MoPoshy
Absolutely brilliant
StyleSk8r
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
Gurlyndrobb
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
kclipper
This actually predates 'Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer', but depicts a similar realistic, documentary-like approach as it chronicles the life of a serial killer named Daniel Ray Hawkins, who's misadventures mirror that of the infamous murderer, Henry Lee Lucas, whose killing spree stuck to the American highways allowing him to evade law enforcement for years before his eventual capture. Art director/production designer, Robert A. Burns gives it the old college try at acting as the lead sicko, and is sometimes quite creepy and convincing. His story is told in a series of interviews by a local southern sheriff, and Daniel expresses no remorse or regret in explaining the grim details of his crimes. This lacks the cinematic impact of 'Henry', but explores the motives and the sexual aspect with much more clarity and depth, especially those dealing with an unfortunate and traumatic childhood. This is directed with a sense of realistic and pungent honesty, and not a glamorized Hollywood slasher feel, making it a significant piece of film-making. Production value and performances are somewhat under par at times, but true crime genre buffs will find this fascinating as well as deeply disturbing. The faint of heart will find it sick and unnerving......Sorry fans, unrated VHS version recommended only. The DVD release has its most explicit content removed.
Joseph P. Ulibas
Confessions of a Serial Killer (1985) was an attempt to make a film about America's most notorious serial killer Henry Lee Lucas. This movie comes close to portraying the real magilla but it just turns into another slasher movie instead. Confessions lacks what Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer (1986) had such as a good writer, better acting and a competent director. The film makers of this mess decided to throw whatever they could at the wall and see what would stick.It's sad because it had all of the right elements to make a decent serial killer film. They had the mood and the sets right but poor execution and lame acting and pedestrian film making doomed this movie from the start. Some day somebody will make a straight forward bio-picture about the real Henry Lee Lucas. Until then stick with the better film of the two.Not recommended, unless you want a few laughs at some bad acting and inept film making.When the film was finally release on video during the early 90's, the distributors tried to capitalize on the success of Silence of the Lambs by having the title character appear on the cover a la Hannibal Lectur (mask and all).
lthseldy1
This movie is one of the most realistic and scariest movies that I have ever seen. It is about the real life killer named Henry Lee Lucas and his sidekick Otis Toole. When I watched this movie I felt as if I were there because the acting was good and the way that the movie was made it looked very much real. The scenes in this movie were disturbing because these things could actually happen in real life done in these sick ways. It was chilling and being a reader of such serial killers such as this man here made it all the more horrific. I give it an 8.
inframan
This is a perfect little movie in its way, succeeding as a voyeuristic experience from start to finish with just the right balance of banality, surprise, horror, disgust and curiosity-arousal & satisfaction. Like watching the seamier part of life through a perpetual keyhole. The art is in the actors & director never giving the appearance of "artfulness". Bravo!!!
