Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer | 100 Movies Bucket List

 

I'd never heard of this film, and the premise was vague while still being interesting, so I was looking forward to seeing it.

The opening score, before the film even starts, really sets a tone. It's creepy and unsettling, and even though you have no idea what you're in for, you already know the feeling the filmmakers are going for.

The first 10 minutes of the film are so well done. It's really powerful to hear the sounds of the murders while seeing the end result. It shows us exactly who this character is, even though we've barely seen him on screen. We feel worried for characters we don't (and will never) know, and this alone makes us really invested in what's to come.

And from here, whenever we actually see a character killed on screen, it seems to carry less weight. It's much scarier to imagine what's happening than to actually see it.

Michael Rooker, who plays Henry, is great in the role. Everything about the performance, from the way he speaks to his facial expressions, feels so authentic. There's never a second that we don't believe what we see on the screen.

Despite being quite a short film, it's completely packed from the beginning to the end. There's never a moment to lose concentration, get bored or distracted because it never lets up. Even in the quieter conversational moments, you never want to look away.

And a lot of this is down to how well the film is written. Again, it feels really authentic, all of the dialogue is realistic and really pulls you in.

You feel like you really get to know the characters and their dynamics. One of the most interesting things about the film is the way the three main characters interact and develop as the film goes on.

It definitely gets more disturbing as it continues, and while I think there was one particular scene near the end that wasn't necessary for the plot, overall I think that most of the other disturbing scenes work in terms of showing us exactly who this character is - thankfully the film is short enough that these scenes don't become too overwhelming.

I can see why this film is considered a classic, but I can also see why I'd never heard of it until I was it on the bucket list.