As someone with experience directing a grotesque body horror movie, it would seemingly take a lot to gross out filmmaker James Gunn. However, there was a classic horror film that Gunn says made him ill the first time he saw it. He probably didn’t predict at the time that he’d later frequently cast the movie’s lead star in his own feature films.
The film is Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, which is currently streaming for free on PlutoTV and Tubi. It’s also available to stream for free on Peacock, while it’s also on Prime Video for subscribers. Despite how the film is easier to stream than ever, Gunn might not be in a rush to rewatch the film anytime soon, lest it bring back bad memories. As the Superman director shared in a new video interview (via Konbini), the Michael Rooker-led film left him feeling sick to his stomach.
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“Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer [is] a movie that made me sick for days upon seeing it for the first time, but it starred an actor by the name of Michael Rooker, who it’s been my price to pay for my successes, that I have to put this guy in all of my movies,” as Gunn explained.
Directed by John McNaughton, who co-wrote the script with Richard Fire, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer was inspired by the crimes of real-life serial killer Henry Lee Lucas and his accomplice, Ottis Toole. The film follows Henry (Rooker) and Otis (Tom Towles) as they embark on a horrific killing spree. Kill scenes in the film were particularly unsettling, feeling more realistic than your average monster movie with the film being based on real-life murderers.
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The film was shot in 1985, and it was initially given an “X” rating by the MPAA. Because of its controversially violent content, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer struggled to get distributed, ultimately taking until 1990 before getting its wide release. Uncut versions would subsequently be released on special edition DVD sets.
The movie also managed to get a sequel, as it became a cult classic in the horror community. Released in 1996 by filmmaker Chuck Parello, Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 2 – Mask of Sanity continues the story, but with Neil Giuntoli taking over the role of the titular menace. The sequel came nowhere close to being as controversial, or as revered, as the original.
James Gunn Still Casts Michael Rooker in Movies
The film clearly made a big impact on Gunn, who felt compelled to put Rooker into all of the movies he’d ever direct. To date, Rooker has had a role in every one of Gunn’s films, including a voice cameo in the newly-released Superman. Rooker’s role as Yondu in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies is also one of the actor’s most popular characters. He has reunited with Gunn once again for his next role, which will be in Season 2 of Peacemaker.
Source: Konbini