Hellraiser

This article is about the 1987 film. For the franchise, see Hellraiser (franchise). For other uses, see Hellraiser (disambiguation).

Hellraiser
Theatrical release poster
Directed byClive Barker
Written byClive Barker
Based onThe Hellbound Heart
by Clive Barker
Produced byChristopher Figg
Starring
CinematographyRobin Vidgeon[1]
Edited byRichard Marden
Music byChristopher Young[1]
Production
company
Film Futures[1][2]
Distributed byEntertainment Film Distributors[1]
Release date
  • 10 September 1987 (1987-09-10) (London)
Running time
93 minutes[3]
CountryUnited Kingdom[1][2]
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1 million[4]
Box office$14.6 million[4][5]

Hellraiser is a 1987 British supernatural horror film[6] written and directed by Clive Barker in his directorial debut.[7] Based on Barker's 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart,[1] the film's plot concerns a mystical puzzle box that summons the Cenobites, a group of extra-dimensional, sadomasochistic beings who cannot differentiate between pain and pleasure. It stars Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, and Doug Bradley as the leader of the Cenobites, identified in the sequels as "Pinhead".

Development of the film began before Barker's novella was published. Disappointed by previous adaptations of his work, Barker elected to direct himself, appropriating several actors and crew from his earlier career as a playwright. With the backing of independent producer Christopher Figg and financing from New World Pictures, filming took place in London in autumn 1986.

Hellraiser had its first public showing at the Prince Charles Cinema on 10 September 1987. It was widely released in the United Kingdom by Entertainment Film Distributors, and was a considerable commercial success, grossing $14.6 million from its $1 million production budget. Critical reception was initially divided, but the film has since been evaluated as a classic of the horror genre.

The film was followed by nine sequels, the first seven of which featured Bradley reprising his role as Pinhead. A franchise reboot, also titled Hellraiser and executive produced by Barker, was released in 2022.

  1. ^ a b c d e f Newman, Kim (September 1987). "Hellraiser". Monthly Film Bulletin. No. 644. pp. 276–277. ISSN 0027-0407.
  2. ^ a b "Review: 'Hellraiser'". Variety. 1987. Retrieved 3 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Hellraiser (18)". British Board of Film Classification. 19 June 1987. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Hellraiser (1987) – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 22 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Hellraiser (1987)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 26 October 2024.
  6. ^ Binion, Cavett. "Hellraiser (1987)". AllMovie. Archived from the original on 1 September 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  7. ^ Collis, Clark (October 2014). "Clive Barker Is Back from the Dead". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 26 October 2024.