- Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer
Chicago has spent the last couple weeks preparing for Halloween, and there have been no shortage of horror movies on the city’s repertory schedule, but aside from one or two exceptions, locally shot and produced offerings have been absent. Plenty of great films have been shot and set in Chicago, and horror films are no exception. Personally, I’d like to see a Music Box of Horrors/Terror in the Aisles-esque movie marathon dedicated to locally shot horror movies, of which there are dozens of worthy titles. Below are my five favorite horror films made in Chicago.
- Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (dir. John McNaughton, 1985/1989) This infamous slasher film treats Chicago’s streets as an extension of the title killer’s mindset—gritty, menacing, and amplified by McNaughton’s cerebral, documentary-esque style. It’s by no means a flattering depiction of the city, but one that masterfully illustrates how an urban setting shapes a deranged mind and vice versa.
