1h 33m
Director: Clive Barker

This used to be classed as extreme horror and it still seems a bit weird and gory but compared to some of the things you see in horror these days, it's relatively tame. At the time it was released it was considered quite edgy!

Larry owns an old house which has been vacant for some time. Frank has been staying there but there's no sign of him, only evidence of him living there - a simple bed and rotting food in the kitchen. His girlfriend Julia is going to move in and it seems pretty clear that she had something going with Frank, she recalls an affair she had with him.

Frank had been experimenting with a strange box in the house before he disappeared and when some spilt blood re-awakens a monster in the upstairs bedroom we discover it's Frank risen from the dead. He's only half revived and needs more blood to complete his reincarnation which Julia provides by luring men to the home then murdering them.

The Cenobites who are summoned by the box are allegedly the masters of both pleasure and pain which is what peaks Frank's interest.

Like many horrors, there are distinct sexual overtones throughout this film, partly because the narrative orbits around Julia and Frank's love affair and the Cenobites who look like they're dressed in bondage gear which is contrasted by their grotesque piercings.

Although scary for the time, Pinhead and his gang look a bit like a modern goth band these days. One of them even has shades! It wouldn't be out of place if they burst into a musical number and an entourage of dancers appeared.

The lore surrounding this franchise is quite deep. The magical box which opens up different dimensions is called the 'Lament Configuration' for example and the particular box in this movie is called LeMarchand's box after its original owner. It has 6 different modes: Lament (Life), Lore (Knowledge), Laudarant (Love), Liminal (Sensation), Lazarus (Resurrection) and Leviathan (Power).

Judging by the hellish scenes depicted throughout, along with the strong sexual symbology which is often complimented with gore, I'd say Clive Barker is one sick puppy!

As with everything before CGI, all the effects are in-camera so they look a bit janky throughout. I always think in-camera effects add to the entertainment value because your subconscious mind realises it's all fake so you relax and enjoy things more. It is meant to be fun after all, some of the newer stuff is just a bit too realistic sometimes.

The horror is set to the kind of orchestral swells you might expect to hear in an old black and white which gives it a very classic feel but the gore is much worse than anything from that era. Christopher Young (who did Species, Pet Sematary and Ghost Rider amongst others) is credited for the score.

There's a featurette on YouTube if you'd like a bit more background on the production: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaOtRfBdYWM

So if you're looking for something that sits somewhere between a classic horror and the contemporary, then this film is for you!



Trailer: