Hellraiser (1987) – Review

Undoubtedly Hellraiser is a title that everyone has heard of, even younger audiences, however it is a bit “older” at this point, but still deserves to be discovered by horror fans that may have passed on this 80s film. It contains graphic violence and gore, as well as a bonkers plot.

Frank (Chapman) buys a puzzle box in Morocco looking for the promise of pain and pleasure, which will bring the agony that he is in seek of. He goes to his empty family home, and opens the box in the attic. Big mistake. He is quickly torn to shreds and his pieces are spirited away by an ominous figure.

Shortly after, his brother Larry (Robinson) and his second wife Clare (Higgins) move into this same house, unaware that Frank was previously squatting there. His daughter Kirsty (Laurence) is trying to make it on her own in the city nearby having just gotten her first apartment and joining the job search.

Larry and Clare struggle to love their new home, however things are flipped on their head when Larry cuts his hand moving, dribbling some blood on the attic floor. This blood becomes a path for Frank to emerge from the sadomasochistic realm that the puzzle box had taken him to. This is just the beginning of the insanity to follow.

This movie is truly horrifying, both in practical visual effects which are still gross and disturbing even compared to present films, and a deviously nasty story. The plot turns are all fairly dark and produce crazy results. If horror and gore are in your wheelhouse, at least the first two Hellraiser films are worth the time.