Horror Extreme Movie Catalog

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.

_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....