Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #54977 in DVD
• Released on: 2000-09-19
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, Limited Edition, THX, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 118 minutes

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Hellraiser
Having made his reputation as one of the most prolific and gifted horror writers of his generation (prompting Stephen King to call him "the future of horror"), Clive Barker made a natural transition to movies with this audacious directorial debut from 1987. Not only did Barker serve up a chilling tale of devilish originality, he also introduced new icons of horror that since have become as popular among genre connoisseurs as Frankenstein's monster and the Wolfman. Foremost among these frightful visions is the sadomasochistic demon affectionately named Pinhead (so named because his pale, bald head is a geometric pincushion and a symbol of eternal pain). Pinhead is the leader of the Cenobites, agents of evil who appear only when someone successfully "solves" the exotic puzzle box called the Lamont Configuration--a mysterious device that opens the door to Hell. The puzzle's latest victim is Frank (Sean Chapman), who now lives in a gelatinous skeletal state in an upstairs room of the British home just purchased by his newlywed half-brother (Andrew Robinson, best known as the villain from Dirty Harry), who has married one of Frank's former lovers (Claire Higgins). The latter is recruited to supply the cannibalistic Frank with fresh victims, enabling him to reconstitute his own flesh--but will Frank succeed in restoring himself completely? Will Pinhead continue to demonstrate the flesh-ripping pleasures of absolute agony? Your reaction to this description should tell you if you've got the stomach for Barker's film, which has since spawned a number of interesting but inferior sequels. It's definitely not for everyone, but there's no denying that it's become a semiclassic of modern horror. --Jeff Shannon

Hellbound: Hellraiser II
Definitely not one for the weak of stomach, Hellbound: Hellraiser II takes up where the first Hellraiser left off, piling on the gore to near camp levels. Luckily, the 1988 sequel retains enough of British horror-meister Clive Barker's macabre wit--like the original, it's based on a Barker story--to save it from the schlock-heap. Hospitalized following her last misadventure, Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) implores authorities to destroy a bloody bed at the carnage scene, but the enigmatic Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham) brings an addled patient there and unleashes a dread Cenobite instead. As if that's not bad enough, Kirsty's getting distress calls from her father, who begs her to rescue him from Hell. When she journeys through Hell's dark labyrinths with a mute puzzle solver, however, Kirsty only finds the evil Pinhead (Doug Bradley) and other bizarro creatures, plus her nasty former stepmother and lascivious Uncle Frank. Much maniacal laughter and skin shedding later, the newfound compadres unlock the puzzle box again to safety. Hellbound isn't genius, but it does have flair, which goes a long way toward offsetting Laurence's leaden acting and occasionally over the top gore. --Diane Garrett

Customer Reviews

These are true horror classics.
These two films are arguebaly the best in the series and considered to be classic 80's horror films. Clive Barker has created a world of horror that was very creative it has a very dark and creepy atmosphere and unlike the later sequals in the series it has a ton of gore and violence (make sure that you get the unrated editions). Hellraiser part 1 and 2 should be watched back to back but only if you have a strong stomach as both films continue the narrative storyline and are both very enjoyable to watch and are both horror/gore masterpieces.

The first film introduces us to Pinhead and the other demons from hell called cenobites that are summoned by the lament configuration box, the story is about a man brought partially back to life by the blood of his brother. He befriends his sister in-law who agrees to supply the blood he requires to live, the sister in-law helps Frank by seducing some strangers into the house and then killing them but he is still haunted by the evil forces which held him captive in death, for Kristy Cotten its like a living nightmare when she finds out the truth and now she must stop her uncle Frank before its too late. The films subtext is about how far a person can go when they're looking for the ultimate pain and pleasure, it seems like the true villians are Frank and his sister in-law. You might recognise actor Andrew Robinson as Kristy's father he was the psychotic killer in Dirty Harry and in this film he gives yet another great performance.

The second film Hellraiser: Hellbound continues the story when Kristy is kept at a hospital after the traumatic incident at the end of the first film with her father's skinned corpse and the demonic cenobites still fresh in her memory. Doctor Channard re-opens the channel between the dimensions and once again Kristy is propelled into their horrifying world. The second film does a brilliant job of following up some plot threads that were left during the first film and its obvious that the budget looks slightly bigger, the mental hospital or asylum setting was great it later turns into a maze from hell where each character gets tormented by reliving a dark secret or past that they regret doing. Theres even more gore than the first film and so its not recommended for those who have a weak stomach, in one particular scene where a mental patient takes a razor blade and starts cutting and mutilating himself while screaming "GET THEM OF ME!!!" will make you turn away in disgust cause it is very gory you have been warned. The series after these two films deffinetely headed towards a different direction with Hellraiser 3:Hell on earth Pinhead became more of a main character who said these cheesy one liners and started to look like a Freddy Krueger villian, I still liked it but it wasn't the same anymore and after that the series was no longer scary or gory with dissapointed horror fans and Clive Barker who I read in an interview somewhere he said that he hated the series especially what they did with Inferno and wanted to disown them. Overall I highly recommend these films to horror fans and its a great way to introduce someone who hasn't seen any gory horror films before, these films will get them started.

Do not let the flesh murder the spirit.
_For years I was at a loss to explain why I watched the entire Hellraiser series. As a general rule, I avoid horror movies and slasher flicks. Yet, I made it a point to watch this entire series- more than once.

_Then it hit me. All of these movies have a "message." Under all the gore is one central message: "Do not let your flesh murder your spirit." Think about it, every character that is butchered and torn to bits has pretty well deserved it- it was their weakness and ambition that led them to it. Otherwise the Box would have held no fascination for them.... A spiritually centered being , such as a saint or a shaman, can laugh as he is being flayed by demons (or Cenobites.)

_"Pinhead" ,you see, is a spiritual teacher- if you give too much importance to worldly matters and the flesh, then you deserve what you get....

It all began very nice..
Nowadays Hellraiser 1 is still very impressive. You will find a good story combined with a very creepy atmosphere and the fine cast really adds some extra value to the movie as well. This is a horror movie Hollywood can use as a blue print of how scary movies should be. Unlike part two, Hellbound, however....that one was a great anticlimax for me. Some of the originally very inventive plot is starting to get annoying then..with the final battle between the Doctor and the Cenobites being ridiculous. In Hellraiser 3, 4, 5....and I don't even know which part we're at now.....Pinhead is looking more and more like Freddy Krueger. (SARR)