Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		0.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

Hellraiser 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Jeffrey Kauffman October 16, 2024

Note: This version of this film is available on Blu-ray as part of Arrow's Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment 4K set.

Perhaps out of deference to Clive Barker's home country, Arrow released its massive Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment sets in both 1080 and 4K UHD formats almost exactly a year ago as this review is being written. Both formats were covered by me at the time of their UK release, and these Region A sets basically duplicate what was in the previous Region B sets, so I am repeating information and providing links as appropriate.

The problem with those pesky portals to other dimensions is that there's evidently no way to keep them permanently closed, which may be why Arrow is revisiting the Hellraiser franchise just a few years after it brought out the rather extravagantly packaged Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box. The good news is, while Arrow can almost always be counted for rather luxe packaging one way or the other, they've seen fit to offer fans new 4K restorations of the first four films (note that the aforementioned Scarlet Box only offered the original triptych), as well as at least some new supplements augmenting previously produced bonus features. Maybe sometimes it's a good thing when a multidimensional portal won't stay closed.

Those interested can find several reviews of the various Hellraiser films on the site, but for purposes of this particular review I'll point those interested to my own Hellraiser Blu-ray review of The Scarlet Box version, since that provides the chance to compare screenshots and see how supplements stack up between the releases.

Hellraiser 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Note: Screenshots are sourced from Arrow's standalone 1080 release, which I frankly feel gives an overall better representation of the palette in particular, than had I sourced screenshots directly from the 4K UHD disc, which by necessity would have been downscaled to 1080 and SDR. This set does not include 1080 discs, and so the 2K video score above has been intentionally left blank.

Hellraiser is presented in 4K UHD courtesy of Arrow Video with an HEVC / H. 265 encoded 2160p transfer in 1.85:1. Arrow provides the same hardback book for both its 4K UHD and 1080 releases, and it contains the following information on this latest restoration:

Hellraiser is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1 with stereo 2.0 and 5.1. sound. The original 35mm camera negative was scanned and restored in 4K resolution at Silver Salt Restoration, London. Sections of a 35mm interpositive were also sourced for sections that had been removed from the negative. The film was graded in SDR, HDR10 and Dolby Vision by Silver Salt Restoration, London.

This 4K UHD version offers some really appealing levels of fine detail, and HDR and/or Dolby Vision noticeably expand highlights throughout the presentation, enabling more visible data in some of the scarier scenes in the attic (which may or may not be a good thing, depending on your squirm factor). The film's kind of burnt umber to yellow grading in some of the Cenobite or box material in particular looks almost buttery in this version, but the more "normal" palette sequences fairly burst at time, especially with regard to primaries, including the all important reds. That said, some of the gorier blood and gut effects in this version struck me as a bit more on the crimson-burgundy side than Arrow's new 1080 presentation offers. This is another 4K UHD release where some already obvious and at times pretty wide variances in densities, clarity and grain resolution are only exacerbated by the increased resolution and HDR, and so this may be another case where some fans may actually prefer Arrow's 1080 version to this one. My score is 4.25.

Hellraiser 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Hellraiser features DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and 5.1 tracks which struck my ears as interchangeable with the tracks on Arrow's old 1080 release (which featured an LPCM codec for its stereo version). Both of these tracks sound nicely full bodied, but the surround track beefs up the rather beautiful Christopher Young score, offering a more pleasant bed of sound that helps to elevate the overall sonic ambience. Some of the ooey-gooey sound effects are a bit more resonant in the surround offering as well. Dialogue is rendered cleanly and with good prioritization and there are no problems to report in terms of dropouts, distortion or even hiss. Optional English subtitles are available.

Hellraiser 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Note: I've tried my best to identify supplements new to this edition with an asterisk (*), but with so much to go through and the added challenge of Arrow having authored or titled things differently for this release, I may have missed something.

• Audio Commentaries

  Commentary with critics Stephen Jones and Kim Newman (2023)*

  
  

  Commentary with writer/director Clive Barker and actress Ashley Laurence (2000)

  
  

  Commentary with writer/director Clive Barker (1996)

• Power of Imagination* (HD; 58:14) is an often fascinating conversation between Sorcha Ní Fhlainn and Karmel Knipprath covering the films and Barker in general.


• Unboxing Hellraiser * (HD; 21:53) is a fun piece by Alexandra Benedict focusing on a "different" kind of unboxing.


• The Pursuit of Possibilities* (HD; 40:57) features Paula D. Ashe and Eric LaRocca addressing what they perceive as the "inherent queerness" of Hellraiser.


• Flesh is a Trap* (HD; 18:19) offers an almost metaphysical analysis of Barker's oeuvre by Guy Adams.


• Behind the Scenes* features some recently discovered extended archival videos, presented here for the first time. While ostensibly in high definition, these were obviously sourced from older tape masters with timecode captions.

  Introduction by Stephen Jones and Kim Newman (HD; 10:30)

  
  

  Extended Clive Barker EPK (HD; 4:47)

  
  

  Extended Andrew Robinson EPK (HD: 4:22)

  
  

  Extended Claire Higgins EPK (HD; 3:16)

  
  

  Extended Ashley Laurence EPK (HD; 3:05)

  
  

  Extended Creatures & Effects EPK (HD; 9:26)

  
  

  Original 1987 Electronic Press Kit (HD; 5:58)

• Archival Special Features

  Being Frank: Sean Chapman on Hellraiser (HD; 26:24)

  
  

  Soundtrack Hell (HD; 18:11)

  
  

  Under the Skin: Doug Bradley on Hellraiser (HD; 12:31

  
  

  Hellraiser: Resurrection (HD; 24:25)

• Trailers

  Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:37)

  Red Band Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:36)

  International Trailer (HD; 3:27)

• TV Spots (HD; 2:13)


• Image Galleries

  Image Gallery (HD)

  
  

  First Draft Screenplay* (HD)

  
  

  Final Draft Screenplay* (HD)

Hellraiser 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

This is another first rate effort from Arrow, and it's commendable to see a label not merely repackage older transfers, but try to bring something new to the mix, both in terms of higher resolution scans and new supplements. Technical merits are solid (though as stated some may prefer Arrow's 1080 version), and the supplements are outstanding. Highly recommended.