Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

User Rating:

7.2/10   

Director:

John McNaughton

Writers:

Richard Fire (written by) &
John McNaughton (written by)

Release Date:

September 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Horror

Tagline:

Yeah, I killed my Mama...

Plot:

Based on the true life serial killer, Henry Lee Lucas.

Plot Keywords:

Murder | Serial Killer | Prostitute | Attempted Rape | Disturbing

Awards:

9 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Mary Demas	...	Dead Woman / Dead Prostitute / Hooker #1
Michael Rooker	...	Henry
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
Tracy Arnold	...	Becky
Tom Towles	...	Otis
David Katz	...	Henry's Boss
John Scafidi	...	Kid with Football #1
Benjamen Passman	...	Kid with Football #2
Flo Spink	...	Woman in Cadillac
Kurt Naebig	...	High School Jock
Kristin Finger	...	Hooker #2
Lily Monkus	...	Woman in Beauty Shop
Ray Atherton	...	Fence
Eric Young	...	Parole Officer
Rick Paul	...	Shooting Victim
Peter Van Wagner	...	Bum #1
Tom McKearn	...	Bum #2
Frank Coronado	...	Bum #3 (as Frank Coranado)
Lisa Temple	...	Murdered Family - Wife
Brian Graham	...	Murdered Family - Husband
Sean Ores	...	Murdered Family - Son
Pamela Fox	...	Hair Stylist
Waleed B. Ali	...	Store Clerk
Donna Dunlap	...	Dog Walker
Augie the Dog	...	Delores

Directed by
John McNaughton

Writing credits
Richard Fire		(written by) &
John McNaughton		(written by)

Produced by
Malik B. Ali	....	executive producer
Waleed B. Ali	....	executive producer
Lisa Dedmond	....	producer
Steven A. Jones	....	producer
John McNaughton	....	producer

Original Music by
Ken Hale
Steven A. Jones
Robert McNaughton

Cinematography by
Charlie Lieberman		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Elena Maganini

Casting by
Jeffrey Lyle Segal

Art Direction by
Rick Paul

Costume Design by
Patricia Hart

Makeup Department
Michael J. Alonzi	....	makeup effects crew
Chuck Gatz	....	hair stylist
Herb Nordheimer	....	makeup effects crew
Bernd Rantscheff	....	makeup artist (as Berndt Rantscheff)
Jeffrey Lyle Segal	....	special makeup effects artist (as Jeffery Lyle Segal)
Scott Whitehead	....	makeup effects crew

Production Management
Lisa Dedmond	....	production manager
Steven A. Jones	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andrew Bradburn	....	second assistant director
Paul Chen	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Frank Coronado	....	storyboard artist
Rick Paul	....	property master
Rick Paul	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Corey Coken	....	sound editor
Ric Coken	....	post-production sound mixer (as Rick Coken)
Dan Haberkorn	....	sound effects
Elena Maganini	....	post-production sound editor
Louie Quiroz	....	assistant post-production sound mixer
Patrick Yacono	....	sound re-recording mixer: restoration
Thomas T. Yore	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Lee Ditkowski	....	technical effects

Stunts
Paul M. Lane	....	stunts
David Woolley	....	fight coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Buckley	....	grip
Brian Graham	....	grip
Dave Mahlman	....	assistant camera
Paul Petraitis	....	still photographer
Bernd Rantscheff	....	still photographer (as Berndt Rantscheff)
Bradley Sellers	....	assistant camera (as Brad Sellars)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Patricia Hart	....	wardrobe

Music Department
Steven A. Jones	....	musical director

Other crew
Richard Fire	....	acting coach
Melanie Hecht	....	script supervisor
Steven A. Jones	....	title designer
David Le Boy	....	title designer (as David LeBoy)
Bradley Magon	....	production assistant

Thanks
Kevin Dougherty	....	special thanks
Greg Doyle	....	special thanks
Tommy Dubois	....	special thanks
Mic Fabus	....	special thanks
Neil Flynn	....	special thanks (as Neal Flynn)
Judith Gold	....	acknowledgment: Chuck Gatz courtesy of
Steven Hager	....	special thanks
Larry Hart	....	special thanks
Bob Jorgenson	....	special thanks
Jeanette Jorgenson	....	special thanks
C.J. Kavooras	....	special thanks
Alex Kerr	....	special thanks
Charles Michaels	....	special thanks
Becky Passman	....	special thanks
Elizabeth Passman	....	special thanks
Paul Petraitis	....	special thanks
Wendy Sander	....	special thanks
Mike Sandlass	....	special thanks
Laura Storto	....	special thanks
Barb Sun	....	special thanks
Greg Sun	....	special thanks
Pat Thompson	....	special thanks
Cath Whitney	....	special thanks
James Young	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Maljack Productions

Distributors

• Greycat Films (1990) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kulturföreningen Kedjan (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Cinépix Film Properties (CFP) (1990) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Triangelfilm (1992) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Astro Distribution (1997) (Germany) (VHS)
• MPI Home Video (1998) (USA) (DVD) (director's edition)
• MPI Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Dark Sky Films (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• MPI Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Atlantic Film (2001) (Sweden) (DVD)
• Dark Sky Films (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Future Film (2001) (Finland) (DVD)
• Look Filmes (????) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MPI Home Video (????) (USA) (VHS)
• MPI Home Video (????) (USA) (video) (laserdisc)
• Optimum Releasing (2003) (UK) (DVD)
• Triangelfilm (1996) (Sweden) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Alloy Music  soundtrack published by (as Alloy Music A.S.C.A.P.)
• Chicago Police Department  special thanks
• Ferrer Talent  special thanks (as Ferrer Talent, Chicago, IL)
• Lassen's Tap  special thanks (as Lassens Tap, Homewood, IL)
• MPI Home Video  courtesy of (excerpts from "Becket")
• Mayor's Office, Chicago  special thanks (as The Mayor's Film Office, Chicago, IL)
• Midway International Airport  special thanks (as Midway Airport, Chicago, IL)
• Organic Theatre, The  special thanks (as The Organic Theatre, Chicago, IL)
• Screen Time Images  film restoration
• Sproute Route  catering (as Sprout Route LTD.)
• Tone Zone Recording  music recorded at (as Tone Zone Recording Chicago, IL)
• Zenith D.B.  post-production sound services (as Zenith D.B. Chicago, IL)

Also Known As:

Henry - Portrait d'un tueur (Canada: French title) [fr]
Henry - en massmördare (Sweden) [sv]
Henry - pioggia di sangue (Italy) [it]
Henry Lee Lucas - sarjamurhaaja (Finland) [fi]
Henry, portrait d'un serial killer (France) [fr]
Henry, retrat d'un assassí (Spain: Catalan title) [ca]
Henry, retrato de un asesino (Spain) [es]
Henry, to portraito enos dolofonou (Greece) [el]
Henry: A Sombra de Um Assassino (Portugal) [pt]
Henry: portret seryjnego zabójcy (Poland) [pl]
Retrato de um Assassino (Brazil) [pt]

Runtime:

83 min | Australia:77 min | Norway:78 min | Sweden:78 min | Italy:75 min (edited for TV)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

New Zealand:(Banned) (original rating) | New Zealand:R18 (re-rating: cut) | Australia:R | Finland:(Banned) (1992) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1998) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1997) | Finland:K-18 (cut) (1992) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Finland:K-18 (uncut) (DVD rating) (2001) | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | France:-16 | Ireland:18 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:18 | South Korea:18 | Sweden:15 | UK:18 | USA:Open (rating surrendered: 1989) | USA:X (original rating: 1988) | West Germany:18 | Iceland:(Banned) (video rating) | Iceland:16 (original rating) | Italy:VM18 (1992)

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

Maljack Productions

Trivia:

In the original script, the family massacre scene is longer. After the three family members have been murdered, Otis (Tom Towles) molests the body of the mother (Lisa Temple) and performs full necrophilia with it. Prior to shooting however, director John McNaughton made the decision to abandon this part of the scene.

Quotes:

Becky: I love you, Henry.
Henry: I guess I love you too.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Family Guy: Brian: Portrait of a Dog (#1.7)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Psycho

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.