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Hellraiser

Hellraiser

1987
Fantasy, Horror
1h 34m
An unfaithful wife encounters the zombie of her dead lover, who's being chased by demons after he tampered with one of their gateways to Hell (imdb)
Your probable score
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Hellraiser

1987
Fantasy, Horror
1h 34m
Your probable score
Avg Percentile 49.36% from 3405 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(3403)
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Rated 25 Mar 2023
85
63rd
Probably the goriest domestic drama ever. Just baaaarrrrely avoids falling into camp by playing the super-dark material completely straight. All the guys acting like the female lead is super hot when she's a middle-aged 5 at best. Pinhead, like Jason before him, doesn't figure much into this first entry in his series. They clearly didn't have the budget to show the house burning down, so they dissolved to a bunch of nice little campfires instead. It's OK.
Rated 25 Feb 2019
75
65th
There’s some gross parts like when Andrew Robinson gets a smooch. Parental advisory for this on IMDb was a wild ride: “Man holds niece, likely liking the embrace for sexual reasons”. I know if I open this puzzle box I’m going to have my balls ripped off with hooks by stupid English sex demons but maybe, just maybe that won’t happen.
Rated 15 Nov 2009
80
80th
Try as a you might, it is not possible to entirely hate a film that ends with a man suspended by meat hooks sunken into his flesh, high on some desperately bizarre s/m ecstasy, who, as his final words on this earth, before being dragged back to hell and torn apart - muscle by muscle - exclaims: "Jesus wept". Also, the Xenobites are pretty cool.
Rated 01 Jun 2010
61
33rd
You spend the entire movie waiting for Pinhead to show up and when he finally does barely figures. Also needed to better utilise Andrew Robinson's creep factor. Only character designs, nothing else.
Rated 31 Oct 2014
76
41st
Lots of "ideas" in this one, which automatically gives it a leg up on just about every "classic '80s slasher" out there. Pretty fucking gross, too. I'm not much of a gore fan, but if glistening, bloody tendons is your thing, this thing will get you off, no problem. I'm selling it a short, though. As a guy who loves the goofy awfulness of many of the F13 and Elm Street sequels (excluding Dream Warrios and Jason Lives, which are legit great), it's refreshing to see a movie that's actually trying.
Rated 23 Feb 2016
53
15th
Some women will do anything for good dick. Seriously though the cenobites are *the* terror of my childhood and Frank's reincarnation scene is one of the coolest moments ever. I just don't think the rest came together as a movie very well.
Rated 03 Aug 2018
70
65th
This Clive Barker original was one of those early horror movies I can remember seeing as a far-too-young-kid, and by seeing, I mean periodically peering through the cracks between my fingers with my hands over my eyes, which means by remember, I mean the horrific practical effects imagery and iconic Cenobites, but not so much of the story or characters. Sadly now after seeing the entire film, I'm not sure the movie actually comes all together beyond the imagery and a few interesting ideas.
Rated 08 Oct 2007
67
48th
It's an 80's horror flick with the addition of an absolutely warped and twisted alternate world. I don't think any horror film has ever done what Barker did with this movie here. Still it really feels unpolished but I'd say that's mostly due to being such a low budget film.
Rated 21 Dec 2008
67
35th
It's imaginative and grotesque, but the script and acting are very weak.
Rated 06 Jul 2018
4
43rd
Some amusing mythology in backstory of the Cenobites and Hellraiser box and all that and the creature design and practical effects are just tremendous here (the Pinhead design, iconic). I don’t find the movie itself to be that fun or scary though, with this zombie loser just hanging out in an attic the whole movie shuffling around and murdering nobodies, and the puzzle box shenanigans in the climax just get altogether goofy.
Rated 07 Oct 2021
87
54th
I’m glad it lived up to its reputation. This has a very original premise that’s well acted and even throws in a big surprise by making you root for a different character altogether by the time you get to the last act. It is very gruesome and probably a bit much to stomach at times, but I was constantly invested and yes, the cenobites looked very cool. Some of the effects have aged horribly, but it mostly looks pretty well polished. Great movie.
Rated 20 Jul 2008
89
76th
A very well done low budget horror flick. Has some wild and gorey scares.
Rated 16 Apr 2009
50
27th
I expected something way better or scarier or at least something gorier but it kinda fails, maybe I've just seen too much (and much better) in other films, but it could not convince me. It has some good scenes, like the one with the monster (I won't say anything about the fx being old since I'm just as old myself ;)or as disgusting as it is, the scene with the hooks in the end, but overall, imo, not so much a horror movie must see before you die I doubt I'll watch the thousands of sequels..
Rated 26 Sep 2011
80
65th
Far better in concept than it is in execution. The first time I saw it, I was sucked in by the insane darkness to it all. Subsequently, the cracks in the armor start to show. The poor acting chief among them. The Frank character is so terribly realized when he should be a much more imposing presence. The Cenobite design is excellent, of course, which helps those brief moments they're present. The subtext about the true nature of the box is far more interesting than the plot reveals.
Rated 17 Apr 2012
86
95th
Dark as hell, both figuratively and literally.
Rated 03 Dec 2013
72
32nd
It doesn't come together for a million little reasons - Frank's ridiculous voice, the flat pacing, too much dialogue - but when it's on it's one of the better of the era. Needs to embrace the Fulci in its veins.
Rated 28 Aug 2014
79
55th
The familiar story & themes, centered around an unfaithful spouse & murder, have been done so many times in horror comics before (& usually in 4-6 pages), it's a surprise this is as watchable as it is & almost unbelievable that it spawned a franchise. Then again, by the mid-80's horror films had became so tiresome & synonomous with limited slasher tropes that Barker's return to monsters - & such vivid & unforgettably nightmarish monsters at that - is a welcome change of pace.
Rated 12 Nov 2014
79
77th
It's all about fleshy unsubtlety. Mediocre storytelling but who cares with all that brilliant gore. Also the concept and story has enough meat to sustain it for 90 mins and I kinda like how the mythology stays unresolved and therefore threatening.
Rated 16 May 2016
69
61st
with the exception of ashley laurence this movie probably has the ugliest cast i have ever seen. no one has any charisma whatsoever, especially not the supposedly irresistible uncle frank. however, the idea is extremely cool, most of the effects still hold up pretty nicely and you can hardly count how many following horror movies are borrowing heavily from this classic.
Rated 22 Jan 2017
82
88th
Special effects aside, Hellraiser really holds up; the sheer idea of desire as a destructive but seductive force, the way Pinhead & Co only do their job, and the unrelenting way the movie sticks to it without falling into obvious clichés. It has such sights, and it shows us.
Rated 20 Mar 2007
75
68th
It's all about the Everybody's Fucking at the Gay Disco in Hell aesthetic. The characters are all sort of meh, and the story is cheesy pseudorotic snm blah, but that aesthetic is fucking killer.
Rated 30 Jun 2007
90
75th
Clive Barker's much-needed kick to the horror genre's junk still holds up perfectly. It's unique, imaginative and original, three things that horror doesn't see enough. And before the central antagonist became a Freddy-like caricature, he was a creepily effective villain. Christopher Young's score is excellent.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
75
74th
A very cool and creepy horror flick packed with weirdness and gore. You don't even see the Cenobites until the last few minutes, which just makes them seem even cooler. Sadly, the sequels get progressively worse with every one. This is the only one really worth seeing.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
84
77th
Truly unsettling with great effects, Hellraiser (before the countless sequels) carved out its niche in the horror world. This first installment stands alone as a pretty chilling look at the world of the Cenobites.
Rated 14 Mar 2008
75
48th
An absolutely great premise and some cool set design, costumes and makeup. I also like how different the plot structure is from most horror films of this era. But I can't help but feel this movie has a lot of missed opportunities. It's just not as creepy as it could have been, despite the great ideas behind it. Entertaining and adeptly made, but just not subtle enough to be great.
Rated 10 Sep 2008
88
87th
One of the rare films that is gory and terrifying in equal measure. I think that's because as much thought went into the script (and subtext) as the practical effects. Unfortunately, both are forgotten during the absolutely unnecessary ending. It should have ended when "Jesus wept", which was brilliant.
Rated 17 Feb 2010
70
56th
Bizarre adaptation of Clive Barker's books. It's standard horror stuff but it manages to be somewhat creepy and surreal. Pinhead is one of the more original characters to grace the horror genre. The "hell" as envisioned is also metaphysical and interesting.
Rated 09 Oct 2010
66
51st
Interesting visuals have made for an oft duplicated look and spawned a lot of terrible sequels.
Rated 17 Sep 2011
71
59th
Another of the horror classics, along with "Halloween" and "Texas Chainsaw Massacre", that I find to be overrated. Decent performances and atmosphere are spoilt by the pacing and the criminal lack of screen time given to the Cenobites. Still worth a watch for the phenomenal regeneration sequence and Doug Bradley being his usual godlike self.
Rated 01 Jan 2012
50
21st
When classic horror films like "The Thing" and "Last house on the left" are being remade when they should be left well alone, why, oh why is this classic horror tale not being remade, when it so clearly SHOULD be?? The concept of this gory vision of hell on earth is excellent, and some of the effects are well done (not all by any means) but the terrible acting, which is cheesy beyond belief, ruin it and almost demand a decent remake in order to release the truly inventive and creative horror
Rated 27 Feb 2017
30
30th
Uninspired and stagnant on all accounts except monster design. The real villain of the movie is Clive Barker, with his henchmen promising the viewer unheard-of adventures yet leaving you watching a hellish bore.
Rated 06 Dec 2017
30
8th
A near-perfect concept aside, "Hellraiser" is a film that lives and dies by its own depravity, a senseless, repetitive slog that does very little with a host of now iconic visual creations, and even less with a core concept better suited to the page than the silver screen. It does have its strengths though, found mainly in its routinely competent Cinematography, but more often than not "Hellraiser" pointedly settles for relative mediocrity when it could've so easily been a game changer. Pass.
Rated 05 Apr 2007
75
42nd
Pretty wild stuff. Not the greatest movie ever, but I liked the crazy designs.
Rated 28 Oct 2007
65
40th
Very well done low budget horror movie, the designs of the Cenobites are awesome and the film manages to generate genuine suspense and terror.
Rated 09 Nov 2007
82
76th
It's camp and gay, but still a classic.
Rated 13 Nov 2007
81
31st
I've always thought the Hellraiser films could benefit from a bit of historical depth: maybe pushing the Cenobites' origin as far back as the Spanish Inquisition (clearly the inspiration for much of the production design). And would it have killed Barker to put an actual actor somewhere in here? But I enjoy the grossout beauty of it all, especially the hilarious punch line where Pinhead and crew destroy the incest taboo with barbs and grapples.
Rated 12 Mar 2008
75
57th
Why does he have all of those pins in his head? And why does drinking blood make Frank grow again? and why do the other baddies die so easily at the end?
Rated 17 Oct 2008
75
42nd
Although low budget (as you will see with some special effects), this was a creepy and disturbing film intertwining sex and blood lust between two lovers and a puzzle box that literally kills and brings bad ass demons out of hell. Slow moving story but Pinhead and the cenobites make up for it, that character scares the living piss out of me, keep them hooks and chains to yourself man!
Rated 27 Oct 2008
70
48th
Good god do the demons scare the shit out of me.
Rated 01 Feb 2009
80
42nd
Twisted. Don't ever let a child under the age of 13 watch this movie. Truly nightmarish stuff.
Rated 19 Jul 2009
70
12th
Effectively creepy in a few ways. The creature design is epic in this movie from Pinhead himself down to the regenerating corpse of "the room". There are still a few cliches and the movie can feel dated to younger generations but it is definitely worth a visit if you have the chance.
Rated 07 Mar 2010
85
76th
Surreal and scary, it's fun to be scared by a movie as involved as this.
Rated 01 Jul 2010
71
63rd
one of my favorite scripts ever. it's basicaly a noir story, the typical outcast couple, the postman from hell always hits twice.
Rated 21 Jul 2010
90
72nd
Oh, boy, this is a though one. Not "scary" in the sense of BOOO, but in the sense of what the hell is going on here. Very creepy, enervating, and disturbing in as many aspects as they make this film a worth watching. Especially if you've played Undying, or love terror and horror in general.
Rated 03 Oct 2010
70
54th
Finally! A horror worth watching again! This movie is based on a great book and I enjoyed the story and even the acting (sometimes).
Rated 17 Dec 2010
69
15th
Classic horror. Some weird acting and some flaws of course, but every horror enthusiast should enjoy this one.
Rated 19 Jan 2011
76
38th
"Hellraiser" is like a strange nightmare. The story is very creative and off the wall and combines aspects of pain and pleasure into one sadomasochistic journey through hell. The effects are really cool and the designs for the monsters, including the Cenobites, are very creative.
Rated 18 Jun 2011
75
55th
The ideas and the special effects really make this movie. If you're looking for great acting, though, you'll be disappointed.
Rated 14 Nov 2011
82
86th
Hellraiser deals with a level of gruesomeness that's unusual, even by horror movie standards. I love the special effects, particularly in the re-animation scenes. It's a little slow-going at times, and some moments at the end are really outlandish or even corny, but it's still a horror classic that you can't overlook.
Rated 12 Mar 2012
85
93rd
Horror is a very difficult genre and is often associated with the devil or some horror teenager cliché. But in this movie is not like that, it's done freshly, starting with a guy seeking extreme sexual experiences with beings of beyond... "Angels for some demons to others" he becomes some kind of monster who has to manipulate people to become whole again. The story is great, the monsters designs are fantastic and the pacing is good, only two things missing: good actors and special effects
Rated 11 Dec 2012
63
34th
It eventually builds to an uncanny tone that isn't easily shaken off (mostly due to the fantastic earworm of a score), despite its frequent diversions into cheese. Focusing so much on the supernatural aspects was probably a mistake, as the humans here are easily much more a source of terror if they were developed more. Needed more coherency, too.
Rated 30 Oct 2013
62
17th
Last half hour's pretty good but damn does that first hour draaaag.
Rated 07 Aug 2014
70
71st
Original horror film that is driven as much by ideas as it is by gore, Barker's directorial debut presents viewers with an undeniably unique, nightmarish world of pleasure stretched to its extreme outer limits. Barker's inexperience behind the camera is clearly evident, especially in the amateurish performances and the occasional awkward staging of dramatic scenes, but when the full power of his vivid imagination is wholly unleashed, the results are spectacularly disturbing and memorable.
Rated 11 Sep 2014
62
32nd
You know the tobacco lobby has clout when a skinless Hell zombie takes the time to smoke a cig before exposition. It must be hard hiding from Cenobites when you've got the 'baccy shakes.
Rated 24 Oct 2014
3
24th
The entire time I'm watching this I'm sitting here thinking "Dude, you've got blood on your shirt."
Rated 07 Oct 2016
72
32nd
It's definitely creepy and disturbing. A little too much to be to my liking. But it's well made and has several compelling gimmicks that made me want to keep watching.
Rated 29 Dec 2016
90
90th
Hellraiser is just plain awesome. Definitely one of my favorite new horror films. Incredibly inventive and put together with an awesome presmise, Clive Barker delivers one of the most unforgettable films of any genre. Cheesy, yet truly scary, Hellraiser is on the same level as Raimi's Evil Dead.
Rated 19 Oct 2018
58
47th
Supremely uncomfortable. That's a good thing.
Rated 25 May 2019
80
63rd
Hellraiser is a classic 80's horror movie. The Cenobites are some of the coolest and scariest horror movie characters to have come out of that rich decade. The character played by Higgins, the step-mother, seemed normal, maybe a little bitchy, at first. Soon she becomes a monster in an attempt to bring back her former-lover, her husband's brother, from the dead. Laurence is very pretty and that really all that this movie needed out of her luckily. There is a reason this spawned so many sequels.
Rated 31 Oct 2022
85
50th
A deliberate skewering (haha, get it?) of traditional gender roles, monogamy, heteronormativity and the institution of marriage in the form of a beautifully gory horror, in which lust is confused with love, pleasure is a gateway to pain (but not the fun, kink kind). I watched this right after reading the novella and it's fascinating to see how Barker expresses this story in two different mediums. (script needed another pass. The ending of the book was much more restrained)
Rated 25 Feb 2007
77
43rd
It was a good movie, but too much of Frank the squishy zombie and not enough cenobites.
Rated 30 Mar 2007
90
86th
Good debut. Creative, disgusting horror from Clive Barker
Rated 07 Aug 2007
96
99th
Probably one of my favorite horror films of all time.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
82
58th
Solid and disturbing 80s gore-classic.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
88
64th
Great horror that's actually scary.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
41
3rd
Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew! Are those fish hooks! Nooooo! Ew! Ew! Ew!
Rated 14 Aug 2007
50
35th
Good film.
Rated 14 Aug 2007
80
67th
Chilling movie. Good gore.
Rated 21 Aug 2007
90
95th
Excellent, one of the best horror movies, the demon, Pinhead, comes after the hell escapees with his posse of ultra-creepy minions.
Rated 16 Nov 2007
25
24th
so much weirdness. so much waste.
Rated 31 Dec 2007
85
76th
It's a shame Clive Barker's never topped this one, as it showed a storyteller and filmmaker with lots of potential.
Rated 13 Jan 2008
87
82nd
Scary, fascinating and borderline grotesque, this flick gave us more than one of the most awesome horror icons ever.
Rated 06 Feb 2008
59
48th
There's a man with pins on his head. No wonder he's pissed.
Rated 30 Mar 2008
72
64th
One of the better horror movies from the 80s and 90s, this one has a special spot in my heart because the man who plays Kirsty's uncle is none other than Elim Garak from Deep Space Nine. The man's a national treasure.
Rated 26 Apr 2008
70
57th
A fun horror-film shaped with a transmittable enthusiasm.
Rated 29 May 2008
78
66th
the first hellraiser is one of the weaker iterations, it's a perfectly fine introduction to the series, but there's not enough killing or cenobites. if the pace were picked up just a smidge this one would be great.
Rated 31 May 2008
75
48th
Hey, the first one was scary!
Rated 14 Jun 2008
92
98th
Great
Rated 16 Jun 2008
85
73rd
Like all of Mr. Barker's work, does not translate well to film. Please read "The Hellbound Heart". That said, I still love the shit out of this movie. Someone please give Doug Bradley my number.
Rated 12 Jul 2008
82
82nd
Jesus wept.
Rated 28 Jul 2008
79
34th
Interesting film and very creepy. The effects are pretty cheesy though.
Rated 04 Aug 2008
1
12th
Not scary or entertaining in any way. Overrated to death.
Rated 29 Sep 2008
90
95th
God Pinhead is such a cool looking villain
Rated 12 Oct 2008
34
21st
Actually really boring...although the dude in the attic who gradually becomes more human is an amazing thing to watch.
Rated 14 Oct 2008
91
70th
sweet movie. Love characters. Sweet
Rated 14 Dec 2008
85
88th
Essential body-horror, right up there with The Thing and The Fly. Never seems even slightly amateurish or uncertain despite being a directorial debut.
Rated 01 Mar 2009
60
17th
Been awhile, but just remember being unimpressed.
Rated 04 Mar 2009
45
51st
Classic...and a bit scarier than I remembered.
Rated 23 Mar 2009
75
54th
A surreal, claustrophobic gruefest. Though better known for his fright fiction, Barker demonstrates in his directorial debut that he knows how to deliver perverse visual chills as well.
Rated 08 Apr 2009
70
71st
The coming of Clive Barker was imenante. Too bad this was his only movie that was noteworthy.
Rated 19 Apr 2009
4
71st
"With Hellraiser, Clive Barker created one of the most genuinely disturbing movies of the last 20 years."
Rated 18 Jul 2009
54
21st
I'd like to like this more, but it's kind of a slow boring movie.
Rated 19 Jul 2009
87
45th
Clive Barker's horror classic.
Rated 10 Aug 2009
40
33rd
Seems like a nice idea, but nothing is really explained. Decent visuals and atmosphere.
Rated 10 Sep 2009
75
53rd
The special effects are very well done, but the acting is very cheesy, especially in the early part of the film. Overall an uneven experience but better than most horror films.
Rated 13 Oct 2009
50
33rd
A nice little über-gory horror movie.
Rated 25 Oct 2009
75
22nd
Amazing prosthetic effects and an effective score do not save it from being a captial B-movie.
Rated 25 Jan 2010
80
44th
Seems like an awesome short film/short story with a golden child tacked on, but the ending saves it.
Rated 31 May 2010
79
62nd
this movie has the weirdest pacing of a horror movie...I liked it, but in the end the movie needed better direction
Rated 22 Jun 2010
75
35th
Unlike most horror flicks form the eighties, well most of them are slashers and most of them aren't all that scary, but this one... this one is all about the gore in quite sure this is the goriest movie of it's time. You watch slashers to have fun and you watch this if you want to be grossed out.

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