With a lot of super-scary, high-tech movies coming out this summer, I thought it might be fun to take a look at some “classic” horror flicks from the 80s. I wonder…will they still hold up? Scare me now like they did (or threatened to) when I was a kid?
This will be the first in a series of posts. I’m open to suggestions as to what to check out next – feel free to comment here or email.
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Hellraiser came out in 1987. I was eight. Pictures of the white-faced Hellraiser guy with pins sticking out of his head sent me running. Literally running, from the TV or the poster or wherever I saw him glare at me.
So I didn’t see it when it was first out. I also never sat down to watch it on one of the late-night showings on HBO. I always thought it would terrify me.
I missed it…back then.
Last Friday, my husband and I decided to change that. These are my impressions.
First off, the opening sequence? The weird Claymation portrayal of giant hooks rending human flesh? Classic! I can’t say for certain but I do think eight-year-old me would have run for the hills at the first squirt of red corn syrup! And then I’d have crept back for more.
My most important question of the early minutes of the movie is: is the stepmom supposed to be hot? The men seem to be a-droolin’. But with that hair and those shoulder pads? Clearly I underestimate the power of the 80s power suit!
So far as plot goes, I can only assume there’s not much budget for a horror movie script. This one has a basic plot (couple moves to home, accidentally re-animates mostly-dead brother), and a couple small sub-plots (pretty daughter conflicts with stepmom; mostly-dead brother is also stepmom’s ex-lover). There’s also a gate that opens, controlled by a puzzle box thing that seems to give a decent static-electricity jolt to all who touch it. Through the gate are the (God help us) Cenobites. They torture people…to bring them pleasure. And pain. Because obviously! It’s all a little ridiculous.
And let’s be honest. We’re writers and readers here. Before writing this column, I went to IMDB with the sole purpose of finding the official name of the pinheaded Cenobite. Surely his name couldn’t just be Pinhead. But his name…actually is…Pinhead the Lead Cenobite. Another? “Butterball Cenobite.”
Oh dear. This is 80s camp horror if ever I’ve seen it.
So. Does Hellraiser stand the test of time?
I’d say no. Its reliance on outdated special effects reduces its scare-factor to subterranean levels. But I also sort of loved it. It was so terrible, I sort of had to love it. The ending sequence where (spoiler alert!!) the teenage daughter destroys each Cenobite by (gasp!) by pressing down on the puzzle box…I almost cried.
So it’s definitely worth a watch, if only to laugh.
Take THAT, you evil Cenobites!
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Leah Rhyne is a Jersey girl who's lived in the South long enough to lose her accent, but not her attitude nor her love for Bon Jovi and the Boss. She's a full time software tester, wife, mom, and novelist, which makes life a little busy. In her "spare" time she enjoys running, yoga-ing, and playing fetch with her hound dog. 
I can’t help with ’80s horror flick suggestions, though I do admit I’d be curious to watch Ozma of Oz once more–not horror, but very bizarre, as I recall.
Anyways, on to the more important question: is the stepmom supposed to be hot? I can’t say. But I submit to you this clip from Northern Exposure, circa 1991, featuring the weirdest temptresses ever. Are they supposed to be hot?? =)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvs-eVs1eDw
Whoa. That’s bizarre. I’m gonna start slicking my hair back and wearing red lipstick!! So…thanks?
In the original book that Hellraiser is based on (The Hellbound Heart) the Cenobites don’t have any names. I think they are labeled in the movies to clarify which is which, but those aren’t really their names. You don’t hear anyone call Pinhead that. At least not in the first four movies (after that who knows, those later direct to video releases are so awful even I – a diehard fan – couldn’t watch them all the way through). I think it is kind of like Leatherface in Texas Chainsaw Massacre. In the original film that isn’t his name, just a label based on his human skin mask. Later when they call him that in the second film it’s just campy and dumb.
While it may look dated, I still find Hellraiser to be one of the better horror movies. I enjoy the fact that the bad guys are just that – bad guys. They have no ulterior motive, they didn’t have bad childhoods or bad breakups or whatever. They are demons from hell and they do demonic things. And they aren’t even really the big bads of the movie. The human beings are, and they get what they deserve.
Great point, Melissa, about the humans being the *real* bad guys here – I couldn’t agree more!
And I didn’t know it was based on a book – that’s awesome!!
Like I said, I loved it – in my own special way.
Any suggestions as to where to go next?
The 80s are so full of awesome horror films to re-visit (or visit for the first time if you didn’t get to see them then). Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, Friday the 13th (a couple of those might be from the late 70s but oh well). The best creature features are definitely from the 80s – Slugs, Dolls, The Prophecy (about the bears, not the devil one). They should be awesome for this project because most of them are like Hellraiser – very 80s in their special effects and clothing but somewhat timeless as well.