By Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is one of the best horror movies of the 1980s. Directed and co-written by John McNaughton, the film is an unrelentingly bleak trip into the world of its title character. Loosely based on real-life murder-spree of Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole, Henry is still one of the most disturbing movies ever made, propelled by Michael Rooker’s chilling, unflinching performance. (Henry may be the reason Rooker remains a cult favorite character actor and genre stalwart.)
Henry turns 30 this year, and to celebrate, Dark Sky Films will be re-releasing a brand-new 4k restoration of the film in select theaters nationwide.
The 30th anniversary edition of Henry will screen at the Chicago International Film Festival on October 14th, with McNaughton and Rooker in attendance. Theatrical engagements will begin on October 21st, starting in New York at the Landmark Sunshine. The film will also screen in Los Angeles at the Laemmle NoHo on October 28th. McNaughton will be present at the NYC and LA screenings.
If you’ve never seen Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer before, the trailer above will give you an idea of what to expect. What makes the movie so chilling isn’t the gore (though it has its share) but rather its worldview. The movie is an upsetting, psychotic nightmare played straight for its duration. Henry feels real, and that’s a terrifying thing.
Expect a Flixist Cult Club spotlight on Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer in mid-October.
Below is a theatrical re-release poster for Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer. Additional screening engagements and Blu-ray release information are currently unavailable.
[via Fangoria]
