Film Reviews

Hellraiser Trilogy (1987–1992) • Blu-ray [Arrow Video]

A triptych of reviews covering Clive Barker’s macabre classic, that took the 1980s wave of horror down a new terrifying path…

Hellraiser (1987)

Horror author Clive Barker made his directorial debut with Hellraiser, a terrifying adaptation of his 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart. Made for just shy of $1M, it grossed $14M worldwide (that’s $30M adjusted for inflation), despite initially scathing reviews. It was perhaps too transgressive for the average filmgoer of the 1980s (a time when having a tongue piercing was considered risqué), but Hellraiser was also psychologically disturbing and visually daring.

In a decade littered with schlocky horror sequels and cheesy slashers, Hellraiser was the blackest of sheep.