Clive Barker's Hellraiser (1987)

Olivia Bauer · October 25, 2014, 12:49:07 AM

I was browsing Netflix with my sister. Since it was October she insisted on a horror movie. When going through the horror classics sectioned I caught a glimpse of the notorious "Pinhead" out the corner of my eye. Although I was familiar with Pinhead as a horror icon I had never seen the movie he was associated with, or even what the movie was about. Of course we agreed on that one, it was a new record for the fastest we've decided on a movie on Netflix.

The movie begins by almost immediately throwing you into the blood and gore violence. This is a genius move for horror movies, it gives the viewer a small taste of what's to come so they're willing to sit through the dull exposition. It doesn't take long for the exposition to end and for the horror to set in.

The special effects remind me of the Evil Dead movies, while the stop-motion makes it look choppy and weird it kind of gives it that 80's gross-out horror feel. Besides, choppy stop-motion scares me. Those Rankin Bass christmas movies should be reclassified as horror... * Shudder *

Overall the movie did what it wanted to do, make my skin crawl. I am proud to proclaim that Clive Barker's Hellraiser has gotten the first A.J. Bauer seal of "TOTALLY f**kED UP"!

Bushma · October 25, 2014, 10:59:57 AM

I love Hellraiser! I also enjoyed Hellraiser 2. After that the series went down hill fast.

Olivia Bauer · October 25, 2014, 11:17:30 AM

Quote from: Bushma on October 25, 2014, 10:59:57 AM
I love Hellraiser! I also enjoyed Hellraiser 2. After that the series went down hill fast.

Figures. I might check out Hellraiser 2 when I get the chance.

The Burgomaster · October 31, 2014, 06:20:24 AM

I didn't like this movie at all the first time I saw it in the late 1980s. A few years ago, I decided to give it another chance. So, I crossed my fingers and bought the DVD. And I liked it. A lot.

Alex · November 03, 2014, 10:02:03 AM

I did hear a rumour that Clive Barker is remaking this one.

Neville · November 22, 2014, 11:13:32 AM

Saw this one just a couple of days ago. I hadn't seen it since the late 80s, and now that there's talk obut a "Nightbreed" Director's Cut I wanted to see how this one was holding up.

It's still easily Barker's best film to date, but far from a masterpiece. The camerawork is pretty good throughout and the story is good, but there are many moments where the whole thing seems way to amateurish. And the aesthetics are just too 80s as well. Those haircuts are as horrifying as the promises of pleasure and pain from Pinhead.

After watching the film I went to the IMDB. I was surprised to learn the whole movie costed around 1 million dollars at the time. Barker can be proud of pulling off this one for such a low budget.

My favourite bits are when Andy Robinson starts channeling uncle Frank. The whole thing gets pretty creepy then, specially when you start to wonder if uncle Frank did get too close to Kristy when she was younger. And the "Jesus wept" line is a classic. I'm still trying to figure out what the hell Frank meant by that.

crackers · December 09, 2014, 06:48:07 AM

I have been watching all the Hellraiser in order lately (thanks Netflix). I really like the first two and have a fondness for the third. I have just watched Bloodline and Inferno and boy did they suck, but I quite enjoyed them.

zelmo73 · December 09, 2014, 06:33:17 PM

Quote from: A.J. Bauer on October 25, 2014, 12:49:07 AM
I was browsing Netflix with my sister. Since it was October she insisted on a horror movie. When going through the horror classics sectioned I caught a glimpse of the notorious "Pinhead" out the corner of my eye. Although I was familiar with Pinhead as a horror icon I had never seen the movie he was associated with, or even what the movie was about. Of course we agreed on that one, it was a new record for the fastest we've decided on a movie on Netflix.

The movie begins by almost immediately throwing you into the blood and gore violence. This is a genius move for horror movies, it gives the viewer a small taste of what's to come so they're willing to sit through the dull exposition. It doesn't take long for the exposition to end and for the horror to set in.

The special effects remind me of the Evil Dead movies, while the stop-motion makes it look choppy and weird it kind of gives it that 80's gross-out horror feel. Besides, choppy stop-motion scares me. Those Rankin Bass christmas movies should be reclassified as horror... * Shudder *

Overall the movie did what it wanted to do, make my skin crawl. I am proud to proclaim that Clive Barker's Hellraiser has gotten the first A.J. Bauer seal of "TOTALLY f**kED UP"!

I agree, stop-motion is creepy, especially in horror movies. Come to think of it, your Johnny Depp signature video scares me!

JeremyRay · January 05, 2015, 05:30:54 AM

Hellraiser is highly underrated. The part where Frank is cutting up the rat is one of the best shots in cinema.

Hellraiser's "Engineer" sure is a helluva lot cooler than Prometheus' "Engineer." I can't help but think Damon Lindelof did a little name lifting.

And the zombie dragon at the end -

Quote from: Neville on November 22, 2014, 11:13:32 AM
Those haircuts are as horrifying as the promises of pleasure and pain from Pinhead.

Hey, I grew up in the eighties! At least we didn't sag our pants!

Kaseykockroach · January 08, 2015, 09:47:28 PM

Christopher Young's score for this film is easily one of my very favorites.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1Z-tQDHprE