Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

Loosely based off real life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, this film gives the viewer a glimpse into the grim, apathetic life of a perilous murderer. As the movie begins, we pan out on the body of a lifeless woman, a presage to the dark tone of the film. Henry, eerily portrayed by Michael Rooker, does his murderous work by stalking victims in his car through out the streets of Chicago. While most of the violence is done off camera, we are pervasively shown the brutal crime scenes of Henry’s victims, accompanied by an auditory flashback of their murders. Later we meet his trashy, inane roommate, and former prison buddy Otis. Otis brings his recently divorced sister home to stay at their apartment to save some money for her daughter. His sister is a naïve young woman, who feels she connects with Henry from their similar upbringing of parental abuse. Otis, played effortlessly by Tom Towles, is a depraved scumbag who persistently enjoys coping a feel on his sister. One night when Henry takes Otis out for hookers, Henry’s bloodlust takes over, and he strangles the prostitute to death. Otis then starts to do the same to the other, but Henry intervenes, and snaps her neck. Otis, speechless at first, later comes to feel remorseless and enjoys the urge to kill. Henry then explains to Otis why it’s important to murder a different way every time; shoot one, strangle another, drown the next. Saying that if you don’t have a modus operandi or pattern of work, it’s almost impossible to be caught.

This film isn’t gory by any means, but the way the violence is depicted is just as disturbing as any graphic splatter scene. The most rigorous scene is when Henry and Otis invade a family’s home and video record the entire attack. Later we see they are emotionlessly viewing the video of their last onslaught. This is more unsettling to the viewer than the violence itself. While it isn’t a very plot driven film, this is more of a string of events in the life of two serial killers, culminating to a bloody climax. For something different than your average slasher, containing some disturbing imagery, and substantial acting, Henry is a film that is sure to stay with you after your fist viewing.

Me with Tom Towles.