Gorehounds Unite!

Twenty years ago Clive Barker unleashed a nightmare like no other, a deliciously depraved vision of hell on earth that changed the face of horror forever.  Two decades later, it stands alone as the carnage classic whose power to shock and disturb remains undiminished. We have such sights to show you: This is HELLRAISER like you’ve never experienced it before!

 Hellraiser was a classic immediatly upon release in 1987 as it was a film like no one had ever seen before! Clive Barkers dark and sexual visions assaulted our senses and made many a theatergoer run for the exits. This was a bleak but very intelligent film that many today still hold high on their lists of top horror films ever made. Pinhead immediatly jumped to the frontlines and was heralded as the next Freddy or Jason. Of course as we all know he was soon uttered in the same breath as those Icons of horror. The film spawned numerous sequels all of which diluted the character more and more.....In my humble opinion theres no reason to watch any of the films that followed with the possible exception of  Hellbound. But with that being said I still hold a soft spot in my heart for the original and as such was excited to hear they were releasing a 20th anniversary edition. I know what alot of fans have been muttering..,,,oh no here we go with another "EVIL DEAD" type of release where every few years they throw more editions our way. So does this make the cut as the edition to own? Or is it just another way for the company to prey on all the fans? Read on to find out!

 Well I'm not gonna fill this review with a bunch of explanations of the story and go through how good the effects and acting is as we have all seen this gem (and if you havent....where the hell have you been the last 20 years?). What I will be focusing on is the technical merits of the release as well as the new features to help you decide if you need to buy this new version or keep your old one and be happy with it.

 Basically I will start by saying that if you don't own a version of this film then this is the one you must buy! As far as the fans who own another version of the film that's up to you. You need to decide based on what your gonna get (and more on that in the later part of the review) and if that stuff merits you buying another version.

 I will state my dissappointment with the fact that there still isnt a box set out of the Hellraiser films in an oversized puzzlebox. Maybe one day my cries will be heard and well see that come about but until then this is the version to own.

 Ok now onto the real fans of the film, Is it worth spending the $19.99 to buy another version of the film? The answer to that all depends on you.....If your looking to own the best version of the film ever released then it's a no-brainer. This is the most gorgeous remastered print of the film I've ever seen! Sometimes to a fault as you can see the cart used to push a certain creature and the machinery used for the frank resurection scene in the attic. But the look of the film is pristine and seemingly alot better than previous rushed versions of the film that are floating around out there in some of your collections.

 The packaging of the film is also very good as it has a very displayable design to the box art...not to mention if your the type of fan theat likesto get your DVD autographed at conventions then theres plenty of room on the boxart for that....not to mention it would look pretty badass with a few primo sigs on it!

 The special features we get in this release are hiot and miss as well. I would have liked to see a new commentary track featuring Doug Bradley,Clive Barker,Ashley Laurence, and Andrew Robinson discussing the merits of the film 20 years after release. But alas were left with the old commentary thats been on most of the other releases featuring Clive Barker, Ashley Laurence and screenwriter Peter Atkins. A minor gripe but a gripe nonetheless. We also get a few other features already seen on other releases...they include the Hellraiser: Ressurection featurette that is still amazingly informative after all these years as well as, Trailers,Still Gallerys and a few other behind the scenes stuff.

 As far as the new stuff I'm happy to announce that there is quite a bit here but as far as if it breaks any new ground thats debatable! First off we have an interview with star Andrew Robinson called "Mr. Cotton I presume?" This is a great interview and was a joy to watch. We also have "Actress From Hell" an interview with Ashley Lauyrence which was interesting as well. Theres the "Hellcomposer" interview with Christopher Young which was very interesting for the fact it gives some insight into Clive Barkers intimate workings and vision regarding the music for the film.

 It also includes a Doug Bradley interview which breaks no new ground but is still a ton of fun to watch as Doug's just so damned personable! Other new stuff includes TV Spots,  and A First and Final draft of the script which is interesting to compare where the film was changed and what the original version would have been otherwise!

 I must point out that I am extremely dissappointed with not only the fact that they fail to interview any of the lesser cenobites which the fans have clamored for since the advent of laserdisc and DVD, but they also don't really touch on the effects of the film on the horror industry as a whole in the 80's which is something that could have been very interesting. Nor do they touch on any of the controversy that followed the film from the christian church and conservative types in the 80's. All of which I would have expected......other than that it lacks any new content from Barker himself which is understandable as he has always said he was finished discussing the film as he's exhausted all his information on the film 10 times over.

 So all in all I have to say it's worth a buy, but it will all depend on the individual fan and consumer. I will still hold out hope on a puzzle box edition of all the hellraiser films but won't hold my breath.....Until then though I will covet this version and be proud to have it in my collection as you will also if your a true collector.

 "JESUS WEPT!".........................

 Visit Starz/Anchor Bay for more info at: http://www.anchorbayentertainment.com/

RATING:

 4 out of 5 Severed Heads!