Henenlotter's films were inspired by the
exploitation and
sexploitation films he loved, such as those that played on
42nd Street in
New York City in the 1960s and 1970s. His first
16 mm short film,
The Slash of the Knife, was completed in 1976. It was at one point intended to be screened alongside a midnight showing of
Pink Flamingos in New York, but this plan was abandoned due to the former reportedly being deemed too offensive (later speaking to
Fangoria, Henenlotter stated, "Can you imagine a film too offensive to play with
Pink Flamingos?"). During the production of
Slash of the Knife, Henenlotter met producer Edgar Ievins, and the two eventually collaborated on an unrealized film project titled
Ooze. Henenlotter recalled, "We tried to get the money for
Ooze and couldn't, so I just wrote a film that could be made for far less money. Right out in front, I wrote a film that was designed to be made for a low, low budget." The resulting screenplay of Henenlotter's first feature film,
Basket Case, was written by Henenlotter as he walked around
Times Square, which he called a "seedy, wonderful atmosphere." Although shot on 16 mm film on a budget of about , it was blown up to
35 mm for its original theatrical release in 1982, and despite receiving mixed reviews upon release,
Basket Case has since become considered a
cult film.
Hiatus and return Following
Basket Case 3: The Progeny, Henenlotter became deeply involved in the release slate of the specialty video releasing outfit
Something Weird Video; he has also been instrumental in rescuing many low-budget sexploitation and exploitation films from being destroyed, including the
camp classic
The Curious Dr. Humpp (1971). Many of these works have been released under Something Weird's specialty logo "Frank Henenlotter's Sexy Shockers." During the 16 years following
Basket Case 3, a number of Henenlotter feature projects came close to production, including "Sick in the Head," Henenlotter's first script collaboration with
R.A. the Rugged Man, at one point scheduled to be produced under the aegis of
Fangoria magazine; but, coincident with the general economic downturn, financing evaporated. Henenlotter has also noted the conflicts he had with producers over the film, who caused Henenlotter to exit the project after urging him to re-edit his script to be "more like
Saw." R.A. subsequently was able to find a new deal and very modest financing through his music industry contacts, so
Bad Biology was conceived to be shot for an extremely low budget, for extremely limited, unrated theatrical play, and subsequent video release. Right before production was to begin, Henenlotter was notified of a cancer diagnosis. He elected to persist with the production while receiving radiation treatment. Though only attendees at film festivals and special film events have had the opportunity to see the film (shot on traditional 35mm at Henenlotter's insistence) projected in a theater, Henenlotter claims the low budget, independent financing and the decision to forgo the ratings process allowed him a level of freedom he has been missing since his earliest films.
Bad Biology was scheduled for video release in January 2010 by Media Blasters. Henenlotter appeared as himself in the documentary film
Herschell Gordon Lewis – The Godfather of Gore and narrated the film on the
2010 FanTasia. In issue #304 Frank and comic artist Joshua Emerick started the Basket Case comic strip for
Fangoria. The three panel strip runs in each issue. Henenlotter appeared in the 2013 documentary film
Rewind This!, about the impact of VHS on the film industry and home video. He also appeared with the film's director, Josh Johnson, when it screened at film festivals such as the Telluride Horror Show. In 2014, he directed
Chasing Banksy, which was screened with a visit of Henenlotter at New York City Forbidden Planet. ==Filmography==