agmtw logo
search

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)

7.2

A disquieting depiction of murder’s mundanity

Movie

United States of America
English
Crime, Horror, Thriller
1986

TLDR

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.

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

My Old Ass (2024)

A pleasant mix of comedy and coming-of-age that may or may not leave you in tears

8.0

Silenced (2011)

A brutal and harrowing exposé of the schoolwide abuse case that sparked outrage in Korea

9.0

Once Were Warriors (1994)

A Maori family survives in an alienating Auckland in this raw, tragic drama

8.0

The Substance (2024)

Demi Moore swaps bodies in this standout chaotic body dysmorphia horror

8.3

A Real Pain (2024)

Two cousins bond as they trace their roots in this powerfully emotional dramedy

8.0

The Guilty (2018)

A minimalist, razor-sharp thriller that will have you gasping for air.

9.0

The Red Shoes (1948)

A fantastical, transcendent Technicolor classic that stands as the definitive ballet drama

9.5

Flow (2024)

We can learn a thing or two from this animal tale of selflessness and survival

8.0

Look Back (2024)

Art connects people through time and space in this short and sweet drama

8.5

System Crasher (2019)

A tale of trauma and one of the most talked about movies on Netflix in 2020.

9.0

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2025 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.