Tithecott's Serial Killer Vs Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer

In Richard Tithecott’s “Of Men and Monsters” he writes many different theories about the construction of serial killers in society and specifically how they become fascinating figures due to their mystique, aura and mythology. Tithecott’s book constructs an idea of a specific kind of serial killer, one that is intelligent, resourceful and cultured. He writes “Because we often associate intelligence with rationality, the inscription of serial killers with intelligence can shield us from meaninglessness, from a disruption of our models of cause and effect, from the behavioral non-sequitur.” Later he writes “When we construct the serial killer as someone who struggles violently with society in order to assert his individuality, intelligence is presumed. Our construction of the “high-IQ killer” is a sign of our desire to figure the serial killer as being above and beyond society, as someone who attempts to assert his freedom.” Tithecott’s concept of the “high-IQ killer” is the antithesis of the killer in the film Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer.