HELLRAISER Unboxed

   

HELLRAISER (1987) & HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II (1988)

HELLRAISER - Starring Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Doug Bradley, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith, Robert Hines. Directed by Clive Barker. (93 min)

HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II - Starring Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Kenneth Cranham, Doug Bradly, Imogen Boorman, William Hope, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith, Barbie Wilde. Directed by Tony Randel. (99 min)

ON BLU-RAY FROM ARROW VIDEO

Review by Josey, the Sudden Cat😸

As ‘80s horror icons go, Pinhead was always the most interesting. Unlike Jason or Freddy, he’s conceptually more creative, his backstory more intriguing and worthy of further exploration. Hence, there was plenty of justification for Hellraiser sequels...for awhile, anyway. Sure, the franchise eventually devolved into series of direct-to-video dumpster fires, but the first three films remain well worth revisiting. They are uniquely different from each other in both story and scope, expanding Clive Barker’s perversely compelling universe while instilling Pinhead with an atypical amount of complexity.

Despite his storied standing among horror fans, some tend to forget Pinhead isn’t really a villain in the first two films. He doesn’t become a balls-out bad guy until Hellraiser III, and even then, we know enough about his past that he’s (almost) a tragic figure. As presented in Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Pinhead could be considered one of horror cinema’s first antiheroes.

"Was it good for you, too?"

The original Hellraiser was pretty unique for its time. Author Clive Barker was still a relatively new kid on the block, his brand of dark fantasy being the antithesis of Stephen King, not-to-mention the teen-centric slashers that filled theaters and lined video shelves. Even as a first-time director, no one was better-qualified to put his lurid imagination on the big screen. Considering the relatively low budget, the film is atmospheric and stylish, with gruesomely imaginative make-up effects and violence. Three decades later, the film holds up remarkably well, only a few wonky visual effects disrupting the overall tone. Having not seen the film for a couple of decades, I’d forgotten how little screen-time Pinhead himself (Doug Bradley) actually has. However, Claire Higgins as Julia and Sean Chapman/Oliver Smith as her lover, Frank, make a wonderfully contemptible pair of antagonists, which also compensates for newcomer Ashley Laurence’s comparatively bland performance as Kirstie.

Pinhead looks unimpressed.

I might be in the minority on this, but I always felt Hellbound: Hellraiser II was a better film. Though far gorier and more disturbing than Hellraiser, this one pushes into the realm of dark fantasy rather than pure horror. More ambitious and visually imaginative, Hellbound eschews the claustrophobic atmosphere of the original to finally show us a concept of Hell that was previously only hinted at. Even Ashley Laurence improves her game, up to the challenge of making Kirstie tougher and more resilient. The film also features the most twisted villain in the entire franchise: Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham), whose detached sadism makes Frank Cotton look a poster boy for empathy. It’s a shame he’s seldom mentioned among horror’s most despicable villains. But the most intriguing aspect of the film is Pinhead’s backstory. Revealing without being over-explanatory, we’re provided just enough knowledge about his past to add a surprising touch of poignancy to the climax.

Both of these discs and their bonus features were first released in 2016 as part of Arrow’s Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box collection. That set also included Hellraiser III and is pretty tough to find without emptying your bank account (here in the states, anyway). Now available separately, both are well-worth picking up since they are considerable upgrades from any previous editions. Each is chock-full of supplemental material, including feature-length documentaries for both films. As someone who thinks Hellraiser III is equally deserving of its own comprehensive release, it’s too bad Arrow has yet to make it available. Or maybe I’m in the minority on that one, too, but there’s no arguing Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II being modern classics that belong on any self-respecting horror fan’s shelf.

EXTRA KIBBLES

HELLRAISER:

"LEVIATHAN: THE STORY OF HELLRAISER” - 90 minute retrospective documentary covering nearly every aspect of the film. Lots of great interviews, production details and anecdotes.

"UNDER THE SKIN: DOUG BRADLEY ON HELLRAISER” - Interview with Pinhead himself.

"BEING FRANK: SEAN CHAPMAN ON HELLRAISER” - The actor talks about his role in the film.

"SOUNDTRACK HELL” - Stephen Thrower of the industrial band, Coil, discusses the music they created for the music score, which was ultimately never used as New World Pictures insisted on a more traditional score. We hear snippets of a few tracks. Quite interesting.

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES – One by Clive Barker, the other by Barker & Ashley Lawrence.

VINTAGE FEATURETTE - “Hellraiser Resurrection”

ORIGINAL EPK

3 TRAILERS

IMAGE GALLERY

REVERSIBLE COVER – We kinda prefer the newly commissioned artwork.

HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II:

"LEVIATHAN: THE STORY OF HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II” - Like the one listed above, this time running just over two hours.

"UNDER THE SKIN: DOUG BRADLEY ON HELLRAISER II” - A continuation of the same interview from the Hellraiser disc.

"BEING FRANK: SEAN CHAPMAN ON HELLRAISER II” - A continuation of the same interview from the Hellraiser disc. This is a bit more revealing, since Chapman is candid about his character’s lack of purpose in the film.

VINTAGE FEATURETTE - “Lost in the Labyrinth”

VINTAGE ON-SET INTERVIEWS

BEHIND-THE-SCENES FOOTAGE

SURGEON SCENE - Four minute clip of an unfinished scene that’s been the subject of rumor and speculation for years.

2 AUDIO COMMENTARIES – One by director Tony Randel, the other by Randel, Ashley Lawrence & screenwriter Peter Atkins.

BD-ROM SCREENPLAY DRAFTS

TRAILERS & TV SPOTS

3 IMAGE GALLERIES – Storyboards (including some which were never filmed), stills and promo material

REVERSIBLE COVER – Again, we like the newer artwork.

KITTY CONSENSUS:

MEE-OW! LIKE TAUNTING A MOUSE TO DEATH.