There has been much debate over this movie. As I've said elsewhere, the movies I find to be worthwhile viewing experiences are those that receive reviews at both extreme ends of the spectrum. Movies like "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind" receive nearly 100% positive reviews and I find them to be sorely lacking in imagination and execution. Movies with uniformly poor reviews are generally very genuinely bad. "Hellraiser", on the other hand, is a phenomenal accomplishment for a low-budget B-movie.
Personally, I do not find this movie to be particularly gory. There are a few strong scenes, but the more unsettling parts of the movie involve no bloodshed at all. This includes Julia's betrayal of her soon-to-be husband.
The trend in horror movies at the time that this was released was towards more "realistic" villains, usually the guy next door who was a little whacked. "Hellraiser" was prepared to introduce evil in a completely different form.
Several reviewers have commented on how they have been confused about what exactly is happening in this movie. I find that puzzling, since the circumstances (and most of the "Hellraiser" mythos) is spelled out quite plainly in this first movie of the series.
In general, the special effects are pretty cheesy, but the Cenobites are depicted very well. The images really stick in your mind. I have a replica of the LeMarchand puzzle box on my desk and I don't believe anyone has ever picked it up and asked me what it is. Everyone recognizes "the box that calls Pinhead."
The Anchor Bay release of this movie belongs in your collection.
**** out of *****
Personally, I do not find this movie to be particularly gory. There are a few strong scenes, but the more unsettling parts of the movie involve no bloodshed at all. This includes Julia's betrayal of her soon-to-be husband.
The trend in horror movies at the time that this was released was towards more "realistic" villains, usually the guy next door who was a little whacked. "Hellraiser" was prepared to introduce evil in a completely different form.
Several reviewers have commented on how they have been confused about what exactly is happening in this movie. I find that puzzling, since the circumstances (and most of the "Hellraiser" mythos) is spelled out quite plainly in this first movie of the series.
In general, the special effects are pretty cheesy, but the Cenobites are depicted very well. The images really stick in your mind. I have a replica of the LeMarchand puzzle box on my desk and I don't believe anyone has ever picked it up and asked me what it is. Everyone recognizes "the box that calls Pinhead."
The Anchor Bay release of this movie belongs in your collection.
**** out of *****