filippaberry84 I think this is a new genre that they're all sort of working their way through it and haven't got all the kinks worked out yet but it's a genre that works for me.

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin The movie really just wants to entertain people.

Yazmin Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

Moviecritic Granted it is definitely a b-movie, but my god, it is slow. It was kinda rip off a Clockwork Orange. Just reminded of it in some parts, like when they are video taping the family thing. The music was so over the top too. The end? Really? No neighbor heard anything? Really?Totally over rated and i've heard about it for long time, but it was a let down.

namashi_1 Based on the true life serial killer, Henry Lee Lucas, 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer' is a haunting & unsettling tale of a troubled man. Its brilliantly written & Michael Rooker nails in it! 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer' is dark, disturbing & violent. But, thats the mood of the film, its unsettling & haunting. Its no-holds-barred, no-mercy storytelling, that leaves a strong impact. Its certainly not flawless, but its depiction of a serial killer is extremely intriguing. John McNaughton's Direction is note-worthy. He handles this difficult, disturbing story with an unbiased opinion. He captures every frame with a sense of repulsion & paranoia. Michael Rooker is awesome. He's award-worthy as Henry. He's truly an under-rated performer, who deserves much more than what he has received. On the whole, 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer' is not everyone's cup of tea, but those who can stomach a brutal, life-like story of a twisted of serial killer, shouldn't give this one a miss.

George Roots (GeorgeRoots) It is a film that has everything I should hate in a movie, yet there is a undeniable appeal to "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer". Not for its chilling tone and graphic scenes, but its documentary-drama vibes and Michael Rooker's colder than ice performance. I have been looking for this film for almost a year, and I finally found it in a cheap record store with a shelf of 500 other DVD's just gathering dust.Essentially the film is based on the infamous real-life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, a man found guilty and convicted of 11 murders but had been both known and rumoured to have killed 600 people between the 1960's and 1980's. Henry for a time, would be killing at least 1 person a week with the help of a drifter and male prostitute Otis Toole. Henry died in prison of heart failure in 2001, at the age of 64.The film is loosely based on those events, but as the opening credits say, it is a "Portrait and non-fictitious story of a man named Henry". Otis has been tweaked in as a fellow convict and his niece in real life had been changed to be his sister. As far as the narrative goes, it is literally watching Henry killing prostitute after prostitute, and eventually the meeting of Otis's sister (Who is sweet and naive to Henry's crimes). Both reveal there troubled pasts in the notorious "Yeah I killed my Mama" speech. Sooner or later, Otis (Who is beyond sicker) joins Henry on his endeavours, and dreadfully re-watches the sadistic attacks on recorded tape.It's 1 hour 20 minutes of brutal killings and character development. But as many critics have realised and shamefully myself too, it is a movie "That fuels people's fascination about serial killers". I've seen many a snuff movie with results I cannot fully understand, but "Henry" does have some harsh pros about it. 1. It's partly true, and 2. The characters are sick enough to actually become interesting. You will not believe how far you'll be willing to watch these portrayals go. Michael Rooker is in his first ever role as Henry, giving us an all to real performance. There are moments where he is surpassed by Tom Towles's performance as Otis, which is so unreal sometimes Henry felt like the anti- hero of the movie (Yezus!). Final Verdict: It's sick to which I am all for, but I wished in more meaningful purposes. But nevertheless, "Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer" does have this bizarrely strong appeal, most likely because of its part fact, part true story. I urge you to check it out sometime, BUT BE PREPARED. 8/10.

Chris Smith (RockPortReview) To quote Homer Simpson "Oooh portrait, sounds classy". This movie is the chilling and brutal story of serial killer Henry Lee Lucas, who along with his accomplice Otis killed an unknown number of people. Also known as the confession killer for taking credit for hundreds and hundreds of killings. Henry's actual number of victims it unknown, but he was convicted of 11 murders and sentenced to life in prison. He died in 2001.Directed by John McNahugton on a shoestring budget of $100,000, "Henry" was filmed in Chicago with unknown actors in late 1985 and early 1986. It marked the screen debut of Michael Rooker, who plays Henry, has gone on to have a prolific career. Most currently playing Merle Dixon on "The Walking Dead".Henry is loner living Chicago and is a part time exterminator of bugs, then at night an exterminator of humans. He lives with Otis another sleazebag loner who isn't to bright. They met while serving time and now share a small prison like apartment. Otis also has a sister, Becky, who left her husband and has come to live with the serial killer odd couple. Henry and Becky spark up a relationship and he protects her against the verbally and physically abusive Otis.McNaughton opens the movie on a close up of one of Henry's victims (the orange socks girl) that was ditched in the weeds. We then see a few more gruesome crime scenes of Henry's work. His tableaux of carnage. This movie is not a your typical horror movie, it's more of a pitch black character drama about violence. Rooker is amazing in his performance as the remorseless and soulless killer. Although Henry mostly killed by himself, he let Otis tag along and they became a team, until Henry ultimately killed him too. The movie is not a truly accurate account of actual events and some things were changed to make a it a better movie."Henry" was completed in 1986 but wasn't released until 1989 as it had an epic battle with the MPAA over the films rating. Originally given and X rating, which was mostly reserved for pornography. "Henry" was one of the movies that led to the creation of the NC-17 rating (which is still a ratings death sentence). Meaning that the movie contains intense adult themes, but is not pornography. Once released it really polarized critics, it received several rave reviews from critics like Roger Ebert (R.I.P). Its an intense and unflinching look into the darkest corners of humanity. Dark Sky films released a 2 disc special edition in 2006 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the film. It has a commentary track from the director, an hour long making of documentary, and much more. Check it out!