HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER

In 1986, John McNaughton produced and directed a horror movie, so distressing, so brutally uncompromising, that it sat on the shelf for four years, as it was deemed to be too horrific to release in the USA. When it was given a short theatrical run in 1990, audiences frequently ran out of the auditorium, because of the sheer and unrelenting intensity the film provoked in them! Then, when it came to the UK, ex-BBFC president, James Ferman still deemed it to be too nasty for adults to handle uncut, and ordered some scenes to be rearranged. His reason? To remove the masturbatory element out of the "Home Invasion" sequence. Only about three years ago, did UK audiences finally get to see the movie uncut and uncensored in the home.

Now, just shy of it's 20th anniversary, a superb double-disc edition has been released in the USA, that real horror fans should snap-up now.

Loosely based on real-life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, the film follows one week in the life of a lone, predatory, and very psychotic man, who comes to live with an old prison-friend called Otis Toole. At first the guys get on well, and then Otis's younger sister arrives on the doorstep, and Henry's world gets turned upside down. Henry is forced to decide who should live and who should be kept at a distance, lest his ulterior lifestyle gets discovered.

It's the Home Invasion scene, that is the pivotal point in the film, when McNaughton performs the ultimate horror movie twist, and asks you the viewer, if you really want to see violence in movies? The film was born out of the fact that the 1980's gave us many memorable anti-heroes, courtesy of actors like Clint Eastwood, Al Pacino, Sylvester Stallone, and Steven Seagal. Characters who would routinely slice-up, shoot, brutalise and maim the enemy, whilst we viewers egged them on. McNaughton's anger at people tolerating violence, that he wanted to turn the book's on them, and ask how they liked his violent anti-hero. Would Henry be someone the audience would egg-on, or would it make them question themselves?

Anyone who's seen this film, will know that you do question yourself. Even seasoned gorehounds, who think they've seen the most degrading and sickening films ever, still find "Henry…" to be something that makes them deeply disturbed. And so it should! "Henry…" is a film deliberately set-out to shake you up, throw you around, and fuck with your brain…

… It does its job perfectly!

Henry is played by actor Michael Rooker, ("Cliffhanger", "JFK", "Crime Story"), in a powerhouse role that he has made his very own. Tom Towles plays the sleazy Otis Toole, and sister Becky is played by stage actress Tracy Arnold.

All three, were part of a theatre troupe, so were already aquainted with one another. But Rooker took the role so seriously, and turned Henry into such an uncompromisingly evil character, that both cast and crew were often unaware of who they were with off-screen - Henry or Michael!

This is an absolutely first-class movie! It pares back and redefines the horror genre, for what it should be: something that will terrify the living crap out of its audience. Even if the film were completely fictional, it would still be as raw and creepy. At just 86 minutes, director McNaughton has trimmed his film down, into a masterpiece, that will be hard pushed to ever be beaten.

With this double-disc set, we are treated to a simple, but wonderful release, that does the film a lot of justice. For starters, the film's original 16mm elements have been cleaned-up and remastered. The picture is as good as you are likely to see, bearing its origins. There are still occasional bits of dirt and scratches on the film, but in my opinion, they actually help the film, rather than hinder it, because they turn this sinister movie into an even more distressing experience. Also, we get the proper, and preferred full-screen print. When the film was made, it was made in 4:3. For cinemas, and UK DVD, the 4:3 picture was hard-matted to give it its 1.85:1 aspect ratio. Going back to the original ratio, means you actually see more of the intended picture, and it still stands-up well, nearly 20 years on.

The audio is a Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo soundtrack, with removable English and Dutch subtitles. I'm glad the producers of this disc, didn't try to upgrade the sound into a DD 5.1 or DTS format, as I believe it would impair the experience. From the opening credits, right through to the movies end, the Stereo sound is meaty and bassey enough, that dialogue remains clear, yet the extensive audio effects are still audible. It is the multi-layered sound effects, that really harnesses the film's power! The opening montage depicts several corpses. Whilst the camera pans over them, the audio is freaking us out with sounds of stabbing, screams, eerie music and other industrial noise, to tell us what happened to the person, before they became the corpse we now see. It's a haunting and visceral experience, and one that is likely to linger for a long time after the film ends! There is also a great, minimalist music score, that deserves to get a release on Compact Disc!

As well as the movie, we have about 20 minutes of deleted and alternate scenes, with added audio commentary from the director himself. Most of the scenes deserved to be left out, but it's interesting to hear why these were selected. The rought-cut of the movie came to over 130 minutes! Two trailers also make an appearance, (for Henry and the abomination of a sequel, Henry 2), and they round off Disc 1.

On the second disc, we get an all-new 50-minute documentary, covering the entire history of the film, from its inception, right through to its eventual release in the USA. Alongside words from McNaughton himself, actors Rooker, Towles and Arnolds also take part, explaining more about the film's background, and their personal experiences during the filming. I'd recommend watching this, only if you've seen the film, as some of the comments may ruin your enjoyment. I should also state, that this documentary is as thought-provoking as the film itself. McNaughton and the cast, raise many pertinent questions. Very enjoyable to watch.

This is accompanied by a 30-minute US documentary show, originally broadcast on US TV, called "Serial Killers; The Lives of Henry Lee Lucas". Here, we get a background to the man himself, and it's far from pleasant! A boy who was routinely abused by his mother, both sexually and physically; used by her for her own, perverse enjoyment (including him being dressed up in girl's clothing, and forced to watch his mother prostitute herself with some of her violent clients), and then his enjoyment with killing animals. It's a nasty show, about a truly vile man, but it's yet more food for thought, and strengthens the fictionalised portrait we've just sat through on Disc 1. Lastly, there are a set of original storyboards. Due to financial constraints, it wasn't possible to draw the entire movie out. So, over about 50 still-images, the film is laid out, in a very rudimentary style. The great thing about seeing the images, is how closely they resemble the finished product, and how life-like some of the drawings were of the three main cast members.

Those of you with the original MPI release, should upgrade to this infinitely superior version. However, you may wish to retain the original disc, as it had a different 45-minute interview with director McNaughton. (A minor shame that this could not have been included on this release also.)

Lastly, as if the film weren't controversial enough, the cover of the DVD, is reversible. There is the well-known photographic shot of Henry looking at himself in the mirror, but on the reverse side, there is Joe Coleman's banned artwork for the same film. The imagery is not overtly graphic, but the issue was that the poster would be shown in cinemas and video rental outlets. In such places, anyone - young or old - might view the poster. Although the artwork was an accurate depiction of the movie itself, the poster was cited as being potentially offensive, and the now-famous photo image of Henry was used instead.

Overall, I'd highly recommend that anyone with even the remotest interest in real, raw and unrestrained horror films, seek out this US-import disc! It's one of the finest discs I've seen, and will still reward its audience, even after you've seen the film several times over! If you think you know what real horror is, see "Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer", and I dare you to watch it alone, and without the lights on! I guarantee you will feel the hand of death crawling over your shoulders, at some point during your viewing!

Review by "Pooch".