Country:
U.S.A.
Genre(s):
Horror
Director:
John McNaughton
Cast:
Michael Rooker / Tom Towles / Tracy Arnold
Plot
Quiet and reclusive serial killer Henry risks exposure when he gets too
close to his roommates Otis and Becky.
What I Liked
This isn’t the first time I’ve seen “Henry: Portrait of a Serial
Killer.” I watched it once before, probably
sometime in the late nineties, as part of a spate of slasher films that
included all the essentials, Michael Myers, Freddy, Jason, Chucky, etc. “Henry” still stands out as easily the most
disturbing of them all, maybe more so than all of the others put together. The reason is because it is far and away the
most realistic, honest, and un-glamorous movie portrayal of a serial killer
that I’ve ever seen.
There are no supernatural powers here.
No special effects makeup or trademark costumes. No villainous one-liners in the script
(unless you include Henry’s memorably hateful quip, “Fuck the Bears”). No creative kills. No centerfolds bouncing around in and out of
their underwear and no ridiculously bizarre methods of murder (well, maybe one
TV-over-the-head electrocution). No super-smart psychos a la Hannibal Lecter. This is
just bare-bones violence, ugliness, and soullessness perfectly embodied by the
chillingly inexpressive performance of Michael Rooker in the title role. Based extremely loosely on real-life serial
killer Henry Lee Lucas, the main character is no super-villain of the Freddy
Krueger mold; just a sorry excuse for a human being. Stupid, uncaring, irresponsible, and
completely devoid of personality, this not a bad guy for which anyone should be
rooting. And his roommate Otis (played
by the frighteningly convincing Tom Towles), pathetic white trash to the core
and every bit as depraved as Henry, is even more disgusting.
All of the above could be read as a complaint more than a compliment, but
it can really be read as both. Certainly
“Henry” is intentionally the antithesis of the 80s slasher films that
glamorized serial killers as anti-heroes. There’s something to be said for its cutting through
the bullshit and showing us that these sociopaths are nobody to revere. That it does so while simultaneously beating
out its predecessors for truly disturbing horror should be regarded as a kind
of accomplishment.
What I Didn’t Like
The problem is, those slasher films and their iconic killers are the way
they are for a reason. They’re effective
entertainment for many people, and effective entertainment puts butts in seats
and dollars in the bank. “Henry” may be
an honest film that creates plenty of horror, but it is in no way fun to
watch. It’s a very well-acted and unique film and I consider myself a horror fan, yet I haven’t bothered
to watch this one for a dozen or so years for a reason. I just didn’t find anything to really enjoy
about it as entertainment.
Thought-provoking and memorable?
Absolutely. Enjoyable or exciting?
Nope.
Most Memorable Scene
There are several scenes of murder and/or murder’s aftermath that will take
a while to leave any viewer’s memory.
Not because they’re particularly flashy or creative in the manner of
most slasher films. But because they’re
so damn gritty and straight-forward. One
scene where Henry and Otis film themselves slaying an entire family certainly
is the most shocking. However, the movie actually has a very understated feel.
And nowhere is the understatement more effective than in the film’s closing moments
when Henry drops a bloody suitcase off by the roadside and the audience
immediately understands who is inside that bag, despite our wishes that it not
be the case.
My Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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