
Michael Rooker and James Gunn first worked together on Gunn’s 2006 horror film, Slither. So, it’s interesting that Rooker also appeared in the much grimmer Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, which premiered at a film festival in 1986. Co-written by Richard Fire and directed by John McNaughton, Henry struggled to find distribution despite the popularity of violent movies at the time. The original movie poster, painted by Joe Coleman, was even rejected for being too disturbing for marketing purposes. While inspired by real events, the film’s story is unique among serial killer narratives. Released around the time FBI profiling of serial killers was just beginning, Henry almost feels like a commentary on that new investigative technique. Despite not being entirely realistic, the film’s power comes from the chilling possibility that someone like Henry could actually exist—a testament to Michael Rooker’s acting ability.