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Hellraiser

  • 1987
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
148K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,782
441
Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)
Trailer - Remastered Release
Play trailer0:21
3 Videos
99+ Photos
Body HorrorSplatter HorrorSupernatural HorrorHorrorThriller

A woman discovers the newly resurrected, partially formed, body of her brother-in-law and lover. She starts killing for him to revitalize his body and escape the demonic beings that are purs... Read allA woman discovers the newly resurrected, partially formed, body of her brother-in-law and lover. She starts killing for him to revitalize his body and escape the demonic beings that are pursuing him after he escaped their underworld.A woman discovers the newly resurrected, partially formed, body of her brother-in-law and lover. She starts killing for him to revitalize his body and escape the demonic beings that are pursuing him after he escaped their underworld.

  • Director
    • Clive Barker
  • Writer
    • Clive Barker
  • Stars
    • Andrew Robinson
    • Clare Higgins
    • Ashley Laurence
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    148K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,782
    441
    • Director
      • Clive Barker
    • Writer
      • Clive Barker
    • Stars
      • Andrew Robinson
      • Clare Higgins
      • Ashley Laurence
    • 569User reviews
    • 298Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations total

    Videos3

    Hellraiser
    Trailer 0:21
    Hellraiser
    Hellraiser
    Trailer 1:37
    Hellraiser
    Hellraiser
    Trailer 1:37
    Hellraiser
    Hellraiser
    Trailer 1:28
    Hellraiser

    Photos323

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    Top cast22

    Edit
    Andrew Robinson
    Andrew Robinson
    • Larry
    Clare Higgins
    Clare Higgins
    • Julia
    Ashley Laurence
    Ashley Laurence
    • Kirsty
    Sean Chapman
    Sean Chapman
    • Frank
    Oliver Smith
    Oliver Smith
    • Frank the Monster
    Robert Hines
    • Steve
    Anthony Allen
    • 1st Victim
    • (as Antony Allen)
    Leon Davis
    • 2nd Victim
    Michael Cassidy
    • 3rd Victim
    Frank Baker
    • Derelict
    Kenneth Nelson
    Kenneth Nelson
    • Bill
    Gay Baynes
    • Evelyn
    Niall Buggy
    • Dinner Guest
    Dave Atkins
    • Moving Man 1
    Oliver Parker
    Oliver Parker
    • Moving Man 2
    Pamela Sholto
    • Complaining Customer
    Doug Bradley
    Doug Bradley
    • Lead Cenobite
    Nicholas Vince
    Nicholas Vince
    • Chattering Cenobite
    • Director
      • Clive Barker
    • Writer
      • Clive Barker
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews569

    6.9147.8K
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    Featured reviews

    8Neon_Gold

    Alluringly Unique

    When I was first watching this movie I was thinking "why is this so popular" but then out of no where I found my self absolutely loving it.

    It has such a magnetic quality to it. The story is different from most horror movies. It has lore and a whole world. The acting isn't good but it has such an 80's charm. The whole thing does.

    The special effects...they are all practical. It looks so good. It must have took hours to get some of them looks perfect!

    I can understand now why this movie has such a large following. It is just unique and has such allure.
    Big Movie Fan

    It Took Ten Years Off My Life Watching This

    Hellraiser was a bloody good film but part of me wishes I hadn't seen it because it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I remember renting it out on video along with A Nightmare On Elm Street back in the late 1980's. I thought Freddy Krueggar was bad but those cenobites scared the you know what out of me.

    The acting is good throughout the film and praise must go to everyone. The characters were very interesting characters from the humans right up to the cenobites.

    There was a lot of gore in this movie and it was quite sick at times-not a film to watch if you're eating.

    The storyline of the film is a very intriguing one and very original indeed.

    But those cenobites didn't half scare me particularly when that pinhead said, "We will tear your soul apart!" Then again, that is what a good horror is all about-scaring the you know what out of it's audience.

    If you're looking for a quality horror movie of the 80's then check this one out. Just don't be surprised if it sends you hair grey.
    7tequila101

    Suspense in Hell

    This is certainly Clive Barker's Masterpiece. His 1987 film, "Hellraiser" is a really good example of how a late 80's horror film can work.

    Nearing the 90's, horror films started to go down hill. In 1991 and 1996, we got two really good thriller horrors, being "SCREAM" and "Silence of the Lambs". This film however, was the last of it's kind to give us some good late 80's slasher craze which was still born and still very fresh with horror freaks.

    I won't go into the plot because I believe everyone should have seen Hellraiser by now, if not, well GO SEE IT! All I can say is that the concepts of the box is terrific. A new way to kill a slashing demon is always a terrific and creative concept and it works really well in this one. I also love the soundtrack suite which is haunting beautiful and dramatic in parts. The actors are superb and their characters are believable.

    Doug Bradley as Pinhead is the best and he knows how to give us a creepy killer which cannot be stopped. I dunno why in "Revelations" they got a different actor to play him. Doug is Pinhead, end of story.

    I also like the way the death scenes and plot are shown. The director takes it a little step at a time while as most directors just go full on with the violence and exploit everything. Clive actually took his time to tell the story and that's what made most of the ending sequences and starting deaths so intense. It all left us to the core suspense.

    Also, the 1987 film is the only Hellraiser film I have really liked. I've also seen part 3, 4 and 6. 3 was OK, 4 was dodgy and 6 sucked. The thing about the first film was that it had a dramatic fantasy to it, while being realistic, people were dying for real. The other Hellraiser films I have seen since then haven't really had the same impact but instead really try to rehash and be as shocking, doesn't work at all!?

    My verdict on this 87 classic is a 7.5/10.

    P.S: I just hope they can get this right in the remake next year.
    cheeseboy80

    Wow

    Wow!! This was a good horror flick. The acting and plot is good. This movie gets better every viewing. If you want a movie that will scare your socks off, Rent Hellraiser. better yet, buy the movie. This is one Horror movie you should not miss. It's the BOMB baby.

    I give this film 8 out of 10
    Skippy-19

    It ain't SUPPOSED to be Macbeth, here folks....

    In a decade of cheap, exploitive slashers, we finally get this one. Relief.

    Instead of some maniac ripped from Halloween, we get a simple wooden box. Simple, or so Frank thought.

    What results is a cinematic masterpiece, a great mix of gore and violence, as well as a great musical score and some nice drama. The acting is fine, but there are imperfections. One common complaint: The characters are not pleasant enough we can latch onto them. Maybe that's because these seem more realistic than the characters we CAN latch onto. Just a thought, don't jump on this.

    What really gets me, though, is the people calling it down, saying it's not quality entertainment. Come on guys, if it was SUPPOSED to be Shakespeare, it would not advertise as being able to "tear your soul apart."

    The presence of the cenobites was originally intended not to carry the story but to emphasize it. As usual, the sequaes ignored it. Hey, merchandizing.

    This is the only one of the series that depends on the story more than the demons. We hardly ever see the infamous Pinhead at all.

    all in all, this was a fun movie. No Shakespeare, but it's not supposed to be. Just dramatic, gory, groundbreaking horror, delivered to us excellently by Mr. Barker.

    More like this

    Hellbound: Hellraiser II
    6.4
    Hellbound: Hellraiser II
    Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth
    5.5
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    Hellraiser: Bloodline
    5.1
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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During an interview Doug Bradley described hell as a prison; the Cenobites are the prison guards, Pinhead is the prison warden, the puzzle box is the key to the prison cell, and the demons are the escaped inmates.
    • Goofs
      (at around 1h 4 mins) When the Engineer chases Kirsty, the trolley and crew pushing it are visible.
    • Quotes

      Kirsty Cotton: [Kirsty, in tears] Who are you?

      Lead Cenobite: Explorers, in the further regions of experience. Demons to some, angels to others.

    • Alternate versions
      The UK cinema version was uncut though the 1988 New World Pictures and 1991 VCI video releases were cut by 4 seconds and removed shots of Julia's first victim pleading after the initial hammer blow and a shot of his dead bloodied face. The cut was waived for the 1998 issue.
    • Connections
      Edited into Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)

    Top picks

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    FAQ21

    • How long is Hellraiser?Powered by Alexa
    • Why does the vendor say "it always was" after Frank leaves with the box?
    • What are the differences between the old BBFC 18 Version and the Uncut Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 18, 1987 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Puerta al infierno
    • Filming locations
      • 187 Dollis Hill Lane, Dollis Hill, Brent, London, England, UK(55 Lodovico Street)
    • Production companies
      • Film Futures
      • New World Pictures
      • New World Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • £1,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $14,564,027
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $4,453,232
      • Sep 20, 1987
    • Gross worldwide
      • $14,579,541
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 34 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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