I rented Henry, Portrait of a Serial Killer this evening. I rented it because a fair few people in Cafe Society had mentioned it in a “movies you found disturbing” thread and I was interested in whether what other people find disturbing. I have to say, I don’t really get what the fuss is about. I feel distinctly undisturbed. I thought it was a very well-directed film but other than that I don’t get any real emotional response from it.
What is it that people found disturbing? The dispassionality of Henry? The decline of Otis? Becky’s denial and involvement? Or is the the murders/rape themselves? Perhaps the way that the viewer is made a part of their voyurism - the lingering scenes shot by them of their crimes?
Henry’s dispassionate nature towards his crimes meant that I felt I didn’t really get involved in his character. I engaged more with Otis - it seemed like his trickle of evil set in motion by Henry became a flood. His death felt inevitable. As was Becky’s - of course Henry was going to kill her, he’s a psychopath with no sense of the humanness of others.
I thought these things were all interesting, but why would I be more disturbed than watching any other movie about a psychopath and his relationships? I’m not just a stone-hearted person am I?
If you were disturbed by it, would you care to tell me why you think you were?
Murders/rapes themselves for me. The scene when the family is being raped and murdered and the young son was in shock I found to be pretty damn disturbing.
If I may ask, can you name a movie that you would consider disturbing? And I’ve already seen Glitter.
Well, I found both Taxi Driver and Shallow Grave to be disturbing. I engaged in those films, saw the characters as human beings who had been warped, saw the world from their point of view. I didn’t get that from Henry.
I think part of it, also, may have been that I was expecting to be disturbed and therefore distanced myself emotionally from the film.
It creeped my shit out when I saw it.
The videotape scene was incredibly creepy, IMHO, as was the ending. Yes, it was inevitable, but it was still disturbing.
The only movie to disturb me more than Henry was Clean, Shaven- if you can watch that one without getting the shivers there is something wrong with you.
Creeped the hell outta me. For a few reasons, not least being that it is based on a true story.
I think the thing that creeped me out the most was that it was so very believable and realistic. Most movies with nutjob killers don’t seem very realistic, this one felt like it could be happening next door. There was a casual level of brutality and violence that just felt true. Gah!
HENRY, as interesting as it is, really fictionalizes the situation between the lead trio.
The real-life Becky was not Otis’s sister, but actually his niece, and was all of 14 years old when she had her relationship with Henry Lee Lucas. (He was in his late 30’s) She was also aware of their murder-and-rape activities, if not an active participant.
The real life Otis (actually, Ottis Toole) was a prime suspect in the murder of Adam Walsh and died in prison a few years ago.
For a much more factual portrayal, seek out CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL KILLER. It’s more of an trashy exploitation film than HENRY, but besides some name changing, it’s pretty dead-on, and features a sodomy-rape-murder scene that’s about twice as disturbing as the home invasion scene in HENRY.
Yeah, I was okay with it until the scene with the family. The other victims were either quickly dispatched, or people who themselves might have done crimes (the fence had “Kill Me” tatooed on his forehead). But I can’t handle a protracted scene of innocent people being terrorized. I will never forget that kid’s reaction.
I will say, though, that I learned from it, and so did Mr. Rilch. Never stop for someone who appears to have a breakdown. Never let someone try to start a conversation with you on the street at night. Look over both shoulders in parking lots/garages: someone may be watching.
