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Sorry everybody but i have never understood what the big deal is about this movie. The cenobites are really cool. What really made me cringe was the ending, the special effects were horrible, yes even for 1987. I just wish pinhead was in it more. I must admit that because of the pinhead image and all the talk about pinhead, I wanted this movie to be about pinhead and his "friends" but it wasn't. The stpemother was fucking annoying and its one of those movies where you know shes just gonna fuck shit up and why is she soo stupid if someone came back to from the dead you would think to be on the side of the living. Keep in mind i do respect it as a classic
At the time this was released it was one of the goriest films I had seen. Despite what we have been bombarded with over the last several years, still holds its own. The ceneobites are just badass. But as every horror franchise seems to be, its several sequels fail miserabley in comparison. Not including Hellbound or Hellraiser III in my opinion. The more it became direct to video, the more it lost its luster, and that's a shame.
Posted By: xXFacelessXx at 1:42am, October 2, 2009
This is definately one of the classics! For the time this movie was made in, I don't think anyone could imagine the torture along side the horror that is this, Hellraiser. I just bought this movie not even a week ago and it's gonna look good in my collection. Hellraiser in itself is raw, original and above all, insane, grant it, it takes quite a while for the movie to get where it needs to be and the story is still out of reach but the dialogue is memorible, and the general idea and notion make up for the time wasting. The biting Cenobite bugged me and so did the fat one, I guess the only reason why they do is because this would be an awesome group of people if it weren't for those two. This movie has been underlooked all these years and needs some attention. This is a down right awesome movie and it needs it's respect like we give Halloween and I'm sure you know the others as well, but if you look at Pinhead more than once, you'll see what I'm talking about.
Hellraiser is a great movie. Notice I don't use the word amazing, because it isn't. Despite what all these Clive Barker fans are saying below, this isn't that good. Yes, the gore is "wonderful", yes the acting is superb, yes there is a plot. But there isn't much else to it. The star, Pinhead, isn't actually the star, he isn't even in it much. Hellraiser is a good classic, but watching it now just makes it feel dated. The special effects are wonderful, don't get me wrong, but there is nothing here to really get excited about, so, I'm not going to write any more and go ahead and state my score.
I have no clue why this is such a classic. Pinhead wasn't scary, he was barely in this and played no part, even in the sequel. This is the only HellRaiser film that had a nice storyline. It's a good thing they didn't do a Michael vs Pinhead theme. No wonder why it's hard for Dimension to get a remake put together for this.
One of the most original twisted horror movies to date. Who the fuck thinks of this stuff? Clive Barker, that's who. Give the guy a medal for Christ sake. Speaking of Christ, sure he wept when he saw this movie.
About as awesome as awesome can get. It's got a cool story with really cool effects and The build up that led to the second Hellraiser was great. I love this movie. I can watch it all day. Pinhead is probably my fav Horror Icon!
One of the finest horror's to date. Clive really pulled on something with this. Weather its the mystery surrounding the Cenobites, or the memorable characters, either way he hit it right on the head. The Cenobites are awesome alone, and its great how they are never over exposed. Always in dark places, and never explained as to what, or how they became what they are. Pinhead himself was great, I love the opening scene, such a great usage of techniques. It shows us what we are in for with out giving to much away. After the film is over your left thinking "what the hell were those things!?" Forget the sequels, Apart from Hellbound and Hell On Earth. this will go down in history as one of the greats.
well i loved this movie...at first i hated it...it was freaky at first but up until an hour into the movie it was boring...than Ashley Laurence found out what was all happening and she took the box ands was transported into the cenobite world and than all hell broke loose...while the monsters were still kinda cheap it still freaked me out and i loved the last half hour!!!!!
I hadn't watched Hellraiser for a good 6yrs...so I decided to watch it again seeing that my Girlfriend hasn't seen it.....What can I say..It was great. I like the fact that the Cenobites were not over used and kept to the shadows most of the time....giving a aura of menace. The acting is solid and consistent....although the Engineer monster is looking rather dated now and you can see the stand on which it's hung....but that’s just a small nit pick. One the whole it was a dark, brooding and atmospheric film....also my girlfriend love it...
Posted By: Necronatalusz at 1:45am, February 23, 2009
Highscores to all Hellraisers!
Posted By: TheBurning at 2:14pm, February 15, 2009
Bloody well done.
Posted By: nitewise84 at 2:31pm, February 14, 2009
This movie is just down right awesome!!
Posted By: Cenobite31 at 3:50pm, February 10, 2009
This is by far my favorite horror movie. Clive Barker is the greatest horror writer of our time. I love all of the characters in this film from the innocent Kirsty, to the true bastard that is Frank. The cenobites are maybe the best horror movie villains ever. The make-up effects in this movie are amazing. I miss the days before CGI nearly ruined horror. Favorite scene in the movie has to be when Frank regenerates from under the floor. This scene was done via claymation and it still looks more realistic than almost anything done with a computer nowadays. Read the book. It's just as good. The remake had better not suck.
This is hands down my favorite movie of all time. Pinhead is one of the greatest horror movie characters in history, the storyline is fresh and the acting is great for back then. This movie has a great scene where a man gets pulled apart by chains, Hellraiser is a truly great film that is just another piece of artwork in the great Clive Barkers portfolio.
Posted By: zombiecordy at 2:46pm, January 23, 2009
one of the best most awe inspiring and genuinly terryfying experiences ive had watching a movie
A horror classic from the mind of a master. What makes Hellraiser stand out is the complex and truly original story line. Judging by the poster you would think Pinhead dominates the film but he doesn't as that honor falls to the character of Julia and her manipulative ways. She is a far scarier villain. Pre CGI effects still hold up and what effects they are, outstanding brutal and horrific. When Pinhead and the Cenobites appear the film takes a u turn into even more painful territory and some of Pinheads short dialogue really shows what type of visionary writer Clive Barker really is and the affection he shows for his 'villains'. "Demons to some, Angels to others". A decent into hell and a must see for all Clive Barker fans
Posted By: gorehound62 at 10:59am, November 15, 2008
clive barkers directorial debut based on his novel, the hellbound heart, is pretty good. pinhead ranks up with the best of the boogeymen. doug bradley brings the character to life. former dirty harry villain, andy (the scorpio killer) robinson is great as a main character. the presence of the cenobites in the film is what gives it its creepiness. great gore effects.
Definately one of the best movies I've seen lately. Don't know why it took me so long to see this classic gem, but it was well worth the wait. Pinhead is intense, and his little cennobites are fucking scary/hilarious/nasty. Very well done with a fairly complex storyline for a horror movie. I would be intereseted in the seeing the more recent ones, but I've heard they drop off in quality after this one.
barker's best film. saw this on xmas eve. when it 1st came out, it held me from start to finish. this is one of the great classics that made me love horror so.
Wow this movie is amazing.... being i was only 2 yrs old when it came out, for its time its amazing, super gory super good. cant ask for anything more in a horrror movie this would capture any audience and keep em glued to the screen. Instant Clasic
This was a great horror movie. It was really gorey, the acting overall was good, the story was incredibly good, the music though very little, was great. This is a great classic. Although, I did think this movie was kind of slow at the beginning, but ended with a blast with Pinhead and the Cenobites, I loved the ending.
Good movie very gory so memorable and so entertaining now was it the scariest horror of all time NO. Does it come close NO. I'd put it in the top 20's. I liked how the cenobites were created and I love their image and the special effects are in the top 5 for any horror films special effects. Great film if you're a gore fan this is highly recommended acing is decent (better than most horror films) a true gore fest and a scary film especially when the cenobites first showed up. A great film and highly recommended.
Posted By: JonnyRotten at 12:42am, August 17, 2008
"Jesus wept" are you kidding me! This is how it is suposed to be done. These were the days when America was at the fore front of horror. Say what you will about the eighties, but they were the golgen age of American horror. Although a nightmare on elm street is my favorite movie, I can't in good conscience say that it is superior to hellraiser. Wonderfull pre-cgi effects, gore, iconic villians, perfect in every way. These were the days when writers and directors were free to be as dark and taboo as they wanted. The cenobites manage to be the most evil and vile creatures imaginable, and at the same time have a sort of pureity and grace to them. This is truely a masterpiece. I usually say to each their own, but if you don't like this one, you are FUCKING STUPID!!!
An absolute classic. So original, brutal, and memorable. The Cenobites will live on in my psyche for the rest of my days. Clive barker is truly a visionary.
i love these movies and i agree they are must see classics! all of them. these movies along w/ halloween, were probley what started me on horror films! :D
Just watched Hellraiser tonight for the hundredth time. It is an amazing piece of horror movie making. From the very start to the last two minutes, your heart is pumping, fearful of what is going to happen next. The twists and turns are great, keeping the story alive, and the introduction of the great S&M Cenabite Pinhead is classic. There is so much in this film that just makes you sit as the credits roll, wishing it were longer. I was hooked by the first minute of the film.
