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Hellraiser

  • 1987
  • R
  • 1h 34m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
142K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,120
167
Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)
Unsanitized
Play trailer1:37
2 Videos
99+ Photos
HorrorThriller

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
    142K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    2,120
    167
    • Director
      • Clive Barker
    • Writer
      • Clive Barker
    • Stars
      • Andrew Robinson
      • Clare Higgins
      • Ashley Laurence
    • 549User reviews
    • 285Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 6 nominations

    Videos2

    Hellraiser
    Trailer 1:37
    Watch Hellraiser
    Hellraiser
    Trailer 1:28
    Watch Hellraiser

    Photos284

    Clive Barker and Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)
    Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)
    Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)
    Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)
    Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)
    Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)
    Doug Bradley, Ashley Laurence, and Oliver Smith in Hellraiser (1987)
    Doug Bradley, Ashley Laurence, and Oliver Smith in Hellraiser (1987)
    Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)
    Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)
    Hellraiser (1987)
    Doug Bradley in Hellraiser (1987)

    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(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    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

      [Pinhead appears from the shadows behind Kirsty]

      Lead Cenobite: We have such sights to show you!

    • 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)

    User reviews549

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    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.
    helpful•6
    1
    • tequila101
    • Nov 20, 2011

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    FAQ1

    • What are the differences between the old BBFC 18 Version and the Uncut Version?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 11, 1987 (United Kingdom)
    • Country of origin
      • United Kingdom
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Clive Barker's Hellraiser
    • 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
      • $14,575,526
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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

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