This is not the best film to see before going to Chicago, though.
What it's about
After being released from prison, Henry moves in with ex-con acquaintance Otis in Chicago, and starts teaching him his methods in serial killing.
The take
There is goodness within everyone… supposedly. However, there are some instances where the belief is almost foolish, some sins done against humanity that can't be explained, reasoned out, or defended. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer challenges that notion in three characters (the titular serial killer, his fellow ex-con Otis, and Otis’ sister Becky) and in the silent, unprotesting way writer-director John McNaughton makes us witness their lives. While true crime aficionados and horror fans might find this rather tame, the true horror of this portrait isn't in the kills, but rather in the way we’ve become accustomed to this violence, the same way a literal serial killer would be.
What stands out
The performances.
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