Daniel Mercer
Certain films leave a lasting impression, haunting your thoughts long after the credits roll. John McNaughton’s Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is a prime example. As it celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, the unsettling narrative of a murderer who embarks on a hellish road trip with a prison acquaintance and his sister remains as chilling as ever.
This is not a film you’re likely to revisit frequently—unlike Henry, portrayed by Michael Rooker in his debut role, and Otis (Tom Towles), who take pleasure in recording their heinous acts—but an opportunity to experience Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer on the big screen in restored clarity is approaching.
This is a limited engagement: it will be featured for one night only, presented in a restored 4K DCP format at Regal theaters nationwide. This screening is part of the “31 Screams on Screen Series,” perfectly fitting for the film, and is scheduled for October 14.
If attending the theater isn’t possible, there’s good news; a stylish 40th anniversary physical edition is on the way. Dark Sky Selects will launch a limited edition 4K UHD disc housed in a collectible Steelcase on October 27. Similar to the theater screening, this edition is “newly restored in 4K from the original 16mm camera negative,” as stated in a press release.
For devoted fans eager to express their admiration for this iconic film—an early influence on today’s true-crime trend, drawing inspiration from real-life criminals Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole—there’s a special T-shirt available from Rucking Fotten. This requires purchasing a bundle during the pre-order phase, which runs from now until October 9.
One of these bundles includes a VHS version of the film, perfectly capturing that sense of bleak nostalgia. You can also purchase the VHS separately to enhance your collection of “films you were too afraid to rent at Blockbuster.”
The home release features a wealth of extras, including multiple documentaries and featurettes such as Twisting The Lens: The Diegetic Camera and Voyeurism in Henry, In Defense of Henry: An Appreciation, and Henry vs. MPAA: A Visual History, alongside interviews with McNaughton, deleted scenes, and additional content.
You can now pre-order the physical release of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer through Dark Sky Selects. Discover more about Regal’s “31 Screams on Screens” series here.
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Brandon Fletcher
