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“Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer” Gets 40th Anniversary 4K Release

Preorders are open for a new 40th anniversary 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray of Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer, director John McNaughton‘s 1986 portrait of a drifter who kills without apparent motive or remorse. Dark Sky Films is handling the release, and for now the disc is available only through Dark Sky Selects, in a preorder window running from October 1 through October 9.

The disc carries a new restoration in 2160p with Dolby Vision HDR, presented in the film’s original 1.33:1 aspect ratio with English DTS-HD Master Audio in 5.1 and 2.0 stereo mixes. Extras include two audio commentaries, deleted scenes, outtakes, a still gallery and storyboards, plus a run of new documentary pieces: “Twisting the Lens: The Diegetic Camera and Voyeurism in Henry,” “In Defense of Henry: An Appreciation,” “Henry vs. MPAA: A Visual History” and “Henry at the BBFC,” alongside interviews with critics Stephen Thrower and artist Joe Coleman and a conversation with McNaughton himself.

The steelcase alone runs $39.98, discounted from $44.98. A VHS edition on its own, packaged to look like a battered rental tape, goes for $19.98, down from $29.98. For those who want more than a disc, Dark Sky has bundled the steelcase with a limited edition Rucking Fotten tee for $59.98, or with both the tee and the VHS for $72.98. 

Before any of it ships, the film returns to the big screen: Dark Sky has set a theatrical engagement for a single night at select Regal Cinemas on October 14, ahead of the disc’s street date of October 27.

Four decades on, Henry has lost none of its capacity to unsettle, built on performances from Michael Rooker, Tom Towles and Tracy Arnold that still feel disturbingly plausible. A new transfer gives longtime fans one more reason to revisit it, and newcomers an unusually good way to discover this classic.

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