Hellraiser (1987)

Hellraiser is a 1987 British horror film written and directed by Clive Barker, based on his own novella The Hellbound Heart. The film spawned a series of sequels. The film involves the resurrection of Frank (Sean Chapman), who had opened the door to an alternate dimension and had his body torn to pieces by creatures known as Cenobites. Years later, Frank's brother Larry (Andrew Robinson) moves into Frank's abandoned house with his daughter, Kirsty (Ashley Laurence), and his new wife, Julia (Clare Higgins). An accident causes some of Larry's blood to spill on the attic floor, which somehow triggers Frank's resurrection. To complete his resurrection, he requires more blood which Julia provides while Kirsty discovers Frank's puzzlebox which leads her to meet with the Cenobites.

Hellraiser was filmed in late 1986. Barker originally wanted the electronic music group Coil to perform the music for the film, but later had the group's music changed by Christopher Young. Hellraiser had its first public showing at the Prince Charles Cinema on September 10 1987. Initial reviews ranged from Melody Maker calling it the greatest horror film made in Britain, to Roger Ebert calling it a "bankruptcy of imagination".

Synopsis

In Morocco, Frank Cotton buys a puzzle box from a dealer. In a bare attic, Frank solves the puzzle, and hooked chains emerge from it to tear into his flesh. Later the room is filled with swinging chains spattered with the remnants of his body. A black-robed figure picks up the puzzle box and returns it to its original state, restoring the room to normal.

Actors