IMDb > Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
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Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) More at IMDbPro »

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Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) -- Based on the true life serial killer, Henry Lee Lucas.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) -- CineMagia.ro - Trailer (Flash)
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Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   8,626 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 3% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
John McNaughton
Writers:
Richard Fire (written by) &
John McNaughton (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
September 1990 (USA) more
Genre:
Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller more
Tagline:
Yeah, I killed my Mama... more
Plot:
Based on the true life serial killer, Henry Lee Lucas. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
9 wins & 7 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(32 articles)
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 (From ReelzChannel. 21 November 2009, 4:12 AM, PST)
User Comments:
The human mind can be pretty disturbing from time to time more (173 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
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
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
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 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Certification:
New Zealand:(Banned) (uncut) | New Zealand:R18 (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 more
Company:
Maljack Productions more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The scene in the living room where Otis (Tom Towles) films Henry (Michael Rooker) and Becky (Tracy Arnold) with the camcorder was completely improvised by the three actors. more
Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Becky stabs Otis in the eye, its clearly a clay model and not a real head. more
Quotes:
Henry: It's always the same and it's always different. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Post Traumatic: An American Nightmare (2009) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Jukin more

FAQ

How much sex, violence, and profanity are in this movie?
What's the purpose of the unusual sound effects used several times throughout the film?
What are the deleted scenes on the DVD?
more

User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
22 out of 32 people found the following comment useful.
The human mind can be pretty disturbing from time to time, 1 August 2003
Author: Coventry from the Draconian Swamp of Unholy Souls

As you probably know, this film is partly based on the confessions of the real Henry Lee Lucas. If you know that and see this movie, you can ask some serious question about how disturbing some of our fellow humans are. This man shows no emotions what so ever. Contact with other people is nearly impossible, no mercy, not wondering wether his victims have a family or how old they are...no nothing. You wonder if he even IS a human, no living creature can be so awful.

So, if you ask yourself all this during this movie, and I assure you will, you could say it's an excellent film. The mission of the movie itself has succeeded. The ideal atmosphere is achieved in the movie. Dark, melancholical, desspressing...Director McNaughton really creates world you don't want to live in. Michael Rooker plays the role of his life and puts down one of the best acting performances ever. Sure, he's never honored with an Oscar or any other important price for his performance, but everyone who sees this movie knows it's true. Actually, when I first saw this film at the age of 9 ( Too young, I know) I thought this actor was in fact a real-life psycho. lol. Henry talks with the same, aggressive tone of voice during the whole movie, his eyes seem to shoot fireballs when the camera looks like in them and his apprearence makes you want to puke. Actually this film is pure genius for mainly one reason : you don't have sympathy for any of the caracthers. Most film, even is the whole cast play villains, there's always one you like. One character you create a sort of band with. In Henry: Portrait of a serial Killer you can only feel hate. Hate and disgust for Henry and for his compagnon Otis. Heck, you even start to hate the girl... For being so naïve that is.

Although many persons are killed and many violence occurs, Henry certainly ain't a gore or bloody film. Many things are suggested but not shown, and in this case it's actually more or at least as scary as showing the actual murders. That's a quality you don't see in movies very much. Only the old horror movies from the 30's and 40's could do that. And now also Henry can. I advise everyone to see this movie, if they haven't already. Not just if you're a fan of horror or thrillers, but also if you appreciate good movies in general. Even the most critic movie buffs can only find this film terrific. It was on many many levels a very important film. My humble opinion of these 87 minutes of perfection...what do you think... 10 / 10

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