A serial killer comes to stay with a dysfunctional pair of siblings. Things go badly in 1986's Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Michael Rooker, in his debut role, stars as the title character, giving a thoroughly effective performance in this sad, slightly surreal, and disturbing film.
Becky (Tracy Arnold) asks him if what her brother, Otis (Tom Towles), told her was true. Did Henry really kill his mamma? With some evident discomfort he admits, yes, he stabbed her. He goes on to describe the events and impressions leading up to him finally shooting the woman. "I thought you said you stabbed her," says Becky, innocently confused. "Oh, yeah," says Henry.
It's not that he made up the murder--he definitely went to prison for it--it's that he doesn't seem to care that much about the details. You can see real rage in him when he talks about it, but the event itself means little. Michael Rooker does a great job showing credibly how Henry's bizarre disconnection can coexist with a vehement passion.
He develops a complicated friendship with Otis, built on shared, vicious stupidity. When Otis accidentally breaks his television, he and Henry go to a shop and have an amusing, ridiculous bartering session with the salesmen before finally murdering him. Henry seems genuinely protective of Becky when Otis tries to sexually assault her. But if this is any sign of humanity in Henry, it's a tiny flicker.
Poor Becky. She really doesn't understand what's going on. Feeling flirty, she changes her shirt in the room with the two men for no reason, asking them to turn around. But the amusing part is when she shows them her big surprise is a T-shirt with "I Love Chicago" written on it. Henry, evidently unable to read even this, asks her what it says. This sad comedy makes everything all the more tragic.
Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is available on The Criterion Channel.
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