Certain movies linger in your brain long after the lights come up—resurfacing in your nightmares and, maybe even worse, whenever you’re somewhere that’s dark and too weirdly quiet. John McNaughton’s Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer is one such film, and though it’s marking its 40th anniversary this year, its tale of a murderer who links up with a prison friend and his sister for a road trip from hell is still as disturbing as ever.
It may not be a movie you’ll want to watch over and over—unlike Henry, played by Michael Rooker in his film debut, and Otis (Tom Towles), who are fond of videotaping their crimes—but your chance to see Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer in pristine form on the big screen will soon be here.
The catch is that it’s a one-night-only event, playing in restored 4K DCP at Regal theaters across the country. The chain has it slated as part of its “31 Screams on Screen Series,” which feels right, and it arrives October 14.
If you’re not able to make it out to the big screen, fear not; there’s a snazzy 40th anniversary edition physical release also coming. Dark Sky Selects will release a limited edition 4K UHD disc with a collectible Steelcase on October 27. Like the theatrical release, it’s “newly restored in 4K from the original 16mm camera negative,” according to a press release.
Diehards who want to show their devotion to the movie—a precursor of sorts to the current true-crime craze, since it takes inspiration from real-life killers Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole—can also pick up a special T-shirt from Rucking Fotten, though that will require buying a bundle on pre-order from today through October 9.
One of the bundles also includes a VHS version of the movie to really capture that feeling of bleak, sleazy nostalgia. You can also buy the VHS on its own to add to your “stuff you were too chicken to rent at Blockbuster” redemption collection.
Extras on the home release include multiple documentaries and featurettes (including Twisting The Lens: The Diegetic Camera and Voyeurism in Henry; In Defense of Henry: An Appreciation; and Henry vs. MPAA: A Visual History), interviews with McNaughton, deleted scenes, and more.
You can pre-order the Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer physical release through Dark Sky Selects now. Learn more about Regal’s “31 Screams on Screens” series here.
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