Review of Hellraiser (1987) by Jason J — 09 Jul 2011

One of the strangest horror movies of the 1980s, "Hellraiser" is unlike any movie you've ever seen or likely will see. Written and directed by Clive Barker, he brings a refreshing and genuinely frightening story to the screen. I can confidently say that the plot to this movie is so much unlike any other, which makes it a very unique and pleasant surprise. The storyline takes a while to get going and builds up during the first 45 minutes or so, and then after that all hell breaks loose (literally) and things start to get really insane.

The performances were good, everyone involved was above average I'd say. Nowhere near perfect but far from horrible. Doug Bradley plays his now-legendary role as the leader of the Cenobite demons, and was later crowned the name "Pinhead", which has become a notorious horror icon (along with the puzzle cube). His role is terrifying and he plays it with a cold, calm demeanor which adds to the villain's scariness. The makeup effects in this movie were quite amazing, all of the demons are unique and very creepy looking. Another notable thing is the gore in the movie. Most of the gore isn't a result of killings, but of transformations from rotting corpses, and the grisly monster/creatures from hell (oh, and let's not forget those hooks on chains!). The CGI effects are a little dated, but this wasn't a major problem. The movie ends in a satisfying way, leaving it open-ended for the many sequels that followed.

Overall, "Hellraiser" is a weird and wonderful thriller that is perhaps one of the most original horror movies of the decade. Not only did it bring a breath of fresh air in the genre, but it spawned one of the most infamous horror villains of all time. Clive Barker is really an imaginary genius, seeing his works can easily verify that. I definitely recommended this movie to horror fans, it's one of those classic 'must-sees'. Granted, it's not a movie for everybody (some people may not enjoy it, and I suppose that's understandable), but it's a movie that you've got to see it at least once.