Hellraiser
Clive Barker stood in a London studio during the autumn of 1986 with less than one million dollars to make his first feature film. He had just finished writing the novella The Hellbound Heart and felt betrayed by previous attempts to adapt his work into movies. Barker decided to direct the project himself rather than let another filmmaker ruin his vision. Producer Christopher Figg told him that a budget under one million dollars was possible if he kept the story contained within a single house. New World Pictures agreed to fund the production for nine hundred thousand dollars. The working title for the movie was Sadomasochists from Beyond the Grave before Figg suggested changing it to Hellraiser. Barker admitted later that he did not know the difference between a ten-millimetre lens and a thirty-five-millimetre lens when filming began.
Doug Bradley struggled to see through black contact lenses while wearing Pinhead's elaborate costume on set. He feared tripping over the long skirts of the Cenobite outfit as he moved across the floor. Special effects designer Simon Sayce constructed multiple wooden puzzle boxes because they were so fragile. Sayce would lie on the floor beneath the actors during takes to catch the box if it dropped. It took eight hours to build a new prop if the original broke or fell. A scene featuring a Chinese restaurant with Kirsty and Larry had to be shot in a rush due to delays in getting access to the establishment. The creature known as The Engineer proved difficult to maneuver during filming sequences. About seven weeks after principal photography ended, executive producers reviewed the footage and decided to invest more money into specific scenes like Frank being torn apart by chains.
The Motion Picture Association of America originally gave the film an X rating due to its graphic content. Two and a half shots were removed from the first hammer murder sequence including a closeup of the weapon lodged in the victim's head. A nude murder scene involving Julia was filmed but replaced with a semi-clothed version before release. Close-ups showing Kirsty sticking her hand into Frank's stomach exposing his guts were excised from the final cut. A longer version of the scene where Frank is torn into pieces did not make it to theaters. The final shot depicting Frank's head exploding was also removed to secure an R rating. In Ontario Canada the film was initially banned entirely for brutal violence and blood-letting. New World Mutual Pictures cut about forty seconds of torture scenes to get approval there. Thirty-five seconds of hooks pulling apart a body and face were deleted along with a scene featuring squirming rats nailed to a wall.
Hellraiser grossed fourteen million five hundred sixty-four thousand dollars in the United States and Canada during its initial run. It earned seven hundred sixty-three thousand four hundred twelve pounds in the United Kingdom for a worldwide total of thirty million dollars. Time Out London called it Barker's dazzling debut that created an atmosphere of dread. Melody Maker described the film as the best horror movie ever made in Britain. Kim Newman writing for Monthly Film Bulletin noted the serious tone compared to broadly comic horror films of the era. The New York Times criticized the casting of singularly uninteresting actors while calling special effects damp. Roger Ebert gave the film one half of a star out of four
and called it dreary. Variety stated the visual effects were generally handled with skill despite some narrative compromises. Rotten Tomatoes currently holds a seventy-one percent positive rating from fifty-five critics.
Nine sequels followed the original film with Doug Bradley reprising his role as Pinhead in the first seven entries. Clive Barker signed away story and character rights before the release of the first movie without realizing its future success. Plans for a remake appeared in October 2007 when Alexandre Bustillo and Julien Maury were reported to be directing. Todd Farmer and Patrick Lussier attached themselves to the project after the previous directors left. Miramax Films confirmed plans for new installments by 2018 following the commercial success of Halloween. David Bruckner directed a reboot released on Hulu in October 2022. A Hellraiser television series is currently in development at HBO. Limited edition merchandise including thirty officially licensed masks based
on Barker's concept designs went on sale in March 2017.
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Common questions
What was the budget for the 1987 film Hellraiser directed by Clive Barker?
New World Pictures funded the production of Hellraiser for nine hundred thousand dollars. The project required a budget under one million dollars to keep the story contained within a single house.
When did the remake of Hellraiser release on Hulu in October 2022?
David Bruckner directed a reboot of Hellraiser that released on Hulu in October 2022. Plans for new installments were confirmed by Miramax Films by 2018 following the commercial success of Halloween.
How much money did Hellraiser gross during its initial run in the United States and Canada?
Hellraiser grossed fourteen million five hundred sixty-four thousand dollars in the United States and Canada during its initial run. The worldwide total reached thirty million dollars including seven hundred sixty-three thousand four hundred twelve pounds earned in the United Kingdom.
Why was the original version of Hellraiser banned in Ontario Canada?
The film was initially banned entirely in Ontario Canada due to brutal violence and blood-letting. New World Mutual Pictures cut about forty seconds of torture scenes to get approval there.
Who played Pinhead in the first seven entries of the Hellraiser sequels?
Doug Bradley reprised his role as Pinhead in the first seven entries of the Hellraiser sequels. Clive Barker signed away story and character rights before the release of the first movie without realizing its future success.