20 Greatest Horror Movies Of The 80s

17. Hellraiser

Fright Night 1985
New World Pictures

English writer Clive Barker has long been considered one of the pre-eminent horror writers in modern times and his move towards filmmaking was highly anticipated. Having worked on the screenplays for horror movies Underworld and Rawhead Rex he finally took to the director's chair in 1987 for Hellraiser.

Adapted from his short story The Hellbound Heart, Hellraiser introduced horror movie fans to one of the most iconic villains of the decade with Pinhead, an extra-dimensional being known as a Cenobite who promises hapless humans untold carnal pleasures, if they'll open up a portal and transport them into the real world.

By far Barker's best movie as a director, Hellraiser is not short on atmosphere and builds a palpable sense of dread, not least thanks to the exceptional production design and make-up work on Pinhead and his fellow Cenobites, which truly look as if they have been plucked from the bowels of Hell.

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Andrew Dilks hasn't written a bio just yet, but if they had... it would appear here.