I’ve only watched three Hellraiser movies. The original, the sequel and the 2022 re-quel with the gorgeous Jamie Clayton. While I’ve not heard glowing reviews about the rest of the franchise quality is never enough to keep me away. What really put me off was the apparent shifting tone. It’s no surprise that other directors, no matter how talented they might have been couldn’t match Writer/Director Clive Barker’s unique and specific vision. 

• Directed by: Clive Barker
• Written by: Clive Barker
• Starring: Andrew Robinson Clare Higgins Ashley Laurence

Hellraiser is a different type of horror movie, For the most part, there are no jump scares.  There is gore. Quite a bit of beautiful practical effects ranging from flaying to the many version of the resurrecting Frank.  While the blood and horror of the cenobites is undeniable, for me that’s not where the true horror lies.

Character Driven Horror

While Kirstie may be the final girl of Hellraiser, Julia is for most of the movie, the point of view character. Her devotion to and obsession with Frank is her undoing. It’s a long and slow process watching her make horrific choices to help a man whose only concern is his own pleasure. She’s no helpless victim though.  Julia is a selfish character, interested in Frank for what he can do for her.   She’s unwilling to make any sacrifice that makes her truly uncomfortable, like giving up her comfortable life with Frank’s brother Larry. No, in the true 80’s style, Julia wants it all.  It’s a shame that the man she’s willing to murder for doesn’t actually care all that much about her. 

Honestly Hellraiser doesn’t paint Larry in the best light at times. He’s not just clueless about his wife’s true nature, he’s willfully ignorant about her disinterest in him. He’s a tragic figure because of his overly trusting nature. It leads to his undoing. 

Kirsty on the other hand is nothing but suspicious. From the beginning she refuses to stay with Larry and Julia in their new house. She also keeps a close eye on Julia’s actions, leading to her discovering the return of Frank and their murderous plan. 

On the Hell Priest

While he’s been nicknames Pinhead by his adoring fans, in the short story he is only known as the Priest.  While he is the unstoppable force that Frank is hiding from, he is not good or evil. He just is.  It would be easy to read Hellraiser as a condemnation of extreme sex, but it’s not. Not exactly.  The Hell Priest and his fellow Cenobites are about the pursuit of the most extreme pleasures.  They are a cautionary tale about going too far with Julie and Frank as their “real-life” examples.  

Frank right off the jump gets involved with Cenobites, mostly willingly. He picks up the puzzle box in search of greater pleasures. This does not go well for him. Apparently, Frank’s preferences were a bit more vanilla than he anticipated. At least by interdimensional sex demon standards.  Now he just wants to get his body back so he can go back to his normal extreme sex. 

Amoral not Immoral

Kirsty meanwhile has accidentally summoned the Hell Priest and his friends. That puzzle box really should come with a warning. Turns out the solution to all her problems seems pretty simple. Help the Cenobites collect the escaped Frank. Once that’s done their true amoral nature comes out.  They’re here to collect who opened the box and Kristy fits that description, deals be damned.  

The ”betrayal”  is an important element because it keeps the Hell Priest and friends truly neutral. They aren’t there to help or hurt, not like maliciously. They just have their own purpose and they intend to follow it. After all they did get  consent when their victims solved the puzzle box.  Just like in real life, consent can be withdrawn at any point. Kirsty figures this out and reverses the puzzle box. This sends the Cenobites back to the dimension where they came from. It also destroys the house but that’s a small price to pay. 

Why Do People Love the Cenobites 

They look great. Styled after leather clubs Barker the all black, hooks and chains ensembles are instantly visually impressive. All the theatrical posters heavily featured the Hell Priest offering the viewer the Lamont Configuration.  There is little indication of the plot of the movie, just that the Hell priest is in it. 

The Priest is a very different kind of horror movie character. He’s not just about looks and kills.  He’s charming and funny. As are the cenobites. This is more apparent in the later movies but even from the beginning the Priests lines were smooth. As is Doug Bradely’s delivery.  At the end of the day, you have an intelligent persuasive charismatic creature offering the wrong kind of good time. I’m not saying I’d be out looking for my own puzzle box, just that I totally get why someone else might.  

It’s interesting isn’t it. For some people. The question lingers, how much can I put myself through, physically and/or mentally.   Hellraiser is a safe way to play with that idea. Watch others who didn’t know their limits and maybe daydream a little but about how well the viewer would fare against the Priest and cenobites. 

The archetypes we are presented with in the first Hellraiser give some options, Julia and Frank let obsession and hedonism lead to death. Larry’s denial and ignorance does the same for him. Only Kirsty with her balance of suspicion and experience manages to make it through physically if not mentally unscathed. Be like Kirsty, know your limits and keep one foot firmly grounded in reality. 

Final Thoughts

Hellraiser is a one of my favorite movies and Clive Barker is one of my favorite creators.  I have a purse with fabric patterned in images of his book covered that I can only bring to horror conventions since it’s a bit, well, naked and bloody. I’ve seen Hellraiser so many times, yet each time I get hooked by Julia’s self-destruction and drawn in by Kirsty’s defiance.  While I may have been initially sold on the looks of the Priest it’s the very human leads that truly make Hellraiser a classic. 

Hellraiser is available on streaming