In 1987 novelist and artist Clive Barker wanted to bring one of his own stories to the big screen making his directorial debut in the process. 'Hellraiser' was born in a sticky combination of sex, violence, incest, religion & practical effects with a gritty grindhouse vibe and tied together by one of Christopher Young's best musical scores. It also introduced the world to the Cenobites, emissaries from of a type of purgatory dimension where pleasure and pain are indistinguishable. Their leader, Pinhead, became an instant horror icon and the film was a box office hit relative to the budget.
Naturally, sequels followed.. so many sequels. Like nine of them, maybe more. I've seen the original trilogy which includes 'Hellbound: Hellraiser II,' which I hated, and followed by the forgettable 'Hellraiser III.' Clive Barker had a dark and unique vision for the original, which is something all subsequent entries have failed to capture. It's rough around the edges, the production clearly running out of money towards the end but still full of ideas. Having revisited the first one after thirty years, I can say it holds up pretty well. Even in certain areas where it does not succeed, it's still interesting and fun to watch. 7.5/10.
Naturally, sequels followed.. so many sequels. Like nine of them, maybe more. I've seen the original trilogy which includes 'Hellbound: Hellraiser II,' which I hated, and followed by the forgettable 'Hellraiser III.' Clive Barker had a dark and unique vision for the original, which is something all subsequent entries have failed to capture. It's rough around the edges, the production clearly running out of money towards the end but still full of ideas. Having revisited the first one after thirty years, I can say it holds up pretty well. Even in certain areas where it does not succeed, it's still interesting and fun to watch. 7.5/10.