7.5 | / 10 |
Users | 0.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.5 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Evil Julia helps her lover, Frank, come back to the mortal world from hell. Because Frank has used the Lament Configuration box to taste pleasures outside the normal realm of human sensation, freeing him from hell unleashes Pinhead and a menagerie of demons (cenobites) back unto earth.
Starring: Doug Bradley, Andrew Robinson (I), Clare Higgins (I), Ashley Laurence, Sean ChapmanHorror | 100% |
Thriller | 31% |
Fantasy | Insignificant |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English SDH
Blu-ray Disc
Single disc (1 BD)
Region B (A, C untested)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.5 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 5.0 | |
Overall | 4.5 |
Note: This version of this film is available as part of Arrow's Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment collection.
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 typically luxe limited edition 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, though not all of the legacy supplements from The Scarlet Box have made it over to these releases, for those
keeping track. Maybe sometimes it's a good thing when a multidimensional portal won't stay closed.
Hellraiser is presented on Blu-ray courtesy of Arrow Video with an AVC encoded 1080p 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.There are some subtle but rather appealing upticks to this new restoration, probably a "combo platter" of improved technologies as well as the fact that these newer versions were sourced (mostly) from negatives instead of completely from interpositives. The color timing struck me as more natural looking this time, with less of the kind of ruddy brown flush that kind of underlay Arrow's older 1080 release, and while there are certainly pretty huge differences in the tightness of grain, I also found the grain field to be generally more organic looking this time around. There are still undeniable variances in densities, clarity and (as mentioned) grain, not necessarily due to opticals (though the glut of those certainly do play into appearances), but what might be referred to variant "peaks" and "valleys" may have been evened out a bit more this time. Fine detail is typically quite excellent, especially on practical items like patterns on clothing.
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.
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.
- 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:37)
- Red Band Theatrical Trailer (HD; 1:36)
- International Trailer (HD; 3:27)
- Image Gallery (HD)
- First Draft Screenplay* (HD)
- Final Draft Screenplay* (HD)
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, and the supplements are outstanding. Highly recommended.
1987
Remastered
1987
Limited Edition
1987
1987
Special Edition
1987
(Still not reliable for this title)
1988
4K Restoration
1992
2018
1981
1981
Uncut
1980
Limited Edition
2014
2012
Special Edition
1982
40th Anniversary Edition
1978
2019
2015
Director's Cut
2013
1982
2019
2012
Quella villa accanto al cimitero | Limited Edition
1981
1986
2015
The Grim Reaper
1980