 |
| "We will tear your soul apart!" |
This is truely Clive Barker's masterpeice, even better than Candyman in my oppinion, Hellraiser manages to create a unique and origional vision of hell. When Larry Cotton accidently cuts his hand, without knowing it, his blood bring's his cheating, hedonistic brother Frank back from hell. Frank is incomplete and so Julia (Larry's wife), who secretly had an affair with Frank before he was sent to hell, helps Frank return peice by peice. She does this by spilling the blood of men she manages to bring back to the house by seduction.
There are huge similarities between this plot and that of The Mummy, a film in which someone is also brought back from the dead by aquiering parts of the living, however what makes this movie so compelling is not only the story but also the general mood it manages to convay.
The CGI effects are limited and are used sparingly, most of the frightening looking viuals are the result of a creative use of make-up, lighting and model work. The Cenobites imparticular look truely terrifying, the most iconic of which is Pin Head who is the Cenobites' leader. The Cenobites are the deamons/angels of hell who demand Frank's soul be returned to them. In the first film they are only seem breifly and there is only a glimpses of hell, but Clive Barker makes sure that it stays in people's heads. Hell consists of hundreds of chains with hooks that rip into people's flesh, as well as revolving collums wrapped in barbed wire which have human body parts nailed to them, it's like stepping into a genuine nightmare.
The dark dindgy sets, strange blue light and incredible make-up all serve to bring the audience into a horrifying yet beautiful immersive fantasy world. This film harbours the same sort of dream like 'am I really here' feeling as movies such as Videodrome and Labyrinth. The imagery is so ritch that the film leaves you hungry for more, but be warned! This film is certainly not for the faint hearted as it contains quite literally 'hellish' torment in the form of ripping hooks, a scary hell monster and a man with no skin.
Please do check this film out and let me know what you think, I would certainly reccomend it as a must see and the sequel aren't bad either...
No comments:
Post a Comment