I finally got around to seeing this thing. If you look up a list of the most extreme or depraved movies ever made, you’ll typically come across Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. For someone like me, who has seen Salo: 120 Days of Sodom and A Serbian Film and The Human Centipede, Henry isn’t overly shocking. But it is damn good.
I guess the closest thing Henry could be compared to would be American Psycho. Both Henry (Michael Rooker) and Patrick Bateman, from American Psycho, have the uncontrollable urge to kill indiscriminately. Neither seems the least bit remorseful for their crimes. But where Bateman is an upper class business man in New York City, Henry is a lower class ex-con who takes jobs as they come and lives with a guy he met in prison. But probably the biggest difference between Bateman and Henry is that while Bateman is more of a spectacle–an entertaining character that makes you laugh as frequently as he shocks you with acts of violence–Henry… you almost feel sorry for, understanding that he’s a victim here too.
We learn early on that Henry was abused as a child by his prostitute mother, and that he killed her when he was fourteen. We also learn, when he can’t seem to recall exactly how he killed her, that he’s likely seeing his mother every time he commits murder. Or perhaps every time he kills a hooker.
When Henry meets Becky (Tracy Arnold) and we see that there is a mutual fondness, we as viewers are pulling for them. We see the underlying goodness in Henry. He is protective of Becky and seems to want her to have a good life, perhaps even a good life with him. But deep down, we know it can’t happen. Henry is too damaged, too fucked up. This is confirmed when Becky tries to seduce Henry but he appears awkward and uninterested even before their potential fling is rudely interrupted.
My wife was ticked off by the ending. But I say it had to end that way. Henry could not live happily ever after with Becky. He couldn’t change. It would have been a lie. The ending was perfect.
PC3’s Horror and Exploitation Movie Scale of Awesomeness
Gore – 8
Special Effects – 6
Nudity/Sexuality – 4
Wow Factor – 7
Acting – 9
Fear Factor – 5
Story/Plot/Originality – 7
Cinematography/Atmosphere – 8
Sound/Music – 5
Fun Factor – 6
With a total PHEMSA score of 65, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is one of the highest rated films I’ve reviewed yet. It’s such a great watch. Gritty, bloody, and thought-provoking. Watch it on Amazon.