Movie Debate #39: Henry - Portrait of a Serial Killer

[Reed Rothchild | 9,965]

 

[Reed Rothchild | 9,965]

Part 2 of 2 for @fox's picks

[Reed Rothchild | 9,965]

Bump 

And people wanted me to go "deeper" with these things

[Bearcat-Doug | 5,124]

1 hour ago, Reed Rothchild said:

Bump 

And people wanted me to go "deeper" with these things

I don't feel as bad that I've never heard of it then. It does look interesting though.

[mbd39 | 2,104]

I'm not sure how to rate it. I "liked" it, but it's never going to be a favorite. I respect it. It gets a 7.

 

[Bearcat-Doug | 5,124]

4 minutes ago, mbd39 said:

I'm not sure how to rate it. I "liked" it, but it's never going to be a favorite. I respect it. It gets a 7.

 

Apparently having seen it gives you a distinct advantage this week.

[mbd39 | 2,104]

11 minutes ago, Bearcat-Doug said:

Apparently having seen it gives you a distinct advantage this week.

I've seen it on TV, maybe on the Independent Film Channel.

 

[DefaultGen | 5,727]

6/10. Realistic and unpleasant but maybe not the most entertaining thing. I thought I would like it a little more since I'm into downers.

[fox | 1,775]

A disturbing portrait based loosely on real life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. Shot with a $hitty 4:3 camera, it only helps make the gritty streets of Chicago feel more grimy and real. Michael Rooker gives a tour de force performance as Henry, the cold and calculating drifter and murderer. He is joined by the drug dealing sex fiend Otis, and Otis’ sister Becky the victim of an abusive father and husband. The three come together at a crossroads and share an apartment, in a twisted slice of life tale.

While shocking, much of the violence happens off screen. We are introduced to Henry thru a series of different murders showing only the grim aftermath and a bit of the audio, much more effective and haunting. When we do get some on screen violence, it is made even more unnerving but the inclusion of a video camera, adding a voyeur element to the awful events which is rewound and rewatched for sick enjoyment.

Henry is a real piece of work. His origin keeps changing; did he kill his mama with a baseball bat, or did he shoot her, or did he stab her? Is this series of events what happen or just a story he tells to get empathy? Or worse, has he killed so much and life is that meaningless to him that he doesn’t even remember himself? This fits in with his MO, which is to always commit murders differently and always be on the move so as not to have an MO.

Henry is the ultimate user, taking from other people and tossing them in garbage when he is done. He takes Otis under his wing, pushing him to murder and worse. More tragic, is Becky who falls for Henry, wanting to see some good in him and escape her past, only to find a moral black hole.

[Reed Rothchild | 9,965]

Take my score with a grain of salt since I saw it over a decade ago.  Enjoyed it, but I never bothered looking into a Blu Ray (I've owned a 1000+ horror titles on BD)

[fox | 1,775]

15 hours ago, Reed Rothchild said:

Take my score with a grain of salt since I saw it over a decade ago.  Enjoyed it, but I never bothered looking into a Blu Ray (I've owned a 1000+ horror titles on BD)

Blu ray looks good.  But like I said, film was shot in 4:3 on $hitty cameras.  This might be one where an old grimey vhs copy might just add to the experience.  It certainly would add to the filming/voyeur scenes.