day. 7 out of 10.
    helpful•106
    17
    • Skeptic459
    • Jan 1, 2004

    FAQ12

    • Who are the five dead bodies seen early in the movie?
    • What's the purpose of the unusual sound effects used several times throughout the film?
    • Did Henry really kill his mother?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 7, 1990 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Henry: Bir Seri Katilin Hikayesi
    • Filming locations
      • Chicago, Illinois, USA
    • Production company
      • Maljack Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $111,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $609,939
    • Gross worldwide
      • $609,939
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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