MOVIE PICK OF THE WEEK: HENRY-PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER

Holy shit. Maniac has been known as the most controversial and disturbing Horror film ever made. Maybe that’s true. However, it lacks the realism that Henry focuses on. Absolutely terrifying. It’s so freaky, that I didn’t like it when I first saw it. It doesn’t have the fun element that Horror in general has.

After seeing it a few more times, I’ve grown to appreciate the brilliance. Starring Michael Rooker (Walking Dead), Thomas Towles (House of 1000 Corpses), and Tracy Arnold. A loose portrayal on real life killer Henry Lee Lucas and Otis O Toole. It’s filmed not necessarily in a low budget way, so much as they were shooting for a realistic look. A great companion for Michael Rooker’s bone chilling performance. As odd as it sounds, Henry is the more composed and controlled killer, as Otis is the loose cannon. So out of control that he even tries to rape his own sister.

Some Horror films don’t shoot for a good time. They really want to scare the shit out of you. For me…the most effective way is to show me something real. Show my next door neighbor, show me something from the news and blow it up. Michael, Jason, Freddy never scared me. They were just fun to watch. Henry, Krug, Buffalo Bill made me too terrified to leave the house. Because they weren’t cartoonish. They had human layers. They’re out in the world contributing to society, but behind closed doors they smother themselves in blood and let the inner demons have they’re night.

There are a few scenes that will never leave your mind…ever. One is the home invasion Clockwork Orange like scene. Attacking the husband, killing the son, and raping the wife. You think you’re in the scene. We pull away and realize we are sitting on the couch with Henry and Otis watching a video. The creepy part is Otis constantly rewinding it so he can keep watching it. Later on that evening, Henry comes home with Otis sister, and you see Otis asleep in the dark, with the rape scene on freeze frame. Fuck…Those people exist. They’re out there sharing the world with us. Evil.

It also doesn’t get enough credit as having one of the scariest endings I’ve seen in Horror. Doesn’t have that final jump scare that was played out in the 80’s. Henry pulls over to the side of the road, and drops off a bloody suitcase. That’s all I’ll say there. Nothing scarier than a killing machine disguising himself as a normal human being. A wolf among the sheep.

If you’re a dedicated Horror fan, you should definitely see this. I have this in my collection. I gotta tell you though, I really have to be up for it. I don’t pull this movie out very often. But I recognize it’s genius, and it has to be in my collection.

– G.R.E.E.N.B.A.N.K.