In the mid-80s, almost a decade after Hammers demise, British horror consisted mainly of would-be spoofs (Bloodbath At The House Of Death) and unwise attempts to compete with American exploitation fare (Dont Open Til Christmas). At least, it did until Clive Barker came along. After writing the scripts for Underworld (1985) and Rawhead Rex (1986), Barker stepped behind the camera for Hellraiser, which offered an Old Dark House gothic nobody had seen before, full of twisted sexuality and grisly violence. The films antagonists, the Cenobites, looked like demons in fetish gear, and as they pursued a skinless creature that had escaped their clutches, it was clear that British horror had entered a new era. Their leader, originally named Priest and called Lead Cenobite in the script, became such an iconic figure that he returned in 7 sequels, making actor Doug Bradley the first new British horror star since the heyday of Hammer.
Ian Watson is the author of 'Midnight Movie Madness', a 600+ page guide to "bad" movies from 'Reefer Madness' to 'Poultrygeist: Night of the Chicken Dead.'
