Trailer+2 trailers

Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

1986Movie1 h 23 minNR

76
GreatGoodWatch score

A nerve-racking, brutally violent crime movie about everyday modern life and crime.

Good for thought-provoking · adults · solo watch

Skip it if you need an uplifting mood · you want fast pacing · graphic violence bothers you · you scare easily

Where to watch

Fingerprint

Not for warmth, comfort or laughs.

Movies with

Story

He's not Freddy, he's not Jason...he's real.

Arriving in Chicago, Henry moves in with ex-con acquaintance Otis and starts schooling him in the ways of the serial killer.

Feels like

  • Serial Killer
  • Gritty Realism
  • Psychological Horror
  • Bleak Atmosphere
  • Violent
  • Disturbing
  • Social Commentary
  • Low Budget
  • Cult Classic

Cast

Crew

Directed by
John McNaughton

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

September 24, 1986 · 1 h 23 min · NR

Released
September 24, 1986
Runtime
1 h 23 min
Age rating
NR
Content
Violence, Strong Language, Disturbing Imagery
Genres
Crime, Horror, Thriller, Drama
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$111,000
Box office
$609,939
Available in
27 countries
Keywords
based on true story

Tropes

The Stoic, Karma Houdini, Bait-and-Switch +9

  • The Stoic
  • Karma Houdini
  • Bait-and-Switch
  • Stupid Evil
  • Son of a Whore
  • My God, What Have I Done?
  • The Public Domain Channel
  • The Ghost
  • Minimalism
  • Pragmatic Villainy
  • Foreshadowing
  • Break the Cutie

12 of 68 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

6 questions, like "Where can I stream Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer?"

Questions about Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer?

In the United States, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer streams on Prime, and it is free with ads on Fandango at Home Free, Pluto TV, Plex, Amazon Prime Video Free with Ads, Cineverse, Tubi TV, and Amazon MX Player. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 12 other countries.

Is Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer worth watching?

76
GreatGoodWatch score

Mostly, it's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 76 (IMDb 7, Letterboxd 3.5 out of 5, Rotten Tomatoes 89%, and Metacritic 80). Critics rate it higher (85 out of 100) than audiences (70).

Is there a sequel to Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer?

  1. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986)
  2. Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Part 2 (1996)

Yes: it's movie 1 of 2 in its series, followed by Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, Part 2 (1996).

Will Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer scare me?

Not scaryTerrifying

Yes, it's frightening: scares are rated 8 of 10, and some images are gruesome (grotesque 7 of 10).

Will I feel good after watching Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer?

BleakHopeful

Probably not: the title analysis rates it 9 of 10 for bleakness and 6 for melancholy, against 1 for hopefulness.

What tropes does Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer use?

The StoicKarma HoudiniBait-and-SwitchStupid EvilSon of a WhoreMy God, What Have I Done?The Public Domain ChannelThe GhostMinimalismPragmatic VillainyForeshadowingBreak the Cutieand 56 more

TV Tropes lists 68 tropes for it, including The Stoic, Karma Houdini, and Bait-and-Switch.