Hellraiser

The practical effects are top notch I have to say. Amazing body horror. Lots of blood and gore. Great classic film. Still pretty original. I haven't seen anything like it.

This constitutes Clive Barker's landmark and groundbreaking debut as a director and establishes him as a horror maestro to be reckoned with, in a film that has created one of the most enduring horror franchises that is still witnessing the occasional birth of sequels, a loyal fan base and cult following, as well as giving birth to an entire subculture of skin piercing in America (people with hooks pierced through their back dangling in the air through the strength of their pierced skin); and is a case book study in the art of concise script writing and effective editing, great cinematography and art direction, brilliant incorporation of music featuring an iconic score, and great special effects, in a movie that will introduce one of the most enduring and iconic villains in the horror genre - Pinhead, in movie that alludes to the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Knowledge, with the puzzle box, representing the Forbidden Fruit, that once opened summons forth the Cenobites - who will introduce the summoner to the furthest limits of pain and pleasure indivisible (much as the bite of the apple caused Adam and Eve to be in a fallen state, opening the floodgates of knowledge, that while doing penance on earth have to lead lives infused with a mixture of pain and pleasure), in a story that revolves around Julia's attempt to give flesh to her brother-in-law, Frank, after a drop from the back of her husband's hand summons him forth from hell -for which he was condemned after solving the puzzle box, and witnesses her bringing Frank more victims in a desperate attempt to make her husband's (Larry) brother whole for he had seduced her on her wedding night and had pleasured her with the best sex she had ever experienced, and, eventually allowing him to skin her husband and wear his flesh; a blissful union that was foiled when Larry's daughter, Christie, caught Frank in the heinous act of claiming his victim, gets hold of the puzzle box, solves it, summons forth the Cenobites, and makes a bargain to trade her soul for that of Frank's.Highly recommended.

In 1987 horror was already becoming predictable, but Barker takes us into uncharted territory that lacks the predictability of this film's horror peers. The victims aren't drunk teens, people don't make horrendously stupid decisions, and things in no way happen as we'd expect them. Even the gore and effects take us down a more rare and satisfying path. This film will fulfill your darkest pleasures. Clive Barker introduces us to Pinhead in this ultra-creepy, practical effect gorefest with a solid story!Larry (Andrew Robinson; The Puppet Masters, Pumpkinhead 2) and his reluctant second wife move into an old family property in which, unbeknownst to anyone else, his brother Frank had toiled with the powers of evil and now suffers in Hell. Some blood is accidently spilled where Frank was torn apart by an otherworldly evil and this blood initiated the beginning of the transformation of his remains to a rather "incomplete" facsimile of infernal Frank.This scene is a testament to the patient practical effects of the 80s. We see organs develop from blood droplets and his body slowly finds form from a gory muck. The scene is long and gross, and it includes some creepy stop motion of his decrepit skeletal arms and bloody resurrection. This transformation scene is one of the most memorable scenes in 80s horror.Now a skinless, weak, macabre husk of his formal self he tempts Julia (Clare Higgins; Being Human) to "help" him by bringing him more blood. Julia clings to an adulterous memory of a past lusty tryst with Frank and wants more. She has no love for Larry but much carnal desire for Frank despite Frank's criminally loveless nature--making this quite the perverse story.Whereas Frank's desire to be whole again bridges our story from reality to Hell, the keystone is Julia's adulterous desire to be in his arms. As she finds comfort in the murderous means to fully restore Frank, we see her shift from an apathetic (in her marriage with Larry) and effortless housewife to a comfortably made-over black widow. Once she has brought blood to Frank slimy flayed body, she starts to do her hair differently and her make-up looks sharper--more villainous.Although many scenes occur elsewhere this feels much like a chamber thriller, claustrophobically taking place mostly in the confines of the house. We, like Frank trapped in the attic-like spare room, feel isolated; trapped under a roof with a damned skinless man. The only impediment to Frank's freedom is Larry's daughter Kirsty (Ashley Laurence; several Hellraiser sequels, Warlock III), who learns the infernal power of the Puzzle Box and bargains with some demons to return Frank to Hell.These leather-clad, macabre demons are called Cenobites and they look like members of a devil-worshipping 80s metal band. They include Chatterbox, Butterball, Female and their leader Pinhead (Doug Bradley; Nightbreed). Their monster make-up work is off-putting and their silent demeanor only adds to their malevolence. Their words are few but direly chilling.The Puzzle Box leads us to the only special effects in the film that don't hold up well. While watching the Puzzle Box being solved is actually very simple (no significant FX involved really) and cool, the Box brings about some effects that resemble Atari-Tron videogame lasers. However, the Box remains powerfully mysterious and it draws our ominous attention whenever it's on screen.Written and directed by Clive Barker (Nightbreed, Lord of Illusions), this film offers no shortage of gore to compliment the fantastic, effective story. Frank's victims are drained husks of pus and maggots, Frank himself is a horror to behold in his various phases of development, and then we still have other cruel visions, the twisted make-up of Pinhead and his fellow Cenobites, the Puzzle Box opening creepy gates to a somewhat ambiguous Hell, and Frank ultimately being torn apart by hooked chains in another iconic horror scene of the decade.I find the story and characters every bit as powerful as the gory practical effects and consider this a must see for anyone who considers themselves a fan of modern horror.