Best-selling horror and dark fantasy novelist Clive Barker had a rocky start with the first attempts to convert his stories into a visual medium. Directors and screenwriters turned the film adaptations of Underworld and Rawhead Rex into something barely recognizable - and box office failures as well. Consequently, he was determined to make the next movie himself, and set about approaching film companies. The script was based on his own Hellbound Heart novella, and the resultant film was the undisputed 1987 horror classic Hellraiser, which Barker not only directed, but insisted on being involved with at every step. It spawned a movie franchise that to date includes eight films.
This new volume explores not only the cinematic interpretations of the Hellraiser mythos but also its intrusion into other artistic and cultural forms (covering the comics series, collectables, and Hellraiser’s influence on other movies and TV shows). Beginning with the unconventional sources of Clive Barker’s inspiration, the book follows Barker from his pre–Hellraiser cinematic experience through the filming of the horror classic. It examines various themes (such as the undermining of the traditional family unit and the malleability of the flesh) found throughout the series and the ways in which the representation of these themes changes from film to film. The religious aspects of the movies are also discussed. Characters central to the franchise - and the mythos - are examined at length, with production histories for all of the eight Hellraiser films included, detailed notes and index, quotes, and a look at how the movies were received.
Included is a foreword by actor Doug Bradley, who portrayed the infamous Pinhead.
About the Author
Paul Kane began his professional writing career in 1996, providing articles and reviews for news-stand publications, and started producing dark fantasy and science fiction stories in 1998. His work has been widely published in many magazines and anthologies on both sides of the Atlantic, in all kinds of formats - alongside writers such as Ramsey Campbell, Peter Straub, Michael Marshall Smith, Christopher Fowler and Stephen Gallagher. He has written the collections Alone (In the Dark) (the fastest-selling BJM title of that time), Touching the Flame (which has been translated into German) and FunnyBones (which has just recently gone into a second printing), as well as the novellas Signs of Life (which reached the short list for the British Fantasy Awards 2006) and The Lazarus Condition (introduced by Mick Garris, creator of Masters of Horror), plus the mass market novel Arrowhead (a post-apocalyptic reworking of the Robin Hood story). He recently also appeared in the documentary Assembly of Rogues talking about his work and his stories have been recommended and nominated for other British Fantasy Awards, in addition to receiving honourable mentions in The Year’s Best Fantasy and Horror edited by Ellen Datlow.
He has a B.A. Hons (In History of Art, Design and Film) and M.A. (in Film Studies) from Sheffield Hallam University and in the past has worked as a photographer, an artist, an illustrator/cartoonist and a professional proofreader. He served as Special Publications Editor of the British Fantasy Society for five years, where he collaborated on projects with the likes of Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, Brian Aldiss, Robert Silverberg, Muriel Gray, Graham Masterton and many others. His latest writing projects include short film work, a graphic adaptation of his ‘Torturer’ story with artist Ian Simmons, and a piece on Hellraiser for the Cinema Macabre book introduced by Jonathan Ross and featuring Simon (Shaun of the Dead) Pegg, Mark (League of Gentlemen & Dr Who) Gatiss, Douglas E. Winter and Stephen Jones. In 2008 his story 'Dead Time' was turned into an episode of the NBC/Lions Gate TV series Fear Itself. Adapted under the title 'New Year's Day' by Steve (30 Days of Night) Niles and directed by Darren (SAW II-IV & Repo) Lynn Bousman, this zombie tale starred Briana Evigan and Niall Matter.
His Shadow Writer site, launched on Hallowe’en 2001 and which has featured Stephen King, James Herbert and Thomas Harris as Guest Writers, can be found at www.shadow-writer.co.uk
A long-time Barker fan, Paul Kane had this to say about his book, which looks at the franchise’s origins and the reasons for its longevity and cult status:
“Ever since I saw Hellraiser in a video store when I was in my teens, I’ve been in love with the series. The iconic picture of Pinhead grabbed my attention right away and wouldn’t let go. Over the years I’ve taken a great interest in the movies and the development of the mythos, so with the 20th Anniversary coming up it just made sense for someone to pen a book about it all. It was originally envisioned as a small British Film Institute-type book about Clive’s original movie, like Mark Kermode’s brilliant Exorcist book. But it grew and grew. And although it’s been hard work I’m really proud of the results.”
Quotes about The Hellraiser Films and their Legacy
‘A significant piece of work and certainly the best sustained piece on the movie that anybody’s yet done. Paul not only contextualises from fellow-travellers both literary and cinematic, he reads the frame. He’s also particularly good on the Elektra-complex underpinnings of the Larry-Kirsty relationship.’
Peter Atkins - Hollywood Scriptwriter of Hellraisers II-IV and bestselling author of Morningstar and Big Thunder.
‘Paul Kane has chosen to follow in the great man’s (Clive Barker’s) footsteps: to reach down into the reeking heart of this mythology and see what he comes up with. I’ll leave it to you to find out exactly what that might be, but I can assure you that he has left few, if any, stones unturned in his pursuit. It would be, perhaps, facile of me to say that he has such sights to show you, but the simple fact is, he has…’
From the introduction by Doug Bradley – Hollywood actor best known as Pinhead in the Hellraiser series.
'There's pleasure without pain in this groundbreaking look at the Hellraiser franchise...Paul Kane unearths the history and impact of the series. He knows the franchise inside out...This book remains stuffed with insight. To say Kane delivers the ultimate guide to Hellraiser is an understatement. He absolutely nails it.'
Total Film - Five Star Review.
'Kane’s prose is refreshingly free of the sneering-down-the-nose that often emerges when "serious" film scholars discuss genre material. It’s clear he knows and loves his subject, even approaching the lesser entries with passion and enthusiasm…This is an intelligent and detailed study of a series that continues to fascinate and disturb in equal measure.'
Rue Morgue Magazine.
'This book from respected freelance writer, author and tutor Paul Kane takes a step back and examines every aspect of the Hellraiser film franchise from its origins to its demise, where it all went wrong and, more importantly, where the writers and directors got it right...The book is filled with rare and unseen images, from artwork to production shots, and also touches on some of the subjects that the movie originally exposed, such as body piercing...I couldn’t fault this book. I tried to find something wrong or amiss, but totally failed… Kane should be championed for never digressing or sounding too much like an awestruck fanboy. He keeps his prose educational, entertaining and honest...In his foreword, Pinhead actor Doug Bradley states that Paul Kane has such sights to show. Never has a truer word been said, as this is probably the final word on the movie series.'
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