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Clive Barker's "Hellraiser" franchise might not be as popular as "Friday the 13th," "Halloween," "Evil Dead," and "A Nightmare on Elm Street," but most people still know Pinhead and the Cenobites. The leather-clad, extra-dimensional demons debuted in Barker's "The Hellbound Heart" novella before going on to cause legendary suffering in movies, comics, and Motorhead music videos, but they have yet to star in their own video game (unless you count the fictional one in the maligned "Hellraiser: Hellworld"). However, that's all about to change with Saber Interactive and Boss Team Games' "Hellraiser: Revival," which will take players straight into the Labyrinth. (Check out the gnarly trailer right here.)

"Hellraiser: Revival" tells the story of Aiden, a man who enters the Cenobites' lair to rescue his girlfriend from damnation. The plot echoes the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as the underrated "Dante's Inferno" video game, but...

The human body is a marvel of a machine. Complex and delicate, layers of finely tuned systems work tirelessly to maintain, sustain and create life. Though no two bodies are exactly alike, all require some level of maintenance and, whether we like it or not, all possess an expiration date. It is here in the cold, sterile glow of these facts that the sub-genre of medical horror operates, preying on our deepest fears around organic decay and malevolent medical professionals.

These fears are placed front and center in James Villeneuve‘s debut film, Pins and Needles. In the movie, Chelsea Clark (Ginny & Georgia) stars as Max, a biology grad student and diabetic. On her drive back to campus from a field research site, Max becomes trapped at the home of two murderous biohackers where her safety and insulin supplies quickly begin to run dry. Movies like Pins and Needles weaponize our bodies,...

“America is the final girl, and I hope she survives.”

Salem Horror Fest‘s eighth annual event kicked off last night at Salem’s Peabody Essex Museum, and festival manager Leslie Adams‘ brief opening statement — which concluded with the above quote — assured attendees that the event remains steadfast in its mission to cultivate a safe, inclusive, and fun community for genre fans.

This year’s festival is the first under the new leadership of Horror Arts Collective — formed by legacy staff members in the wake of founder Kay Lynch stepping down last year — but the team upholds the ethos instilled by Lynch, who cheered on her successors from the front row like a proud mom.

The new guard also upheld the tradition of kicking off with a memorable opening night headlined by a horror icon, with Hellraiser‘s Ashley Laurence serving as this year’s guest of honor. Media personality...

Salem Horror Fest has announced the initial wave of programming for its 8th annual event, running April 30-May 4 in nine venues across Salem, Massachusetts.

Over 60 Official Selections — shorts, interludes (15-60 minutes), and feature length — will screen, in addition to repertory screenings, live podcasts, and other special events.

The annual opening night celebration at the Peabody Essex Museum will feature a Q&a with horror icon Ashley Laurence moderated by Rue Morgue‘s Andrea Subissati; a screening of Hellbound: Hellraiser II; keynote speaker Professor Tananarive Due, author of The Reformatory and executive producer of Horror Noire: A History of Black Horror; announcement of jury prizes; and a screening of the winning short.

Special Events

Local Mass Hysteria – A collection of shorts from New England filmmakers (April 30) Opening night with Ashley Laurence, Tananarive Due, and a screening of Hellbound: Hellraiser II (May 1) Book signing and panel with five horror authors including Tananarive...

Unlock the horror of Hellraiser with Fright-Rags‘ new apparel dedicated to the Clive Barker classic.

Suspiria Vilchez paints a collage of the film’s most iconic moments; Zachary Jackson Brown summons Pinhead and the rest of the Cenobites; Kirsty Cotton opens the puzzle box on a design by Justin Osbourn; and Uncle Frank’s suffering is legendary with gory art by Sam Coyne.

All four designs are printed on super soft 4.5oz 100% pre-shrunk ringspun cotton T-shirts for $33.

Vilchez’s artwork is also available on Comfort Colors tees ($34) and zip-up hoodies ($55), while Osbourn’s design also comes on women’s shirts ($33) and baseball tees ($40).

Based on Barker’s novella The Hellbound Heart, the 1987 horror film stars Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith, and Doug Bradley as Pinhead.

The post Fright-Rags Has Such Sights to Show You with New ‘Hellraiser’ Apparel appeared first on Bloody Disgusting!.

For the first time in 37 years, Clive Barker’s 1987 horror classic Hellraiser is returning to theaters on February 5 and 6, with Fathom Entertainment presenting a brand new 4K remaster on the big screen. In celebration of the big re-release, Fathom Entertainment has partnered with Bloody Disgusting to giveaway a Hellraiser prize pack worth almost $300!

Up for grabs right now on the official @BDisgusting Twitter account, we’re giving away Two of these epic Hellraiser prize packs, both of which include the following killer items:

(1) Limited Edition 4K Uhd set (Region 2) – $80.60 (1) Limited Edition Blu-ray (Region 2) – $74.40 (1) Hellraiser: 30th Anniversary Edition (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) vinyl – $35 (1) original 1987 theatrical poster – $100

The total prize value for each prize pack is a whopping $290.

To enter, simply follow @BDisgusting on Twitter and Rt the tweet below!

Hellraiser‘s theatrical re-release will be accompanied by “Under the Skin: Doug Bradley on Hellraiser,” a 2004 interview with the actor about his first appearance as Pinhead.

The 1987 horror classic Hellraiser (watch it Here) is set to return to theatres next month, as Fathom Events will be bringing a newly remastered 4K version of the film to the big screen on February 5th and 6th – and these screenings will also include an archival interview called Under the Skin: Doug Bradley on Hellraiser, where the iconic actor discusses his first appearance as Pinhead. To see if Hellraiser will be showing in your area, head over to the Fathom Events link.

Written and directed by Clive Barker (based on his own novella The Hellbound Heart), Hellraiser has the following synopsis: Sexual deviant Frank inadvertently opens a portal to hell when he tinkers with a box he bought while abroad. The act unleashes gruesome beings called Cenobites, who tear Frank’s body apart. When Frank’s brother and his wife, Julia, move into Frank’s old house, they accidentally...

Stephen King famously once said, “I have seen the future of horror fiction, and his name is Clive Barker.” That future was realized when Barker brought his transgressive writing to the big screen in Hellraiser.

For the first time in 37 years, the 1987 horror classic is returning to theaters on February 5 and 6 via Fathom Events.

Newly remastered in 4K, the movie will be accompanied by “Under the Skin: Doug Bradley on Hellraiser,” a 2004 interview with the actor about his first appearance as the horror icon Pinhead.

Hellraiser sees a couple move into their new home, unaware that something evil lurks beneath the floorboards of the dilapidated house — something that wants human blood.

Based on Barker’s novella The Hellbound Heart, the film stars Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman, Oliver Smith, and Bradley.

Hellraiser spawned nine sequels — the first seven of which featured Bradley reprising his role as Pinhead...

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Clive Barker's "Hellraiser" is a modest family drama about Faustian pacts, mysterious puzzle boxes that summon demons, and a wicked stepmother who smooches her skinless brother-in-law in a basement. It also paved the way for an ambitious franchise that's traveled everywhere from New York to outer space. Granted, some poorly received sequels have resulted in the "Hellraiser" movies ranking all over the pleasure and pain scale, but the series still has such sights to show us. The fifth film, "Hellraiser: Inferno," also marked Scott Derrickson's directorial debut, but the project was different before the future Marvel filmmaker took over.

The "Hellraiser" direct-to-video sequels don't have the best reputation among horror fans, as most of them are low-budget afterthoughts that were churned out so Miramax could retain the rights to the franchise. That said, "Inferno" is a compelling noir-inspired...

The 1987 masterpiece Hellraiser is widely thought of as Clive Barker's big-screen debut, but he had suffered some cinematic disappointments before then. 1985's Underworld and 1986's Rawhead Rex did not flatter his writing, so he knew he would have to seize the directorial reins to adapt his novella The Hellbound Heart. He created a modern horror classic with Hellraiser, which is both faithful to and strikingly different from its source material.

The gripping 164-page book can be easily devoured in a day, and Hellraiser fans will be delighted by this vivid prose version of Clive Barker's unique vision. That said, The Hellbound Heart also includes surprising deviations from the screen version of the story, and a comparison of the two offers a fresh outlook on this fan-favorite franchise.

The Book Is Set In England, and the Film Takes Place In America...Sort Of

The first line of dialog in The...

Monster-Mania 59 The 59th Semi Annual Philadelphia Horror Film & Memorabilia Convention. Special Guest: Clive Barker, Robert Englund, William Shatner, Juliette Lewis, Henry Winkler, Doug Bradley, Ashley Laurence, Andrew Robinson, Heather Langenkamp, Marley Shelton, Melissa Barrera, Jonathan Breck, Craig Sheffer, and many more. Monster-Mania was packed. If you think Salem during Halloween …

The post Monster-mania 59: August 2-4, 2024. Cherry Hill, New Jersey appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.

Update: Last year, Arrow Video released the first four Hellraiser films in a 4K box set called Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment. That box set is now making its way to North America, with a release date of October 22nd in the US and Canada! For information on what’s contained in the set, check out the write-up on last year’s UK release below. It appears that everything from the UK set will be included in the North American set.

The original article follows:

A couple years ago, screenwriter Peter Atkins – who worked on the scripts for the first three Hellraiser sequels – published his original screenplay for the famously troubled fourth film, Hellraiser: Bloodline (the script is available for purchase at This Link), saying, “Whilst you’ll never get to see a Director’s Cut of Hellraiser: Bloodline, you can read in this book what was supposed to be…” But...

A potential Hellraiser sequel teases more blood, chains, and Pinhead, with hints of progress from lead star Odessa A'zion. Updates from producer Keith Levine suggest that the sequel will be even crazier and more awesome than the 2022 reboot. Character development in the new Hellraiser was criticized, but Odessa A'zion's performance as Riley McKendry was praised, hinting at future potential.

2022's Hellraiser, a Hulu original, was a commendable reboot of the Clive Barker-ideated IP, and new word from lead star Odessa A'zion seems to indicate that more blood, more chains, and more Pinhead could be on the way. A'zion was interviewed by Screen Rant for her role in the forthcoming crime drama Fresh Kills, during which she was asked for an update on the potential sequel.

Hellraiser R Where to Watch

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Release DateOctober 7, 2022DirectorDavid BrucknerCastJamie Clayton, Goran Visnjic, Hiam Abbass, Brandon Flynn,...

Odessa A'zion cautiously hints at a potential return for the Hellraiser reboot sequel, acknowledging there are ongoing conversations for a follow-up. Producer Keith Levine recently offered a promising update on the development of the follow-up, teasing it will be "even crazier and even more awesome." A'zion's return as Riley in the sequel could redeem past mistakes of the franchise, offering a chance to explore the Cenobites' history in depth and not put the returning final girl on a darker path, as was the case with Ashley Laurence's Kirsty.

With nearly two years passed since the franchise's reboot became a hit for Hulu, Odessa A'zion has an interesting response to her potential Hellraiser 2 return. A'zion led the cast of the 2022 Hellraiser movie as Riley, a recovering addict whose attempts to bounce back while living with her brother, his boyfriend and their roommate are upended when she discovers the Lament...

Hellraiser icon Doug Bradley is open to portraying an older, darker version of Pinhead if given the chance. Bradley's interest stems from Clive Barker's 2015 novel, The Scarlet Gospels, which delves into Christian theology related to Hell on a cosmological scale. While Bradley has not completely turned his back on the iconic character, he acknowledges that his portrayal of Pinhead may have come to a close, but he remains proud of the work done.

“The box! You opened it, we came!” Hellraiser's Pinhead is without question one of the best and most recognizable villains of the horror genre. And just as Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee were instrumental in bringing their on-screen adaptations of those haunting literary characters to life, Doug Bradley was just as important to the Cenobite known as Pinhead. And Bradley would reprise the iconic role if the right opportunity presented itself. Bradley said...

“Please. I’ll do anything you want. Anything.”

Who among us hasn’t fallen for a bad boy once or twice? Maybe he’s the cute senior trying to cheat off of us in Algebra. Maybe he jumped our car when the battery died outside the mall. Or maybe he’s our fiancé’s hot brother knocking on our door in the middle of a rainstorm just desperate for a towel. Whatever the case, we all know what it’s like to get pulled into an illicit, but ill-advised affair. Sure it seems exciting at first, but it rapidly spirals into the further regions of hell.

Julia Cotton (Clare Higgins) finds herself in a similar situation in Clive Barker’s decadent masterpiece Hellraiser. When she hooks up with her future brother-in-law Frank (Sean Chapman) just days before the wedding, she allows herself to taste the sinful pleasures not available in...

We’re here about a mattress…

After wrapping up 2023 with look at New French Extremity in Inside (listen), horror musicals in Anna and the Apocalypse (listen) and the Best Horror Films of 2023 (listen), we’re kicking off our first official episode of 2024 with a lengthy discussion of Tony Randel‘s better-than-it-has-any-right-to-be sequel Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), which just celebrated its 35th anniversary!

Hellbound: Hellraiser II picks up hours after the first film ended, seeing Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence) confined to a mental hospital after she tells the authorities that her father was betrayed by his evil, adulterous wife, Julia (Clare Higgins), and is now being tormented in hell by sadomasochistic demons called Cenobites. Few believe Kirsty, except the thrill-seeking Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham), who is so intrigued by her frightening stories that he teams up with a newly resurrected Julia. When they open the gates to Hell and unleash the Cenobites,...

Younger readers may not be aware of this, but there was a time before the streaming wars when a movie could still be profitable without having a successful run at the box office. In fact, the direct-to-video market used to be so huge that it was worth producing smaller projects specifically for video and DVD, especially when a wide theatrical release might result in them losing money. Unfortunately, the reduced budgets often resulted in cheap cash-grabs when it came to franchises, with most movie sequels decreasing in quality the further they strayed from their cinema screen origins.

However, there were exceptions to this trend, as the lowered expectations also meant that creative risks could sometimes be taken with existing properties – with filmmakers being allowed to innovate instead of simply rehashing what came before. One example of these creative outliers is the Warlock series, as the third movie is actually a...

Creepshow season four will debut on Shudder and AMC on October 13th, with new episodes airing weekly at 10:00 pm Et/9c on AMC linear. The show is an anthology series inspired by classic horror comics, featuring vignettes exploring murder, creatures, monsters, the supernatural, and more. The new season will include guest appearances from recognizable actors such as Tom Atkins, Ruth Codd, Samantha Sloyan, Adrienne Barbeau, Tobin Bell, Barbara Crampton, and more.

Creepshow is going to be back soon, with all new tales of terror. The show is an anthology series which hails from Greg Nicotero, and is a throwback to the EC comic of old like Tales from the Crypt and The Vault of Horror. The trailer, which you can watch below, teases all new episodes involving aliens, vampires, ghosts, and other kinds of monsters. The press release, courtesy of Fangoria, described the new season as this:

"Creepshow season four will debut on Shudder,...

Arrow Video is bringing the Hellraiser franchise to 4K Ultra HD with a brand new Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment Limited Edition 4K Uhd set, which features the first four movies in the Clive Barker-created horror franchise – plus the Workprint Version of Hellraiser: Bloodline!

Arrow Video promises that “Hell has never looked better!” than it does in this brand new upcoming set, which boasts all-new 4k restorations from the original camera negatives.

While you wait for Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment to arrive on your doorstep, Bloody Disgusting is exclusively debuting the trailer for the brand new 4K restoration of Clive Barker’s Hellraiser, the original horror classic that started it all. We have such sights to show you…

The upcoming “Quartet of Torment” set features…

Brand new 4k restorations of all four films from the original camera negatives by Arrow Films Ultra High Definition (2160p) presentations of all four films...

Freshly announced this morning, Arrow Video is bringing the Hellraiser franchise to 4K Ultra HD with a brand new Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment Limited Edition 4K Uhd set.

The upcoming set features the following Hellraiser movies:

Hellraiser (1987) Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988) Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992) Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)

The most exciting aspect of this release? Arrow’s Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment set features the newly uncovered Workprint Version of fourth installment Hellraiser: Bloodline!

This never-before-seen version of the 1996 sequel, directed by Kevin Yagher, “provides a fascinating insight into how it changed during post production.” The initial cut of the movie ran 110 minutes long, but the studio executives at Miramax demanded major changes that resulted in Yagher departing the project. The final cut ultimately ended up running 85 minutes long, and Yagher was so unhappy with the finished product that he took his name off the movie. That’s why Hellraiser: Bloodline is...

It’s time for a new episode of the Awfully Good Horror Movies video series, and in this one we’re looking back at an underseen killer kid movie from 1992, Mikey (watch it Here), and it’s awesome! To find out why we count this one as being awfully good, watch the video embedded above.

Directed by Dennis Dimster from a screenplay written by Jonathan Glassner, Mikey has the following synopsis: After each member of his family has died in unexplained accidents, young Mikey, a seemingly innocent and sweet little boy, is placed with an adoptive family. The family will discover the boy’s true personality at their own expense. Remember, Jason and Freddy were kids once, too.

The film stars Brian Bonsall, Josie Bissett, Ashley Laurence, John Diehl, Mimi Craven, Whitby Hertford, Lyman Ward, and Lorenzo Obias.

With the Awfully Good Horror Movies series, we take a journey through...

San Diego Comic-Con 2023 showcases impressive cosplays from various IPs, despite the absence of star power due to strikes. The cosplayers at Comic-Con transform the convention center into a Hollywood studio backlot with their creativity and passion. Notable cosplays include Barbie and Ken, Din Djarin from The Mandalorian, and Cosmo the Space Dog from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

San Diego Comic-Con 2023 returns in all its glory with the best cosplays from movies, TV shows, books, video games, and every IP in the galaxy, including Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel, and many more. Though the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike and WGA strike loom large over one of the most significant cons in the country, the fans more than make up for the absence of star power this year. These cosplays are on par with any big-budget Hollywood production and represent many sleepless nights and countless hours of dedication to the craft.

The mind of horror mastermind Clive Barker created “Hellraiser,” a long-lived and revered fright series. His 1987 adaptation of his novella, “The Hellbound Heart,” kicked off the franchise; eleven sequels followed. For decades it has held an audience under its spell with eerie thrills, gothic narratives, and iconic characters unlike any others seen before or since then.

Related: 10 Best Horror Movies of All Time, Ranked by Viewers

At the core of Hellraiser is an enigma, the Lament Configuration. This puzzle box opens a doorway into another world filled with Cenobites. These otherworldly beings offer unimaginable pleasure and excruciating pain to those who dare summon them. The franchise’s iconic antagonist, Pinhead, leads the Cenobites with his chilling presence and the unyielding desire to harvest human souls.

Related: 18 Best Thriller Movies (Ranked by IMDb Votes)

The Hellraiser movie marathon delves into themes of obsession, desire, and the repercussions of exploring forbidden territory.

A new episode of The Manson Brothers Show, the video series hosted by the writers/stars of the horror comedy The Manson Brothers Midnight Zombie Massacre – Chris Margetis (Stone Manson) and Mike Carey (Skull Manson) – has just been released, and in this one the Boys are revisiting the 1987 horror classic Hellraiser (watch it Here). To find out what they had to say about it, check out the video embedded above!

Written and directed by Clive Barker (based on his own novella The Hellbound Heart), Hellraiser has the following synopsis: Sexual deviant Frank inadvertently opens a portal to hell when he tinkers with a box he bought while abroad. The act unleashes gruesome beings called Cenobites, who tear Frank’s body apart. When Frank’s brother and his wife, Julia, move into Frank’s old house, they accidentally bring what is left of Frank back to life. Frank then convinces Julia,...

A whole lot of horror fans recently signed up for the Peacock streaming service, since Halloween Kills and Halloween Ends were both released on Peacock the same day they reached theatres. To help horror fans find ways to make their Peacock subscription worthwhile, we here at Arrow in the Head have compiled a list of the Best Horror Movies on Peacock Right Now! Check it out:

Mikey (1992)

Director Dennis Dimster-Denk’s Mikey had the tagline “Remember, Jason and Freddy were kids once too”, and the movie does its best to make sure the titular creepy kid (played by Brian Bonsall) is just as deadly as any adult slasher. Mikey does some really nasty stuff in this movie and racks up an impressive body count… and Dimster-Denk certainly wasn’t afraid of pushing the envelope. The movie begins with the murder of a five-year-old and proceeds to show Mikey obsessively creeping...

It’s time for a new episode of the Wtf Happened to This Horror Celebrity? video series (formerly known as Where in the Horror Are They Now), and with this one we’re looking at the life and career of a horror celebrity who achieved genre icon status almost as soon as he first appeared on screen as the character Herbert West in director Stuart Gordon’s classic H.P. Lovecraft adaptation Re-Animator. That actor is, of course, Jeffrey Combs, who has gone on to rack up many more horror movie credits over the decades. You can find out all about him by checking out the video embedded above!

Where in the Horror Are They Now was once an article series here on Arrow in the Head. The concept has been revived as a video series, and Wtf Happened to This Horror Celebrity? will be going in depth on the lives...

It’s time for a new episode of the Wtf Happened to This Adaptation? video series, and with this one we’re going back to 1987 to examine how Clive Barker turned his novella The Hellbound Heart into the horror classic Hellraiser (watch it Here) – and spawned a huge franchise in the process. To hear all about the changes The Hellbound Heart went through on the way to becoming Hellraiser, check out the video embedded above!

Written and directed by Barker, Hellraiser has the following synopsis: Sexual deviant Frank inadvertently opens a portal to hell when he tinkers with a box he bought while abroad. The act unleashes gruesome beings called Cenobites, who tear Frank’s body apart. When Frank’s brother and his wife, Julia, move into Frank’s old house, they accidentally bring what is left of Frank back to life. Frank then convinces Julia, his one-time lover, to...

Ever since the early days of film, horror fans have been comparing and contrasting the scariest moments of our favorite movies. We love to share the specific scenes that get under our skin, hoping that we’re not the only ones afraid to turn out the lights. Ranking these moments also gives us a sense of accomplishment and we compare and contrast to find the films that test us the most. If we can watch the scariest moments imaginable and come out the other side, we might just be brave enough to take on the real world.

Before Bravo became known for chronicling the sagas of housewives, the network attempted to solidify this hierarchy with a formal list of the most frightening moments film has to offer. From way back in 2004, Bravo’s The 100 Scariest Movie Moments is a mix of interviews, clips, and anecdotes that justify a 100 entry list...

In the age of streaming television, horror is alive and well. Shows like "Stranger Things" and "Wednesday" are topping Netflix's charts, "What We Do in the Shadows" continues to prove series adaptations of movies can be even better than the source material, and although "The Walking Dead" came to a conclusion with its 11th season, its multiple spin-offs are certain to keep its spirit shambling along for years to come. But what if you're looking for something off the beaten path?

The good news is that there's a whole world of horror television lurking in the shadows, hungrily waiting for its next captive audience. From old-school anthology series to a Danish supernatural hospital drama, or even obscure relics of the Y2K age, we've put together a lineup of forgotten or simply underappreciated shows that are worth checking out. While some of these might take a little elbow grease...

The original is considered a horror classic, but the 11 Hellraiser movies have definitely received a mixed consensus since the franchise's inception. Hellraiser marks the directorial debut of horror master Clive Barker, an author who initially made a name for himself with his unique, gory horror tales on the page. After being disappointed with the adaptation of his short story, Rawhead Rex, Barker decided to make his own movie, securing a modest budget to adapt his novella The Hellbound Heart. This became 1987's Hellraiser, the iconic movie which first introduced audiences to Pinhead and the Cenobites nearly 40 years before the most recent entry, 2022's Hellraiser reboot.

Inspiring all 11 Hellraiser movies, The Hellbound Heart centers on an unscrupulous man who tries to escape the sadomasochistic demons he summons with an ancient puzzle box. The resulting Hellraiser movies would become a word-of-mouth success, while also going on to make a horror icon out of the iconic Cenobite Pinhead.

It’s time for a new episode of the Wtf Happened to This Horror Celebrity? (formerly known as Where in the Horror Are They Now), and with this one we’re looking at the life and career of a horror celebrity whose star is now on the rise. An actor who may have just recently secured his place as a genre icon. The celebrity in question is David Howard Thornton, who plays the role of Art the Clown in the Terrifier films and also took on the role of a homicidal Grinch in the holiday horror movie The Mean One. To find out all about Thornton, check out the video embedded above, which also features an interview with the actor.

Where in the Horror Are They Now was once an article series here on Arrow in the Head. The concept has been revived as a video series, and Wtf Happened to This Horror Celebrity?...

A new episode of our video series Wtf Happened to This Horror Celebrity? (formerly known as Where in the Horror Are They Now) has just been released, and in this one we’re digging into the career of horror host Svengoolie, whose hugely popular show airs nationwide on MeTV every Saturday night. Svengoolie, a.k.a. Rich Koz, has been in the horror hosting game since 1979, and you can find out all about his forty-plus year career in the video embedded above!

Where in the Horror Are They Now was once an article series here on Arrow in the Head. The concept has been revived as a video series, and Wtf Happened to This Horror Celebrity? will be going in depth on the lives and careers of some of our favorite horror talents and also find out where they are now and what they are up to!

The Svengoolie episode...

Director David Bruckner’s Hellraiser reboot just made a big and gooey splash on Hulu. In its messy aftermath, folks are discovering the old burning questions fans have long had about the world of Cenobites and chains: Are these creatures, created by Clive Barker, demons out of the actual biblical Hell, and is their menacing puzzle box (aka the Lament Configuration) a gateway to the whole of damnation, debasement, and diabolical disfiguration? Or is it something more… delicious? The original Pinhead in 1987 teased that they are “demons to some, angels to others.” So can these monsters represent a more heavenly glow? (And is that any better?)

Whenever a mortal encounters an angel in the Bible, Old Testament or New, the first sentence the angel heralds is: “Be not afraid.” Representatives of God on Earth are not easy on the eye, and very quick on the draw. They are not the cute cherubs of Sunday school,...

This weekend’s anticipated Hellraiser movie is being marketed as a reboot. All the trailers and ads tease of familiar sensations, and suggest that we’re going back to the original source material for Clive Barker’s twisted mingling of pleasure and pain, dominance and submission.

But in truth, this movie could almost function as a sequel to the original Hellraiser flicks—or at least the handful of early good ones before the series devolved into straight-to-vhs and DVD self-parody. The 2022 picture is a new story with all new characters that narratively does not revisit, even in passing, the psychosexual melodrama that everyone forgets underpins Barker’s original 1987 movie, as well as the Barker-penned novella it was based on, The Hellbound Heart. The original is a story about a small family where some members are decent and “normal,” like an oblivious father and his concerned twentysomething daughter, and some are...

This Halloween belongs to Pinhead with the arrival of Hulu’s reboot of Clive Barker’s gruesome, twisted psychosexual 1987 horror film, Hellraiser. There have been 11 films in the Hellraiser franchise, not counting additional novelizations, comics, and video games, so it’s safe to say that Pinhead has long been a horror icon. Sadly, while the lead leather-loving angel of torture remains popular, the same cannot be said for the many films in which Pinhead’s shown his studded face.

Let’s look down the dark decades of a cult classic horror franchise that’s sometimes brilliant, sometimes painful, and sometimes just a torture to watch.

11. Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)

When the film license for Hellraiser was about to expire at the beginning of the last decade, Dimension Films slammed this failure into production in a matter of weeks. It shows. This story of another bunch of idiotic sex freaks accidentally opening Pinhead...

“Hellraiser” is one of the handful of horror franchises that practically everyone knows about, even though hardly anyone’s seen most of its entries. That’s because this sprawling saga about supernatural extreme Bdsm enthusiasts, whose pursuit of physical sensation blurs the line between pleasure and pain, hasn’t had a film in wide release in more than 25 years.

Since then, the series has been kept alive, ever so barely, by squeaking out low-budget straight-to-video sequels that have little (and sometimes practically nothing) to do with the original movies. To take a journey through the entire “Hellraiser” franchise is so ill-advised, you half expect it’s something Pinhead would put his victims through. And here they are, ranked from worst to best.

11. “Hellraiser: Hellworld” (2005)

The lousiest “Hellraiser” sequel takes place in the real world — yes, the one you’re in right now — where the movie has spawned a popular online video game.

As we prepare for David Bruckner’s new take on Clive Barker‘s iconic text Hellraiser, what better time to re-evaluate the state of the franchise up to this point?

Even a cursory glance at the ten existing Hellraiser films reveals that not all Cenobite films are made equal. And while the top film is a given, what about the other slots?

Here are my definitive rankings…

10 – Hellraiser: Revelations (2011)

Like many major horror series in the 2000s and beyond, Hellraiser properties were driven by rights issues. Revelations suffers as a result. Dimension Films needed to release a new film or else they would lose the rights, so Revelations was rushed into production and made on the cheap.

Fans of the franchise decried the loss of Doug Bradley, who for the first time refused to reprise his role as Pinhead (let’s be honest: replacement Stephan Smith Collins never stood a chance). Still,...

If filmmaking is a puzzle, casting is a corner piece that, when chosen correctly, helps hold everything together. I recently told you about Coil’s Hellraiser soundtrack that almost was, but what about the cast? Clive Barker captured lightning in a bottle with his 1987 directorial debut, but here are some casting choices that could have impacted Hellraiser significantly.

Doug Bradley as Mover

Barker has known Doug Bradley since high school, so he allowed him his choice between two roles in Hellraiser: the Lead Cenobite or one of the mattress movers. As this was his first film, Bradley nearly chose to play the mover, because he thought it was important for the audience to see his face.

Thankfully, Bradley decided on the Lead Cenobite, and the rest is history. He became a horror icon, reprising the role in the next seven sequels, while Dave Atkins and Oliver Parker (who went on...

It's only a matter of weeks now until the dark priest of hell shows us all such sights with Hulu's new take on "Hellraiser." Based on Cliver Barker's novella "The Hellbound Heart," this new film from director David Bruckner ("The Night House") seems less concerned with whether it serves as a remake, reimagining, or sequel, and more with the prospect of making Pinhead scary again.

The film stars Hiam Abbass, Odessa A'zion, Adam Faison, Brandon Flynn, Aoife Hinds, Selina Lo, Drew Starkey, and Goran Visnjic. Little is known of what "Hellraiser" is all about besides another group of curious minds toying with the deadly Lament Configuration, but the brief synopsis shows that, much like Ashley Laurence's Kirsty Cotton, another poor soul is about to come face to face with the infamous leader of the Cenobites known as Pinhead:

In the all-new "Hellraiser," a young woman struggling with addiction...

Playing canonically fair with the "Hellraiser" film series is a tricky proposition. Although the first eight "Hellraiser" movies feature Doug Bradley as Pinhead, the franchise's central monster, few of them seem to interconnect in any kind of meaningful way. Clive Barker's original "Hellraiser" (1987) and Tony Randel's "Hellbound: Hellraiser II" (1988) feature many members of the same cast and follow the same continuity, but after that, the series becomes a little hazy. Anthony Hickox's "Hellraiser III: Hell On Earth" (1992) takes place in America and features a new protagonist and an altered version of Pinhead who now wants to cause mayhem on Earth. 

Kevin Yagher's "Hellraiser: Bloodline" (1996) was the series' last attempt to keep continuity clear, working the events of "Hellraiser III" into a broader "Hellraiser" myth. "Bloodline" covers both the invention of the Lemarchant Configuration and the death of Pinhead in the distant future. 

"Hellraiser: Inferno" (2000), "Hellraiser: Hellseeker...

A new episode of our Wtf Happened to This Horror Movie? video series has just been released, and with this one we’re looking back at a 1992 film that you may not have seen – and if you haven’t, you really should check it out as soon as possible. The movie in question is Mikey (watch it Here), and it’s awesome! To find out all about it, watch the video embedded above.

Directed by Dennis Dimster from a screenplay written by Jonathan Glassner, Mikey has the following synopsis:

After each member of his family has died in unexplained accidents, young Mikey, a seemingly innocent and sweet little boy, is placed with an adoptive family. The family will discover the boy’s true personality at their own expense. Remember, Jason and Freddy were kids once, too.

The film stars Brian Bonsall, Josie Bissett, Ashley Laurence, John Diehl, Mimi Craven, Whitby Hertford,...

Frank, ya basic!

After looking at two very different types of queer-coded bromances in Robert Eggers’ The Lighthouse and Rob Underwood’s Tremors, we took a trip to Poland to analyze the trans allegory in the mermaid horror musical The Lure. This week, we’re heading back into the twisted mind of Clive Barker to discuss his infamous directorial debut, Hellraiser, on the week of its 35th anniversary!

In the film, hedonist Frank (Sean Chapman) inadvertently opens a portal to hell when he tinkers with a box he bought while abroad. The act unleashes gruesome beings called Cenobites, who tear Frank’s body apart. When Frank’s brother Larry (Andrew Robinson) and his wife Julia (Clare Higgins) move into Frank’s old house, they accidentally bring what is left of Frank back to life. Frank then convinces Julia, his one-time lover, to lure men back to the house so he...

"Hellraiser" is like many horror franchises in that it starts out with a classic and gets off a couple of worthy sequels before turning into absolute dreck. It is, however, unlike your typical slasher series in that there's no reason it should go sailing off the rails.

The premise is evergreen: in a moment of curiosity, a person futzes around with the Lament Configuration, unleashes the sadomasochistic Cenobites, and scrambles to bargain their way out of, or simply forestall, eternal torture. Clive Barker's first film juxtaposed the wanton sexual adventurousness of Frank (Sean Chapman) and Julia Cotton (Clare Higgins) against the teenage innocence of their niece/stepdaughter Kirsty (Ashley Laurence). Director Tony Randel continued this narrative with the wondrously depraved "Hellbound: Hellraiser II," while Anthony Hickox broke off from the Cottons for the interesting "Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth." The next six sequels were excruciatingly awful.

This streak of...

Hulu has announced that its reimagining of the 1987 horror classic Hellraiser will debut exclusively on the streamer in the U.S., as part of its annual “Huluween” celebration of fright-filled content, on October 7.

The original film, which introduced horror fans to the iconic monster known as Pinhead, watches as a woman comes upon the newly resurrected, partially formed body of her brother-in-law. She then starts killing for him to revitalize his body, so that he can escape the demonic beings that have been pursuing him after he himself made his way out of their sadistic underworld. Clive Barker directed the pic from his own script, which was itself based on his 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart, with Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Andrew Robinson, Sean Chapman, Robert Hines, Doug Bradley, Nicholas Vince, Simon Bamford, Grace Kirby and Oliver Smith starring.

The Advent Calendar Trailer: "Shudder, AMC Networks’ streamer for horror, thrillers and the supernatural will premiere writer/director Patrick Ridremont’s ornate and elegant French horror fantasy The Advent Calendar exclusively on Thursday, December 9th. Combining Faustian themes and allusions with European folklore and tense, chilling terror, the Shudder Original film provides some highly original holiday season horror.

Eva, an ex-dancer, is now using a wheelchair, unable to walk. When her friend Sophie gives her an old wooden antique advent calendar before Christmas, she realizes each window contains a surprise that triggers repercussions in real life. Some of them are good, but most of them are bad, really bad. Now Eva will have to choose between getting rid of the calendar or walking again – even if it causes death and destruction to everyone she holds dear around her.

The Advent Calendar world premiered earlier this year at London’s Frightfest...

All 22,000 plus voting members of the TV academy have until June 28 to cast their 2021 Emmy Awards nominations ballots for programs. Unlike the Oscars, voters for the Emmys do not rank their choices and nominees are determined by a simple tally. In the past, voters were limited in the number of programs that they could put forth. Four years ago that cap (which was usually 10 per category) was lifted.

While the comedy and drama series ballots have each maintained an average of over 100 entrants in recent years, there have nearly always been fewer than 40 choices in the limited series genre. There are 37 shows on the list this year, which is down by four from last year. There were 35 in 2019, 33 in 2018, and 25 in 2017. Five series from the list below will make the cut and be announced as Emmy nominees on July 13.

See 2021 Emmy nominations ballot: 1,865 performers vie for your consideration (that is...

Just a reminder that your friendly neighborhood Creeper will be on your screens in two days with an all new season of Creepshow. Creepshow, the highly-anticipated anthology series based on the 1982 horror comedy classic, is still the most fun you’ll ever have being scared! A comic book comes to life in a series of vignettes, exploring terrors ranging from murder, creatures, monsters, and delusions to the supernatural and unexplainable. You never know what will be on the next page. This season on Creepshow the series will features Josh McDermitt (The Walking Dead), Ashley Laurence (Hellraiser), Keith David (Greenleaf), Ryan Kwanten (Sacred Lies, True Blood), Breckin Meyer (Franklin & Bash), Eric Edelstein (Twin Peaks), Barbara Crampton (Reborn), C Thomas Howell (The Terror), Iman Benson (#BlackAF), Ted Raimi (Ash vs Evil Dead), Denise Crosby (Star Trek: The Next Generation), Kevin Dillon (Entourage) and others. Episode Descriptions: Episode 201 April 1, 2021 Model Kid Joe doesn’t have many friends,...

Shudder has released the first trailer for Creepshow season 2. In addition, the horror streaming service has revealed that fans will finally be able to see the second season on April 1st. Production on season 2 was supposed to kick off in March of 2020, but it was forced to shut down, due to the public health crisis. Producer and showrunner Greg Nicotero, along with his team did not stop working though. Instead, they were able to deliver two specials, A Creepshow Animated Special and A Creepshow Holiday Special in 2020, which was enough to hold fans over.

Creepshow season 2 was able to begin filming in September 2020, as the cast and crew followed strict health and safety protocols. Along with the filming announcement, Shudder and Greg Nicotero revealed the new cast. https://tvweb.com/creepshow-season-2-production-start/|Anna Camp, Adam Pally, Josh McDermitt, Keith David, and Ashley Laurence were cast for the second season. Later in October 2020, Marilyn Manson,...

Even more Creepshow season 2 casting has been revealed, pulling together a group of familiar horror faces for Shudder’s streaming series. It was previously announced that Anna Camp, Keith David, Ashley Laurence, Josh McDermitt, and Adam Pally were all on board for the second season. Now, Barbara Crampton, Denise Crosby, Ted Raimi, Marilyn Manson, and many more have signed on to be […]

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