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That's how the famous "Pinhead" (Doug Bradley), here simply credited as the "Lead Cenobite", describes himself and his team of Cenobites. They're "explorers", that become "hunters" if someone escapes their grasp. Of course, that is precisely what happens in Clive Barker's hellish and grimy debut film.
Hellraiser starts with Frank (Sean Chapman), who acquires this mysterious puzzle box which leads to him being dismembered, torn apart by it, but without really leaving a trace. Fast forward a couple of months, and Frank's brother, Larry (Andrew Robinson) is moving into his house with his new wife, Julia (Clare Higgins).
What Larry doesn't know is that Julia was having an affair with Frank. So when mysterious circumstances bring Frank back to life... sorta, Julia becomes his "black widow", essentially. Her mission is to bring unsuspecting horny men to Frank's feet, until he can regain back his body, flesh, and strength, so they can flee and escape the Cenobites.
This is a film I hadn't seen in several years, but that I always remembered being somewhat... icky. Rewatching it last month, I can confirm it is. But, being a horror film, that's actually an advantage. It is the kind of film you want to take a shower after watching just for how "unpleasant" and "nasty" everything looks and feels, and I mean that as a positive.
It's interesting how much this franchise is associated with the Cenobites, considering how little screen-time they get here. But Barker succeeds in transmitting a sense of dread about their impending arrival, and what that might entail. In the meantime, the interactions between Larry and Julia are interesting. I would've liked a bit more background between her and Frank, just to give a bit more foundation to her actions other than "uptight-woman-getting-horny-with-exotic-brooding-man".
The character of Larry's daughter, Kirsty (Ashley Laurence), who ends up being the "final girl" also feels a bit clumsy in how she is integrated into the story, and Laurence's performance isn't that good. But despite those issues, Barker still manages to craft a pretty grungy but effective horror film.
Grade:
HELLRAISER
(1987, Barker)
A film written and/or directed by Clive Barker
(1987, Barker)
A film written and/or directed by Clive Barker
"Who are you?"
"Explorers, in the further regions of experience. Demons to some, angels to others."
"Explorers, in the further regions of experience. Demons to some, angels to others."
That's how the famous "Pinhead" (Doug Bradley), here simply credited as the "Lead Cenobite", describes himself and his team of Cenobites. They're "explorers", that become "hunters" if someone escapes their grasp. Of course, that is precisely what happens in Clive Barker's hellish and grimy debut film.
Hellraiser starts with Frank (Sean Chapman), who acquires this mysterious puzzle box which leads to him being dismembered, torn apart by it, but without really leaving a trace. Fast forward a couple of months, and Frank's brother, Larry (Andrew Robinson) is moving into his house with his new wife, Julia (Clare Higgins).
What Larry doesn't know is that Julia was having an affair with Frank. So when mysterious circumstances bring Frank back to life... sorta, Julia becomes his "black widow", essentially. Her mission is to bring unsuspecting horny men to Frank's feet, until he can regain back his body, flesh, and strength, so they can flee and escape the Cenobites.
This is a film I hadn't seen in several years, but that I always remembered being somewhat... icky. Rewatching it last month, I can confirm it is. But, being a horror film, that's actually an advantage. It is the kind of film you want to take a shower after watching just for how "unpleasant" and "nasty" everything looks and feels, and I mean that as a positive.
It's interesting how much this franchise is associated with the Cenobites, considering how little screen-time they get here. But Barker succeeds in transmitting a sense of dread about their impending arrival, and what that might entail. In the meantime, the interactions between Larry and Julia are interesting. I would've liked a bit more background between her and Frank, just to give a bit more foundation to her actions other than "uptight-woman-getting-horny-with-exotic-brooding-man".
The character of Larry's daughter, Kirsty (Ashley Laurence), who ends up being the "final girl" also feels a bit clumsy in how she is integrated into the story, and Laurence's performance isn't that good. But despite those issues, Barker still manages to craft a pretty grungy but effective horror film.
Grade: