The directorial debut of iconic horror author and artist Clive Barker is widely remembered for introducing the world to the demonic Cenobites, under the leadership of Doug Bradleys sinister linchpin who came to be known as Pinhead. However, its sometimes forgotten that the real driving force of the story is the forbidden desire of middle-aged wife Julia (Clare Higgins) for her bad-boy brother-in-law Frank who just so happens to have returned from the dead after inadvertently surrendering himself to the eternal tortures of the Cenobites. Given how teen-oriented most 80s horror tended to be, it was a bold move on Barkers part to centre his story on a trio of grown-ups (although with a little room in the spotlight found for Ashley Lawrences Kirsty, step-daughter of Julia and daughter Andrew Robinsons Larry). While it more than delivers on shock and suspense, Hellraiser also proves a surprisingly emotional ordeal, as Julia is compelled to kill in order to provide her skeletal lover Frank the flesh and blood on which he must feed in order to regain his human form. The fact that Frank does not ultimately reciprocate her feelings just makes it all the more tragic. Barker has said that while the film was in production, they werent 100% sure about using Hellraiser as the title, so he surveyed the crew for alternate titles, to which a 60 year old female crew member suggested, What A Woman Will Go Through For A Good F***. A blunt summation of Hellraisers plot, but not inaccurate.
