Horror Movie Odyssey: Day 1 - Hellraiser
by delaythesun
Uncle Pinhead The Hellraiser series is perhaps the most notable horror franchise to which I have had zero exposure. I grew up with Freddy, Jason and Michael but the somewhat unfortunately named “Pinhead” had been, until now, relegated to the role of slightly creepy uncle nobody wants to acknowledge. The entire thing just seemed a bit too “hesh” for my tastes. Pinhead and the rest of the cenobit...
Uncle Pinhead
The Hellraiser series is perhaps the most notable horror franchise to which I have had zero exposure. I grew up with Freddy, Jason and Michael but the somewhat unfortunately named “Pinhead” had been, until now, relegated to the role of slightly creepy uncle nobody wants to acknowledge. The entire thing just seemed a bit too “hesh” for my tastes. Pinhead and the rest of the cenobites seemed like they could pass as a metal head’s completely rad trapper keeper doodles. Anyway, October is for horror movies and I figured I should kick off with something a bit different. Nothing says different quite like sadomasochistic demons.
For Cenobites, Sexy Fun Time Does Not Include Sex or Fun
Pinhead explains at some point in the film that the cenobites are “explorers in the further reaches of experience” or something equally cryptic. This would be super cool if he and his posse weren’t clad head to toe in S&M gear. It is basically him, the slightly androgynous chick (kind of hot I admit), the fat guy with tiny glasses (could be ripped from the World Series of Poker) and the Nemesis from Resident Evil 3. I hate to say it but this is kind of a sorry group. Hell’s “Breakfast Club” if you will. I see those four walking out of a Hot Topic and odds are I grab for my camera phone before I run in terror. They are joined by some weird creature that looks like a cross between a Silent Hill dog and the “Peanut Butter Jelly Time” banana. I hate to be completely dismissive, because I think that Clive Barker is pretty much a genius (Mister B. Gone is really great), but this movie clearly lacks the impact it once enjoyed.
But Hey, Thanks For Not Being a Teen Morality Play
The people in this movie are completely despicable assholes and they exist in a world where people age beyond 25 years. It is nice to watch a horror movie from the eighties that isn’t limited to a group of teens being impaled in the order that they have sex or smoke pot. The movie opens with a sexually depraved nobody looking for the next high, and ends with the skinning of the slightly goofy and entirely oblivious father. The middle consists of a psycho bitch and a string of adulterous no-names. It feels like a movie seventies or two-thousandsies in that respect. Clive Barker explores morality as it applies to adults and clearly doesn’t have shit to say on the subject of premarital sex. Refreshing.
What Was With the Cricket Eating Homeless Guy / Hell-Dragon?
Seriously, what the fuck was that? I have no idea.Paging Pascal Laugier!
After watching Hellraiser, I fully understand why the producers were so keen to hire Laugier for a remake. Martyrs has a lot in common with Hellraiser thematically and it prominently features a character without skin.