Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer
Stars: Michael Rooker, Tom Towles, Tracy Arnold | Written by John McNaughton, Richard Fire | DIrected by John McNaughton
Yet another film that courted controversy, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer was, at the time of its initial release, held up as an abhorrent movie that did not deserve to be in the homes of the British public. Now some two decades later the film is released on Blu-ray in high definition and uncut, courtesy of StudioCanal UK.
Shot on a ridiculously low budget by director John McNaughton (the rest of whose work sadly never lived up to the promise of this film), the movie is loosely based on the real life crimes of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, and sees Michael Rooker play Henry, a psychologically damaged man who, together with his ex-con acquaintance Otis (Tom Towles), embarks on a killing spree of the most vicious and grisly kind.
Stars: Michael Rooker, Tom Towles, Tracy Arnold | Written by John McNaughton, Richard Fire | DIrected by John McNaughton
Yet another film that courted controversy, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer was, at the time of its initial release, held up as an abhorrent movie that did not deserve to be in the homes of the British public. Now some two decades later the film is released on Blu-ray in high definition and uncut, courtesy of StudioCanal UK.
Shot on a ridiculously low budget by director John McNaughton (the rest of whose work sadly never lived up to the promise of this film), the movie is loosely based on the real life crimes of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, and sees Michael Rooker play Henry, a psychologically damaged man who, together with his ex-con acquaintance Otis (Tom Towles), embarks on a killing spree of the most vicious and grisly kind.
- 10/28/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Films based on real life crime sprees are often some of the most intense an unsettling pieces of cinema, particularly with their ability to depict just how senseless and erratic such criminals actually are. John McNaughton’s infamous low budget chiller Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, which makes its way on to Blu-ray and DVD this week, is certainly one such film. Follow the jump for our review…
Loosely based on the real life crimes of American serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, John McNaughton’s haunting docudrama sees Michael Rooker take on the role of Henry, a demented man who arrives in Chicago to move in with an ex-con acquaintance, Otis (Tom Towles). Otis’ kid sister Becky comes to live with her older brother after a falling out back home, deciding to head out to the big city to find a new life. We follow...
Films based on real life crime sprees are often some of the most intense an unsettling pieces of cinema, particularly with their ability to depict just how senseless and erratic such criminals actually are. John McNaughton’s infamous low budget chiller Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, which makes its way on to Blu-ray and DVD this week, is certainly one such film. Follow the jump for our review…
Loosely based on the real life crimes of American serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, John McNaughton’s haunting docudrama sees Michael Rooker take on the role of Henry, a demented man who arrives in Chicago to move in with an ex-con acquaintance, Otis (Tom Towles). Otis’ kid sister Becky comes to live with her older brother after a falling out back home, deciding to head out to the big city to find a new life. We follow...
- 10/26/2011
- by Stuart Cummins
- Obsessed with Film
To mark the release of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 25th Anniversary on Double-Play, Studio Canal have given us three copies to give away. It stars Michael Rooker, Tracy Arnold, Tom Towles and is directed by John McNaughton.
Based on the harrowing true story of one of America’s most notorious mass-murderers, Henry Lee Lucas (portrayed with a dead-eye passivity by a scarily resonant Michael Rooker), John McNaughton’s Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer builds to a disquieting and horrific climax and provides a sobering, nightmarish glimpse into a deranged and damaged mind. On its initial release, America’s MPAA gave the film the notorious X-rating, claiming that they “wouldn’t know where to begin cutting”. While in Britain, Chief Censor James Ferman took a whole year to give the film a certificate. “One of our psychologists said the film was remarkably accurate,” he argued, effectively giving it its best review.
Based on the harrowing true story of one of America’s most notorious mass-murderers, Henry Lee Lucas (portrayed with a dead-eye passivity by a scarily resonant Michael Rooker), John McNaughton’s Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer builds to a disquieting and horrific climax and provides a sobering, nightmarish glimpse into a deranged and damaged mind. On its initial release, America’s MPAA gave the film the notorious X-rating, claiming that they “wouldn’t know where to begin cutting”. While in Britain, Chief Censor James Ferman took a whole year to give the film a certificate. “One of our psychologists said the film was remarkably accurate,” he argued, effectively giving it its best review.
- 10/21/2011
- by Competitons
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
StudioCanal have announced the UK Blu-ray debut of one of the 90s most controversial movies, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, on October 24th. Directed and co-written by John McNaughton, the film is loosely based on the story of confessed murderer Henry Lee Lucas.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 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 real bonus for fans of Henry is that this new Blu-ray edition is crammed with special features and brand new extras, including:
Commentary with Director John McNaughton Interview with Director John McNaughton John McNaughton in conversation with Nigel Floyd Censorship History (The Opening Sequence, Otis and the Broken TV, The Home Invasion Scene) Portrait: The Making of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer...
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 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 real bonus for fans of Henry is that this new Blu-ray edition is crammed with special features and brand new extras, including:
Commentary with Director John McNaughton Interview with Director John McNaughton John McNaughton in conversation with Nigel Floyd Censorship History (The Opening Sequence, Otis and the Broken TV, The Home Invasion Scene) Portrait: The Making of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer...
- 9/22/2011
- by Phil
- Nerdly
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