Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 30th Anniversary Blu-ray Review
There are some movies that you watch and they provide a point in time reference to a culture or a way of life, because of (or sometimes in spite of) their storyline and the material they cover. Other movies provide us with a look into the human psyche, a view inside the workings of a mind that maybe so different from our own that they stand on their own as a poignant character study thanks to the performances, the setting, etc. And a very small segment of these films, of these rarely overlapping VENN diagrams, manage to do both and convey much more than maybe even the filmmaker intended, giving us a look into both a world and a character, a fully flushed out experience that captures our imaginations in positive or sometimes negative ways and connects us with the material in a way that I think all films aspire to, but few achieve. HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER (1986), the first feature film directed by John McNaughton and one of the first to star Michael Rooker, is one of those rare films. Recently released to Blu-ray for its 30th anniversary, HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER is as much a look into the seedy underground of Chicago in the late 1980s as it is a startlingly sharp and compelling character piece.
HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER is a difficult film to place in the pantheon of feature films. I can’t think of a recent movie that has conveyed its subject matter in such a frank and disturbing way. So much so, HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER in fact gave me nightmares after watching it for this very review. Michael Rooker (who you might not quite recognize as Yondu from the recent GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY franchise) plays the title character, Henry, with a subtlety that belies the nature of the film and enhances the narrative, always pushing forward. Henry is a shark, always moving forward and looking for his next kill, never connecting with anyone or anything beyond what it might get him. What makes him even scarier, though, is how plausibly the entire thing feels; at times it would be easy to forget you’re watching a film and instead you wonder if you’re peeking into the real world, seeing something you were never meant to see, and wondering when Henry might come for you because of what you know.
The film opens on some generic but terrifyingly grisly murder scenes which we may or may not attribute to Henry, and then immediately throws us into his world. Henry is living with Otis, a man with whom he shared a cell when they were both in prison. Everything is moving along for these two as it might, Otis making his regular checkins with his parole officer and Henry doing what he does, until Otis’s sister Becky comes to live with them after running away from her abusive relationship. Becky knows that her brother isn’t a good person and she is initially concerned about this quiet loner living with her brother but she forms a kind of bond with Henry and starts to have feelings for him, which makes Otis quite jealous. Henry decides to recruit Otis to join him on his spree in Chicago, which instigates an escalation in Henry’s activity and a horrific turn for Otis, as the two feed off each other’s need to continue their work.
I said earlier that HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER is not only a compelling character piece, it is also a document the world in the late 80s, specifically the underbelly of Chicago. HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER documents not only these persons lives but also what it would have been like to live as a blue collar worker in Chicago during the time period, something generally not seen in main stream cinema where life tends to take on all of the glamour (and none of the muck) of the time. These characters are relatable in a weird way, and that makes it all the harder to understand why they are doing what they are doing.
This documentary style feeling owes partly to the way in which the film was shot, on grainy film that eerily reflects the early VHS and camcorder recordings that so vividly play into some of the film’s most harrowing scenes. In fact, there are a few scenes that were shot by Rooker and Towles (Otis) as they continue their spree, which they then watch in their living room along with the audience. This is one of the most powerful, intimate, and difficult scenes to watch in the entire film, because the audience comes to understand after the fact that they have been watching this past crime alongside the killers. It is genius filmmaking and pulls the audience into the feature in a way that leaves you feeling like you need a shower after you watch.
HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER is, at no time, an easy watch… and yet it is an important piece of American cinema. One of the first horror films of its kind, and one of the best of the bunch. Rooker is absolutely mesmerizing as Henry and his supporting cast of Towles (Otis) and Arnold (Betsy) inhabit their roles with jarring realism that carry this film and lend more credit to its place in cinema-history. Definitely worth a watch, I just wouldn’t suggest doing it right before bedtime.
BLU-RAY REVIEW
Video: (1080p Fullframe 1.33:1) The video presentation of HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER is exactly what it needs to be, grainy and immersive to the time period, giving a feeling of peering into actual lives.
Audio: (English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0) The audio presentation of HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER is also very well done, with a great mix of gory sound and a compelling score that keeps you tuned in to the tension of every moment.
Commentary with Director John McNaughton The commentary for HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER features both McNaughton and documentarian David Gregory, who helps steer the conversation and peppers McNaughton with questions to keep things moving. This is a phenomenal commentary track – others should take note. If you like commentary, this is a must hear.
In Defense of HENRY: An Appreciation (20:43) Filmmakers, critics, and scholars of all ages discuss the impact of HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER on the horror genre and on filmmaking in general. A really interesting piece if you enjoy discussion of film culture.
Henry vs MPAA: A Visual History (10:52) Discussion of the laws that affected the original ratings systems and how they were changed thanks to HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER. This is a phenomenal documentary about the changes in law that resulted and the backlash from the filmmaking community.
Henry at the BBFC: An Interview with NIGHTMARE USA Author Stephen Thrower (27:25) Another historical perspective on the influence of HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER, this time from a brilliant British author.
It’s Either You or Them: An Interview with Artist Joe Coleman (08:43) Coleman was the artist who created the poster for HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER, and he talks about how he came to work on the film and how it changed his life.
In the Round: A Conversation with John McNaughton (28:05) Director McNaughton discusses his influences in creating HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER and in making his other films, his life leading to film, and how he found his way to film after doing very different work for the start of his adult life. McNaughton provides insights into the process that are truly engaging.
Portrait: The Making of Henry (52:35) An extended look from when HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER was originally released. This phenomenal discussion gives some great history into the making of the film as well as providing some context for many of the scenes and the actors motivations. Really, really interesting and worth a watch.
Deleted Scenes and Outtakes (21:25) Deleted scenes from an earlier release of HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER are included here once again without sound mixing and other sound elements. Instead this features further commentary by McNaughton who provides context for the scenes. Nothing really worth noting here.
Interview with John McNaughton, 1998 (30:44) After the richness of the other special features this interview feels a bit dull but is still contextually interesting for anyone who wants to know more about the process of creating HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER.
The Blu-ray for HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER also features the Original Trailer (01:53), 30th Anniversary Trailer (01:46), a Stills Gallery and Storyboards from production of the film. The Blu-ray also features a reversible cover so you can showcase the incredible art of Joe Coleman if you prefer that to the plain-Jane original video cover.