Frank Henenlotter

Frank Henenlotter

74 · Born: Aug 29, 1950

Personal Details

BornAug 29, 1950 New York City, New York, USA
Relatives
  • Don Henenlotter (Sibling)

Biography

Frank Henenlotter, a writer and director, was born on August 29, 1950, in New York City. Growing up, he spent his youth watching a wide range of low-budget exploitation films in seedy grindhouse theaters on Manhattan's 42nd Street.

As a teenager, Henenlotter began making 8mm films, and his 16mm black-and-white short film "Slash of the Knife" (1972) even played at a midnight show with John Waters' "Pink Flamingos" (1972) at a 42nd Street grindhouse.

Before embarking on a career as a filmmaker, Henenlotter worked as a commercial artist and graphic designer. His films are known for their offbeat plots, lowbrow humor, excessive gore, and sordid atmosphere.

Henenlotter's horror film debut was the gruesome and sleazy "Basket Case" (1982),which became a midnight movie hit and achieved cult classic status. The film tells the story of two Siamese twins who exact revenge on the doctors who separated them.

The director's follow-up film was "Brain Damage" (1988),a grotesquely original and imaginative film that offers a potent allegory on drug addiction. The film tells the story of a young man who becomes an unwitting host for a parasite that feeds on human brains.

Henenlotter's next film was "Frankenhooker" (1990),an uproariously rude and raunchy film. He then went on to make two more "Basket Case" sequels, which were enjoyable affairs.

Outside of his work as a writer and director, Henenlotter has been responsible for reissuing a large volume of vintage horror, softcore, and exploitation films on VHS and DVD. He has also served as a moderator on numerous DVD commentaries for Something Weird Video.

After a lengthy absence from filmmaking, Henenlotter made a comeback with the bizarre "Bad Biology" (2008).

Career

{"id":144295,"title":"Eaten Alive! The Rise and Fall of the Italian Cannibal Film","year":"2015","character":"","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/eaten-alive-the-rise-and-fall-of-the-italian-cannibal-film","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_144295.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_144295.jpg"},"released":1}
2015
{"id":32629,"title":"Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore","year":"2010","character":"","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/herschell-gordon-lewis-the-godfather-of-gore","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_32629.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_32629.jpg"},"released":1}
2010
{"id":9051,"title":"Frankenhooker","year":"1990","character":"Passenger (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/frankenhooker","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/10q7u4l31qd8.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/10q7u4l31qd8.jpg"},"released":1}
1990
Frankenhooker
Frankenhooker as Passenger (uncredited)
{"id":12309,"title":"Basket Case","year":"1982","character":"Theater Patron (uncredited)","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/basket-case","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2ump12ssv060.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2ump12ssv060.jpg"},"released":1}
1982
Basket Case
Basket Case as Theater Patron (uncredited)
{"id":237749,"title":"In Search of Darkness: 1990-1994","year":"2024","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/in-search-of-darkness-1990-1994","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_237749.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_237749.jpg"},"released":1}
2024
{"id":170654,"title":"Cult of Terror","year":"2017","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/cult-of-terror","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_170654.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_170654.jpg"},"released":1}
2017
{"id":117181,"title":"They Came from the Swamp: The Films of William Gref\u00e9","year":"2016","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/they-came-from-the-swamp-the-films-of-william-grefe","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_117181.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_117181.jpg"},"released":1}
2016
{"id":38327,"title":"42nd Street Memories: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Notorious Street","year":"2015","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/42nd-street-memories-the-rise-and-fall-of-americas-most-notorious-street-2015","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_38327.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_38327.jpg"},"released":1}
2015
{"id":182871,"title":"That's Sexploitation!","year":"2013","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/thats-sexploitation-2013-1","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_182871.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_182871.jpg"},"released":1}
2013
{"id":3556,"title":"Rewind This!","year":"2013","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/rewind-this","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/1q8hofhimhk0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/1q8hofhimhk0.jpg"},"released":1}
{"id":42753,"title":"What's in the Basket?","year":"2011","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/whats-in-the-basket-2012","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_42753.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_42753.jpg"},"released":1}
2011
{"id":44529,"title":"Under the Scares","year":"2010","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/under-the-scares","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_44529.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_44529.jpg"},"released":1}
2010
{"id":54121,"title":"Mau Mau Sex Sex","year":"2001","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/mau-mau-sex-sex","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_54121.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_54121.jpg"},"released":1}
2001
{"id":161490,"title":"Omnibus","year":"1986","character":null,"permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/omnibus-1986","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_161490.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_161490.jpg"},"released":1}
1986
{"id":134849,"title":"Boiled Angels: The Trial of Mike Diana","year":"2018","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/boiled-angels-the-trial-of-mike-diana","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_134849.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_134849.jpg"},"released":1}
2018
{"id":110463,"title":"Chasing Banksy","year":"2015","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/chasing-banksy","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_110463.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_110463.jpg"},"released":1}
2015
Chasing Banksy
Chasing Banksy as Director
{"id":182871,"title":"That's Sexploitation!","year":"2013","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/thats-sexploitation-2013-1","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_182871.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_182871.jpg"},"released":1}
2013
That's Sexploitation!
That's Sexploitation! as Director, Writer
{"id":32629,"title":"Herschell Gordon Lewis: The Godfather of Gore","year":"2010","job":"Director","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/herschell-gordon-lewis-the-godfather-of-gore","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/thumbs\/movie_32629.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/thumbs\/movie_32629.jpg"},"released":1}
2010
{"id":17328,"title":"Bad Biology","year":"2008","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/bad-biology","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2jc9veng6l7g.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2jc9veng6l7g.jpg"},"released":1}
2008
Bad Biology
Bad Biology as Director, Writer
{"id":58969,"title":"Basket Case 3","year":"1992","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/basket-case-3","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2vu6b8u6r5dg.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2vu6b8u6r5dg.jpg"},"released":1}
1992
Basket Case 3
Basket Case 3 as Director, Writer
{"id":9051,"title":"Frankenhooker","year":"1990","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/frankenhooker","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/10q7u4l31qd8.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/10q7u4l31qd8.jpg"},"released":1}
1990
Frankenhooker
Frankenhooker as Director, Writer
{"id":23224,"title":"Basket Case 2","year":"1990","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/basket-case-2","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/675mp9jorro0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/675mp9jorro0.jpg"},"released":1}
Basket Case 2
Basket Case 2 as Director, Writer
{"id":14291,"title":"Brain Damage","year":"1988","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/brain-damage","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/64263ebfktm0.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/64263ebfktm0.jpg"},"released":1}
1988
Brain Damage
Brain Damage as Director, Writer
{"id":12309,"title":"Basket Case","year":"1982","job":"Director, Writer","permalink":"https:\/\/streambutter.com\/us\/movie\/basket-case","type":"movie","srcset":{"1x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/90x135\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2ump12ssv060.jpg","2x":"https:\/\/img.streambutter.com\/img\/180x270\/images\/fanart\/movies\/poster\/2ump12ssv060.jpg"},"released":1}
1982
Basket Case
Basket Case as Director, Writer