Rating summary

Movie		3.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.0

Hellraiser Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 24, 2015

Clive Barker's "Hellraiser" (1987) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video. The supplemental features on the disc include original trailers and TV spots; two audio commentaries; archival featrettes; video interview with actor Doug Bradley; video interview with former Coil member Stephen Thrower; and more. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-B "locked".

The box

Note: Hellraiser currently appears only in Arrow Video's Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box. An individual Blu-ray release will be available in 2016.

This is a nasty film that actually takes nastiness rather seriously. The majority of its special effects look dated now, but unlike the many torture porn copycats that have flooded the market in recent years it has an atmosphere that complements its story rather well.

There is a tiny box that can temporarily open the gates of Hell. When it does the box also summons its keepers, the cenobites, and they do some really bad things to its owner. The film never really bothers to explain where the box came from or how long it has been around.

During the short prologue, Frank (Sean Chapman, Made in Britain), who is addicted to pain and looking for the ultimate experience, purchases the box and summons the cenobites. His body is quickly destroyed but his soul somehow survives. A few years later (or is it months), Frank’s brother, Larry (Andrew Robinson, Cobra), and his second wife, Julia (Claire Higgins, The Fruit Machine), move into the same house where the box was opened. Larry accidentally cuts his hand and a few drops of his blood bring back Frank’s soul. Here’s the weakest part of the film. What’s left of Frank -- and it really isn’t that much -- convinces Julia to help it regrow its body so that they can continue the affair they started before Larry married her. Julia reluctantly agrees and while Larry is away she brings home horny strangers whose blood slowly brings Frank back to life (the new Frank is played by Oliver Smith). However, before the transformation is completed, Kristy (Ashley Laurence, Felony), Larry’s daughter from his previous marriage, discovers that her stepmother has a wild side her father isn’t aware of.

Clive Barker completed Hellraiser in 1987 with a relatively small budget. It was his first feature film and the only one in the Hellraiser trilogy which he directed. In addition to the two sequels there are a few direct-to-video Hellraiser films, but they essentially borrow a few of the original characters and veer off in completely different directions.

The story is fairly straightforward, though after Julia agrees to help Frank one begins to wonder who the real villain is -- is it Frank, who has risked his life and lost his body, or Julia, who has started killing for him and is basically bringing a monster amongst the living?

The most memorable segments are the ones featuring the cenobites. There is something genuinely spooky about the way they appear and some of the noises they produce. Unfortunately, these segments also feature some very poorly scripted exchanges that ultimately make them look like odd auditions for a wacky S&M show.

The film’s biggest strength is Christopher Young’s soundtrack. The music has a very dark ambient feel that infuses the film with a heavy Gothic atmosphere which makes it look like a much bigger production. There are a number of sequences where the camera movement and the melodic motion are perfectly synchronized and the visual effect is quite remarkable.

Hellraiser Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.85:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Clive Barker's Hellraiser arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video.

The release is sourced from a new 2K restoration. Generally speaking, the bulk of the film now looks a lot more vibrant and stable. Shadow definition is better managed than it is on Anchor Bay's Hellraiser Puzzle Box release as well. Colors are lusher and better balanced. There are no traces of problematic degraining corrections. However, there are select areas where grain does move rather awkwardly and creates some odd effects (see screencapture #11). Sharpness and brightness levels could have been managed better because in select sequences it is easy to tell that are slightly elevated and also causing some minor anomalies (see screencapture #4). Overall image stability is excellent. Lastly, there are no large cuts and damage marks, but some specks, small black marks, and blemishes remain. (Note: This is a Region-B "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-B or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

Hellraiser Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two standard audio tracks on this Blu-ray release: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

I viewed the film with the LPCM 2.0 track. Depth and clarity are very good. Christopher Young's moody score and the audio effects (chain noises, rattling noises, etc.) are also well balanced. There is a good range of nuanced dynamics. The dialog is stable, crisp, clean, and easy to follow. Lastly, there are no audio dropouts, pops, or digital distortions.

Hellraiser Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailers - three trailers for the film. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Theatrical Trailer (2 min).
  2. Red Band Trailer (2 min).
  3. International Trailer (4 min).

• TV Spots - four original TV spots. In English, not subtitled.

• Draft Screenplays - presented as BD-ROM content.

• Image Gallery - a collection of production stills and promotional materials. Images courtesy of Stephen Jones and Phil and Sarah Stokes.

• Original EPK - this short piece features some raw footage from the shooting of Hellraiser and comments from director/writer Clive Barker, special effects designer Bob Keen, and actors Claire Higgins, Andrew Robinson, and Ashley Laurence. In English, not subtitled. (6 min).

• Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser - this documentary, narrated by Oliver Smith, focuses on the production history of Hellraiser, its cult status, and some of the key themes/subthemes in the film. Included in it are interviews with special effects designer Bob Keen, image animator Geoff Portass, Ashley Laurence, Doug Bradley (Pinhead), director of photography Robin Vidgeon, producer Christopher Figg, and director Clive Barker, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (89 min).

• Being Frank: Sean Chapman on Hellraiser - in this archival featurette, Sean Chapman (Frank) discusses his contribution to Hellraiser and Clive Barker's vision and working methods. The featurette was produced by Nucleus Films. In English, not subtitled. (27 min).

• Soundtrack Hell - Clive Barker and British ambient rockers Coil worked together on a soundtrack for Hellraiser before Christopher Young was brought on board. In this featurette, former Coil member Stephen Thrower discusses the type of music that was initially recorded (apparently with qualities that resembled those of Wayne Bell and Tobe Hooper's soundtrack for The Texas Chain Saw Massacre and Pino Donaggio's soundtrack for Carrie). The featurette was produced by Nucleus Films. In English, not subtitled. (19 min).

• Hellraiser: Resurection - an archival featurette with clips from interviews with Clive Barker, special effects designer Bob Keen, Doug Bradley, composer Christopher Young, and special effects artist Steve Johnson, amongst others. In English, not subtitled. (25 min).

• Under the Skin: Doug Bradley on Hellraiser - in this video interview, actor Doug Bradley discusses his relationship with director Clive Barker and contribution to Hellraiser. In English, not subtitled. (13 min).

• Commentary with Clive Barker - in this archival commentary Clive Barker discusses in great detail the shooting of various sequences, the costumes/masks and special effects (and why some of them did not work as intended), some of the film's Hitchockian qualities, Pinhead's popularity, how the film has aged, etc.

• Commentary with Clive Barker and Ashley Laurence - like the previous audio commentary has also appeared on previous DVD and Blu-ray release of Hellraiser. The bulk of the comments again address the production history and the film's cult status.

Hellraiser Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

A man addicted to pain and looking for the ultimate experience purchases a tiny box that can open the gates of Hell. He uses the box, but summons the now legendary Pinhead and his assistants. Hellraiser has its moments, but I don't think that it is aged particularly well. Currently, the film is available on Blu-ray only as part of Arrow Video's Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box, but an individual release will be available for purchase next year. RECOMMENDED.