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Hellraiser Review

By Bryce Hanson on July 8, 2020 4

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Clive Barker’s Hellraiser is a transgressive journey into a world where the lines between ecstasy, pain, heaven, and hell are blurred. It stands as a unique counterpoint to the one-note slashers of the 1980s.

Hellraiser illustration by horror movie talk podcast
@dgoebel00 on Instagram provided this amazing artwork. Follow him and check out his website.

Synopsis

Hellraiser is about a psycho sexual sadist named Frank that seeks out a personal pandora’s box. He believes that by opening the mysterious puzzle box, he will get everything he ever wanted in life. Turns out he was mistaken and he didn’t end up liking eternal pain in Hell. Whodathunk?

When Frank’s brother Larry and his wife Julia arrive at the family house that Frank mysteriously disappeared from, flashbacks reveal that Frank made his brother a cuckold by sleeping with Julia.

When Larry accidentally cuts his hand and bleed on the floor of the attic, he inadvertently helps Frank begin resurrecting himself.

When a mostly goo Frank is discovered by Julia, he recruits her to bring sacrificial singles in their area so that he can become a real boy.

The only thing standing in their way is Frank’s niece Kristy, and the hell-demon Cenobites that seek to recapture him.

Hellraiser Poster
Original Hellraiser Poster

Review of Hellraiser

This film is Clive Barker’s best film, and it is a unique mix of family dysfunction, sex, sadism, and gore.

At times it feels like a 50’s melodrama, other times like a nightmare, and sometimes like torture porn.

The tone that it sets is hard to put a finger on, but it is definitely dark and icky.

The surreal imagery and goopy special effects are really the best parts of the film.

The acting isn’t particularly great, but the imagery and themes of the film overwhelm any shortcomings it has.

Score

9/10

Hellraiser

Add Hellraiser to your collection or stream it now.

Buy/Rent Hellraiser

About Bryce Hanson

I'm a big fan of horror movies because it's rare that they aren't interesting. Whether it is a straight to VOD or the latest theatrical release, there is always something to talk about. I also like to sing, wax philosophical about mythology and religion, contemplate the void, and spend time with my family. I am usually up in my head about something, so apologies if I'm looking off into the middle distance. Along with David, I am a co-founder of Horror Movie Talk.

If you want to know more about my taste in horror films, checkout my about page or listen to episode 14: "The Horrific Beginnings of Horror Movie Talk"

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Event Horizon Review | Horror Movie Talk says:
    August 19, 2020 at 12:01 am

    […] made and ever will make. It’s one of the most late 90’s movies you will ever see and has very Hellraiser aesthetic. Actually, now that I think of it, this movie is a mashup of Hellraiser and Alien mixed […]

    Reply
  2. Saw Review | Horror Movie Talk | Episode 115 says:
    October 22, 2020 at 1:17 pm

    […] Buy/Stream Now Hellraiser Review […]

    Reply
  3. Hellbound: Hellraiser 2 Review - Horror Movie Talk says:
    September 14, 2022 at 6:42 am

    […] the protagonist from the original Hellraiser is fresh out of her experience in the first movie and is sent to Doctor Channard’s […]

    Reply
  4. Hellraiser (2022) Review - Horror Movie Talk says:
    October 12, 2022 at 1:00 am

    […] (2022) is a promising new movie based in the Hellraiser universe. It’s 54% reboot, 27% homage, 33% slow and boring, with a nice 12% helping of […]

    Reply

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