News

From the genius Under the Skin to Alex Garland's Ex Machina and the big-budget, Timothée Chalamet-led Dune: Part Two, the 21st century has graced audiences with some of the finest sci-fi movies of all time. However, with the good inevitably comes the bad, with many citing Jon Amiel's 2003 sci-fi disaster The Core as one of the worst, despite a strong cast and an impressive 2003 budget working in its favor.

Loathed for its nonsensical premise and a complete and utter disregard for the science element of science-fiction, The Core received just 39% from critics and an even worse 34% from audiences on review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. However, over 20 years later, the film has found unlikely success, thanks in no small part to the ever-present desire for Aaron Eckhart and Hilary Swank movies. Officially, as of July 14, 2025, The Core is one of the ten most-streamed titles on Tubi in the U.

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Agatha Christie in on record speaking about how much she tended to dislike film and TV adaptations of her own work. Generally speaking, she hated the tendency filmmakers had toward making her murder mysteries into whimsical, comedic farces. Christie had some especially harsh words for actress Margaret Rutherford, who played a slapstick version of Miss Marple in three Christie-based films in the 1960s. The author was even barred (by her friends) from watching certain adaptations, as they would most certainly have elicited months of complaints. This is one of the main reasons actor David Suchet took the role of Hercule Poirot so seriously for the celebrated BBC series "Agatha Christie's Poirot" from 1989. 

Of course, Christie's murder mysteries were so naturally cinematic, that filmmakers were drawn to them repeatedly during the author's decades-long writing career. The very first film adaptation of...

Only deep-cut horror fans may know that there are 11 extant "Hellraiser" movies. Clive Barker kicked off the property by writing and directing 1987's "Hellraiser," itself based on Barker's novella "The Hellbound Heart." The film revolved around a mysterious wooden puzzle box -- the Lament Configuration -- that, when solved, could summon a cadre of terrifying Cenobites from a parallel dimension. The Cenobites are essentially undead sadomasochists who appear to torture their summoners to death. Being S&m junkies, however, the torture is meant to be the ultimate sexual experience. For them, pain and pleasure are one and the same.

In 1988, there was a theatrical followup titled "Hellbound: Hellraiser II." Directed by Tony Randel, the sequel took the sexual obsessions of the first movie into deeply surreal territory; a large portion of the sequel is set in Hell, a maze-like realm overseen by a sentient, building-sized obelisk called Leviathan. The third "Hellraiser" film,...

It’s Time!

After kicking off February with Tom Ford’s Nocturnal Animals (listen), Trace and I celebrated Valentine’s Day with Mitchell Lichtenstein’s Teeth (listen). Now we’re ready to dive into our first Amityville film on the pod with a look at Tony Randel‘s Amityville: It’s About Time (1992).

In the film, after returning home from New York with an antique clock, family patriarch Jacob (Stephen Macht) is mauled in a horrific animal attack. His ex-girlfriend Andrea (Shawn Weatherly) is forced to stay in his house and look after him and his two teenage children: “juvenile delinquent” Rusty (Damon Martin) and virginal Lisa (Megan Ward). But as the clock takes literal root in the house, time becomes slippery and several characters begin acting oddly.

Why is Lisa becoming a teenage vamp? Did Rusty really vandalize the neighbor’s property? Is Jacob’s leg infected with gangrene or eeeeeevil?...

Take a bite…

After closing out January with a trip to the prom in Carrie (listen) and kicking off February with a look at Tom Ford’s Academy Award-nominated thriller Nocturnal Animals (listen), we’re feeling festive for Valentine’s Day as we check out Mitchell Lichtenstein‘s vagina dentata-centered horror comedy Teeth!

In Teeth, high school student Dawn (Jess Weixler) is an active member of her high-school chastity club, but when she meets Tobey (Hale Appleman), she finds it more and more difficult to resist her sexual urges. When a date goes horribly awry, Dawn suddenly learns that she is a living example of the vagina dentata myth and must learn to control her naughty gnashers before they can claim another classmate’s penis.

Be sure to subscribe to the podcast to get a new episode every Wednesday. You can subscribe on iTunes/Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, SoundCloud,...

The 1990s was a fun decade for the horror genre, with many productions turning into unintentionally hilarious films years later. The '80s saw a peak in the horror genre, and by the time the '90s had rolled around, far less inspired films were being released. The '90s are considered a transition period in the horror genre, allowing filmmakers to play around and experiment, which ultimately produced a lot of films that were less than innovative.

Many of these films are considered rip-offs of the decades' accomplished releases, or they were simply unable to concoct a unique and compelling story of their own. Though the critical and commercial response to these films wasn't the best at the time of their original release, they went on to garner a cult following, being appreciated for their unintended campy tones. Films like Ticks, The Dentist, and Troll 2 have a pleasant...

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,...

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...

Stars: Harry Giubileo, Jay O’Connell, Ivan du Pontavice, Johnny Vivash, Howard J Davey, David Lenik | Written and Directed by William Stead

Children of the Night (no relation to the Tony Randel-directed film from 1991) is a first for Charlie Steeds’ company Dark Temple Motion Pictures. Where their previous films such as Freeze and The Barge People have all been Steeds’ own productions, this time they served as producers for the debut feature from writer/director William Stead. Regular readers know I’m a fan of Steed’s films, so of course I was curious to see if his talents extended to producing other filmmakers’ work.

During World War II a German attack on an English position leaves two survivors, Jim and Robert wandering the French countryside trying to reach Normandy.

Sheltering overnight in a church they narrowly escape detection by a group of German soldiers one of whom was attacked...

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.

Jacques Haitkin, the cinematographer on the first two Nightmare on Elm Street films as well as myriad other horror and action movies, has died. He passed on March, 21 after a battle with Als and Leukemia, according to a Facebook post by his son Zak Haitkin. He was 72.

More recently, Haitkin had worked as second unit director of photography or camera operator on some of the industry’s biggest titles, including Black Panther, Venom, Captain America: Civil War (and Winter Soldier), Furious 7, The Fate of the Furious, Captain Phillips, The Expendables, X-Men: First Class, X-Men: The Last Stand and Kong: Skull Island.

Below is his son Zac’s statement.

I am deeply saddened to announce that my dad, Jacques Haitkin passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at the age of 72 in San Francisco, CA after a long and courageous battle with Als and Leukemia. Despite the challenges that he faced,...

As the beginning of his IMDb bio states, “Every horror film buff will recognize the name Jacques Haitkin.” Haitkin was the cinematographer on one of the most popular horror movies ever made, the 1984 Wes Craven classic A Nightmare on Elm Street (watch it Here). And while Craven didn’t return to the helm for A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy’s Revenge, Haitkin did return to be the cinematographer on that sequel. Sadly, we have to share the news today that Jacques Haitkin is no longer with us. This news was broken on the Facebook account of filmmaker Tony Randel, who is best known for directing Hellbound: Hellraiser II and worked with Haitkin on Galaxy of Terror, Ticks, Fist of the North Star, Rattled, One Good Turn, and Assignment Berlin.

Randel posted, “I knew Jacques Haitkin practically my entire career. We met on a Roger Corman horror/sci-fi epic – Galaxy of Terror.

Twice a month Joe Lipsett will dissect a new Amityville Horror film to explore how the “franchise” has evolved in increasingly ludicrous directions. This is “The Amityville IP.”

Despite featuring the most awkward title yet, it’s my pleasure to report that Amityville 1992: It’s About Time is a top-tier entry in the Amityville Horror series.

Thanks primarily to assured direction by Hellbound: Hellraiser 2’s Tony Randel and a wild script from writers Christopher DeFaria and Antonio Toro (based loosely on a book by John G. Jones), the sixth entry in the Amityville series is a genuine delight from top to bottom.

Many of the franchise’s key elements are here: the iconic windows, a widowed character, the dysfunctional family, goopy practical FX, and a new cursed object. Here it’s a clock, which is immediately described by a character as “ugly,” continuing a trend that began with the lamp in The Evil Escapes.

The mythology of "Hellraiser" is well known to Clive Barker fans the world over. Certain determined souls, having exhausted the sensual pleasures available to the earthly plane, seek out the Lament Configuration as a means of pushing themselves further. The configuration is a puzzle box that is solved by rotating it just such and sliding one's fingers carefully across a smooth surface. When manipulated correctly, the box slides apart, rotates, and slides back together. When solved, the box ethereally reaches across dimensions to a realm of pure physical experience.

Stepping out of this realm are the Cenobites, supernatural sadomasochists whose own search for the ultimate lustful pleasure has pushed them into a space of constant sensory overload. Their bodies are mutilated with hooks, wires, and nails. They wear black leather outfits that are a cross between S&m fetish wear and a heavy-duty toolbelt. They carry handheld torture devices around their waists.

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...

Clive Barker's novella "The Hellbound Heart," first published in 1986, tells the story of a man named Frank who has experienced everything he feels he can sexually. In seeking a more intense experience, he turns to a mystical puzzle box, said to offer the ultimate sensual pleasure. In solving it, Frank summons a group of beings called Cenobites. "Cenobite" is simply a word for someone who belongs to a monastery. The Cenobites have patches of skin skillfully sliced off their bodies, and are all mutilated to the point of not looking human. They bleed. They are in constant pain.

The lead Cenobite, described as being androgynous, with a feminine voice and elaborate nails decorating their bare head and face, explains that they have reached a level of physical experience beyond sensory overload, and their extreme version of sadomasochism has taught them that pain and pleasure are indivisible. The Cenobites drag...

Christopher Young‘s brilliant Hellraiser score is nearly as synonymous with the film as Pinhead — but if writer-director Clive Barker had his way, the soundtrack would have been composed by British industrial music pioneers Coil.

Barker first became aware of Coil through Forbidden Planet, the UK’s enduring genre bookshop where band member Stephen Thrower worked. When Barker happened into the store, Thrower mentioned that he was a fan of his Books of Blood, and the two hit it off. Thrower eventually played him some of Coil’s music, and Barker was immediately won over.

Barker was quoted as saying that Coil is “the only group I’ve heard on disc whose records I’ve taken off because they made my bowels churn.” That’s high praise coming from the master of the macabre. Shortly after completing the script for Hellraiser, he told Coil that he wanted them to compose the music.

Subscribe To The New Arrow In The Head Show Youtube Channel Here!

As announced earlier this week, The Arrow in the Head Show – which used to be released through the JoBlo Horror Originals YouTube channel – has now migrated over to its own YouTube channel. Today, we have the first new episode since the big move, and in this one hosts John “The Arrow” Fallon and Lance Vlcek are joined by Tyler Nichols to discuss the 1992 film Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (watch it Here).

JoBlo and Arrow in the Head readers might know Tyler Nichols from the reviews he writes for the site, or from the JoBlo Horror Originals videos he writes, narrates, and/or produces.

This episode of The Arrow in the Head Show is certainly not a Hellraiser III lovefest. In fact, The Arrow opens the conversation by comparing the first two Hellraiser movies to filet mignon and...

"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...

Clive Barker's "Hellraiser" came with a seal of approval from Stephen King, and his famous quote ("I have seen the future of horror. His name is Clive Barker.") was touted widely in the film's advertising. But it was more than King's endorsement that allowed Barker's 1987 film to become a modest success: "Hellraiser" is one of the more striking horror films of its decade, sporting a mythology based in sadomasochism, lust, and interdimensional/demonic travel via a centuries-old puzzle box. In "Hellraiser," opening said puzzle — the Lament Configuration — summons a group of terrifying and mutilated sadomasochistic doms,...

The post Why Hellraiser II Director Tony Randel Was a Nervous Wreck For The First Few Weeks Of Filming appeared first on /Film.

Based on his 1986 novel "The Hellbound Heart," Clive Barker's 1987 film "Hellraiser" is one of the best and most striking horror films of its decade. Predicated on lust, infidelity, and supernatural acts of sadomasochism, "Hellraiser" plays like a blood-soaked, myth-heavy rendition of Walt Whitman's "I Sing the Body Electric," wherein flesh is the only gauge by which one measures divinity. Or, in the case of "Hellraiser," demonic interior. "Hellraiser," and Tony Randel's 1988 sequel "Hellbound: Hellraiser II," have lost none of their visceral power over the years, and contemporary horror fans may still recoil from the films' extreme blood, open sexuality, and surreal imagery. 

"Hellraiser" is about an...

The post This Hellraiser Scene Hit Fans The Hardest appeared first on /Film.

Hello, everyone! As we get ready to head into December, we have one last round of home media releases for this month on tap first. If you haven’t had a chance to check out James Wan’s Malignant yet, Warner Bros. is releasing it on both Blu-ray and DVD, and A24 is finally bringing Saint Maud home this Tuesday, too. Both Summer of 84 and Ticks are getting the 4K treatment, and Severin Films is showing some love to Ruggero Deodato’s Raiders of Atlantis as well.

Other titles being released on November 30th include Wild Indian and The Last Matinee.

Malignant

“Malignant” marks director James Wan’s return to his roots with this new original horror thriller. In the film, a woman is paralyzed by shocking visions of grisly murders, and her torment worsens as she discovers that these waking dreams are in fact terrifying realities.

Raiders of Atlantis...

Enjoy the pleasure and pain of paradise as we wrap up our retrospective series on the Hellraiser franchise on this episode of Daily Dead's official podcast!

Following in the footsteps of Dante's trip through the domains of the dead in the Divine Comedy, we conclude our Hellraiser retrospective series by visiting the "Heaven" of the fiery franchise: Clive Barker's Hellraiser and Tony Randel's Hellbound: Hellraiser II.

Corpse Club co-hosts Bryan Christopher and Jonathan James are once again joined by special guests Joe Lipsett (co-host of the Horror Queers podcast) and Annie Rose Malamet, who help guide us through true paradise as we discuss the first two Hellraiser films, including their mind-searing portrayals of pleasurable pain, their unforgettable practical effects, and the introductions of Doug Bradley's iconic character Pinhead and Ashley Laurence as the ever-resourceful Kirsty Cotton.

So, whether you've summoned Cenobites before or you've never laid eyes on the Lament Configuration,...

Shudder has a packed August lineup that should excite any horror fan, including exclusive premieres, classic titles, and special events. Here's a look at their offerings:

From the Press Release:

Host (premieres Thursday, July 30)

Six friends hire a medium to hold a séance over Zoom during lockdown but get far more than they bargain for as things quickly go wrong. Host was shot remotely during quarantine and features practical scares, stunts, and surprises, all filmed by the actors in their own homes. Director Rob Savage (Dawn of the Deaf) never set foot in the same room as his actors at any point during production and instead directed them remotely. Starring: Haley Bishop (Deep State), Radina Drandova (Dawn of the Deaf), Edward Linard (The Rebels), Jemma Moore (Doom: Annihilation), Caroline Ward (Stalling It) and Emma Louise Webb (The Crown). A Shudder Original (Also available on Shudder Canada and Shudder UK)

LA Llorona (premieres Thursday,...

Horror TV has been huge these past couple years, and so it makes sense that the powers that be behind the scenes have finally gotten their act together and will be bringing us a series based on Clive Barker's Hellraiser. This new series is headed our way from It producer Roy Lee and Ready Player One producer Dan Farah.

Lee and Farah will be joining forces with producer-rightsholders Lawrence Kuppin, David Salzman and Eric Gardner to bring Pinhead and his fellow Cenobites to the small screen for the first time ever. Kuppin, Salzman, and Gardner have controlled the TV rights to Barker's tale since 1989 when New World Pictures was sold.

Evidently, the producers are currently searching for a writer and a showrunner to take the lead on the planned Cenobite series and will then begin pitching ideas to networks and various streaming platforms. They plan to use the mythology...

"Your suffering will be legendary, even in hell!" A 10-hour Hellraiser marathon at The Montalban is part of the theater's "Hellraiser Meets Hollywood" event, raising eyelids on October 14th. Also: new Haunted Live episode details, Scare Slam at London Horror Festival lineup revealed, and Camp Death 3 in 2D details and trailer.

Hellraiser Marathon Details: Press Release: "October 4, 2018 – Scream! And scream again!! Nostalgic Nebula, in partnership with The Montalbán, presents Hellraiser Meets Hollywood, a special 10-hour celebration of horror legend Clive Barker’s immortal Hellraiser series on Sunday, October 14, 2018, from 12:00 noon until 10:00 p.m. The event will kick off inside the gorgeous 1920s theater then move upstairs to the rooftop at 6:00 p.m. for the second half of the program. A matinee screening of Hellraiser (1987) will start at 2:30 p.m. Next, horror fanatics will be treated to a special onstage interview with the Hellraiser composer Christopher Young,...

Five cult classics, including The House on Sorority Row, are being revived on the big screen by Bloody Disgusting for their "Retro Nightmares" cinema series kicking off on September 27th. Also in today's Horror Highlights: Travel Channel's "Ghostober" programming details, the latest addition to Mezco's Living Dead Dolls line, and the Indiegogo campaign for Masters of the Grind.

Bloody Disgusting's Retro Nightmares Film Series Details: Press Release: "Just in time to kick off the Halloween season, five HD digitally remastered cult horror classics--as voted online by fans--will be coming to the big screen as part of the “Bloody Disgusting Presents Retro Nightmares” Cinema Series this fall: The House on Sorority Row, Amityville: The Evil Escapes, Amityville: It’s About Time, Sweet Sixteen, and The Convent. Tickets are on sale now at www.Retronightmares.com for theaters nationwide.

Preeminent American horror genre website Bloody Disgusting, independent distribution company Multicom Entertainment Group,...

Released in theaters a little more than 14 months after its predecessor, Hellbound: Hellraiser II had the unenviable task of following up one of the most innovative and boundary-pushing genre films of the 1980s. Tony Randel took over the directorial duties on Hellbound, and he did a brilliant job sidestepping the pitfalls that can often trip up a sequel film effort, ambitiously blazing a new path in the Hellraiser universe by taking viewers into the labyrinthine realm of Leviathan and providing fans with a greater understanding of the franchise’s Cenobite antiheroes as well. Hellraiser II also introduces one of the series’ most dominant and unforgettable villains by way of Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham) and transforms Hellraiser’s wicked stepmother Julia (Clare Higgins) into a bona fide evil queen.

Simply put, Hellraiser II is a perfect example of what every filmmaker at the helm of a sequel should aspire to achieve,...

Arrow Video wants fans to experience the pleasures contained within their recent The Scarlet Box limited edition set featuring the first three Hellraiser films in HD as well as a bounty of special features that will keep you busy for hours on end. If you’ve been looking to add Clive Barker’s influential and unforgettable original Hellraiser film—or its first two sequels—to your home media collections, you can’t go wrong with The Scarlet Box.

Some things have to be endured. That’s what makes the pleasure so sweet.

Barker’s Hellraiser, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, pushed the boundaries of cinematic horror in ways audiences had never experienced before. Based on his novella The Hellbound Heart, Barker’s feature film adaptation introduces us to Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman), whose soul is transported to a hellish dimension after acquiring a mysterious puzzle box that summons demonic forces.

December 20th doesn’t boast a lot of home entertainment releases for horror and sci-fi fans, but what we are getting is an eclectic assortment of Blu-rays and DVDs all the same.

If you missed Rob Zombie’s latest film during its brief theatrical and VOD runs, 31 arrives on both Blu-ray and DVD this Tuesday for you to catch up on all the murderous mayhem just in time for the holidays.

Arrow Video is releasing their limited edition Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box trilogy, which is a must-own set for any Clive Barker fan out there, and also coming home December 20th is The Disappointments Room with Kate Beckinsale and Doctor Who: Series Eight, Part Two.

31 (Lionsgate, Blu/Digital HD & DVD)

From the visionary mind of Rob Zombie comes the horrific story of five carnival workers who are kidnapped on Halloween and held hostage in a large compound. At the mercy of their captors,...

Arrow Video has a few items for horror fans to place under the tree and slip into stockings this holiday season, and we have full release details and cover art for their December Blu-ray releases of Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box Limited Edition Trilogy, Creepshow 2, and The Driller Killer (which is now slated for a December 13th release).

Press Release:Mvd Entertainment Group furthers the distribution of Arrow Video in the Us with three great new titles in December. The biggest release of the the month is Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box Limited Edition Trilogy, a limited edition run of 10,000 deluxe box-sets featuring Clive Barker's iconic and seminal horror classic Hellraiser. Arriving just in time for Christmas on December 13th, this exclusive box set will include the first three films in the Hellraiser saga alongside an abundance of bonus materials and never-before-seen footage.

The horror continues with the...

Arrow Video just made Us Hellraiser fans Very happy. Just in time for Christmas, they're releasing Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box in December, bringing restored versions of the first three Hellraiser films to Blu-ray with an extensive set of bonus features:

New Us Title Announcement: Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box

Release Date: December 13th - Pre-order links should be live next week!

Region: A

It Will Tear Your Soul Apart

Stephen King was once quoted as saying: “I have seen the future of horror… his name is Clive Barker.” That future became reality when, in 1987, Barker unleashed his directorial debut Hellraiser – launching a hit franchise and creating an instant horror icon in the formidable figure of Pinhead.

Barker’s original Hellraiser, based on his novella The Hellbound Heart, follows Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence) as she comes head-to-head with the Cenobites – demonic beings from another realm who are intent on reclaiming...

Wanna know how some of your favorite sounds, action sequences, or visual effects were created? Daily Dead got a chance to do a Q&A with the VFX Legion team who worked on The Purge: Anarchy, Hardcore Henry, Ouija, and more. Also in today’s Horror Highlights: a Sharkansas Women’s Prison Massacre Blu-ray clip and trailer as well as three promo videos for Sadako vs Kayako.

Daily Dead Q&A with the VFX Legion Team, Breakdown Reel and Images:

Thanks for taking the time to answer some questions for us. Can you give our readers an idea of what the VFX Legion team does to improve the look of a film and enhance the cinematic experience for viewers?

There are a lot of things that make up a movie. There’s sound, acting, locations, lighting, editing, and often times, visual effects. There are a ton of aspects to visual effects.

Myth became reality last week when us hardcore horror fans were gifted with the long-rumoured deleted “Surgeon Scene” from Tony Randel’s awesome Hellbound: Hellraiser II. The deleted scene was included in Arrow’s “Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box Limited Edition Trilogy,” which included the never-before-seen footage that was excised from the VHS workprint edition of Hellbound. The reaction was overly […]...

Sharkansas Women’s Prison Massacre on Blu-ray will debut courtesy of Scream Factory on May 3rd. Also in this round-up: release details for We Go On and Alienated.

Sharkansas Women’s Prison Massacre: Press Release: “Get ready for a wild ride when Dominque Swain (Skin Traffik, Alpha Dog) and Traci Lords (Cry Baby, Not of this Earth) come face to face with the deadliest prehistoric man-eaters nature has ever spawned when the uproarious Sharkansas Women’S Prison Massacre Blu-ray™ debuts May 3rd, 2016 from Scream Factory™. Directed by cult filmmaker Jim Wynorski (Chopping Mall, The Return of Swamp Thing), this high-camp, creature-feature also stars Cindy Lucas (America Pie Presents: The Book of Love), Christine Nguyen (Get Him to the Greek), Corey Landis (Chrysalis), John Callahan (Falcon Crest) and Amy Holt (Dinocroc vs. Supergator).

Available for the first time on Digital, On-Demand, DVD and Blu-ray, Sharkansas Women’S Prison Massacre Blu-ray and...

By Darren Allison

Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box Limited Edition Trilogy 1987-1992 Directed by Clive Barker, Tony Randel, Anthony Hickox, Starring Doug Bradley, Andy Robinson, Ashley Laurence, Claire Higgins, Kenneth Cranham, Terry Farrell, Kevin Bernhardt. Arrow Blu-ray 4 Disc, Released on 26th October 2015.

Stephen King was once quoted as saying: “I have seen the future of horror… his name is Clive Barker.” The future became a reality when, in 1987, Barker unleashed his directorial debut Hellraiser, launching a hit franchise and creating an instant horror icon in the formidable figure of Pinhead.

Arrow’s beautifully produced Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box, has arguably for the first time, been afforded the prestige it fully deserves. The collection works very nicely in deed, mainly because its focus revolves around creator Clive Barker’s involvement in the franchise. Whilst Barker had a small interest in the fourth instalment Hellraiser IV: Bloodline, it would be the...

*Updated with full list of bonus features and new photos.* Just in time for Halloween, Arrow Video will release fresh 2k restorations of Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, and Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, complete with plenty of bonus feature goodies in the Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box UK Blu-ray set.

Slated for an October 26th release in the UK, Hellraiser: The Scarlet Box includes the Hellraiser: Evolutions documentary, a 200-page hardcover book examining Clive Barker's Hellraiser universe, and much more.

From Arrow Video: "Stephen King was once quoted as saying: “I have seen the future of horror… his name is Clive Barker.” That future became reality when, in 1987, Barker unleashed his directorial debut Hellraiser – launching a hit franchise and creating an instant horror icon in the formidable figure of Pinhead.

Barker’s original Hellraiser, based on his novella The Hellbound Heart, follows Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence) as...

With every horror fan’s favorite time of year just right around the corner, I thought it would be fun to put together a list of 31 genre-related titles currently available on Netflix Instant that undoubtedly will get you ready for the Halloween season.

Happy Haunting!

Invaders from Mars (Tobe Hooper)

David is the only one who knows the truth about the aliens invading his small town in this remake of the 50s science-fiction classic.

Re-Animator (Stuart Gordon)

Based on a story by H.P. Lovecraft, this campy send-up follows an egotistical medical student who develops a serum that miraculously revives the dead.

Fright Night (Tom Holland)

When Charley Brewster discovers that his suave new neighbor is a vampire, he seeks help from actor Peter Vincent, famed for portraying a ghoul hunter.

Creepshow 2 (Michael Gornick)

Join the rotting but amiable Creep as he introduces this anthology of three gruesome tales written by the master of horror,...

Reviewed by Grace Fontaine, MoreHorror.com

Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)

Director: Tony Randel

Writers: Clive Barker (story), Peter Atkins (screenplay)

Starring: Clare Higgins as Julia Cotton

Ashley Laurence as Kirsty Cotton

Kenneth Cranham as Dr. Philip Channard/Channard Cenobite

William Hope as Kyle MacRae

Imogen Boorman as Tiffany

Doug Bradley as Pinhead/Captain Elliot Spencer

Nicholas Vince as Chatterer/Chatterer II

Simon Bamford as Butterball Cenobite

Barbie Wilde as Female Cenobite

Sean Chapman as Frank Cotton

Hellbound: Hellraiser II could have been an unquestionably inferior sequel to the amazing first film if it had been placed into the hands of a director who had a conflicting visionary approach to material that had been strongly established by Clive Barker, but wouldn’t you know it, director Tony Randel delivers one of those few follow ups that manages to stand on its own merits and follow suit to its predecessor.

After the unusual...

Back in November we told you about an upcoming documentary called Leviathan, the latest addition to the growing trend of comprehensive fan-made docs which will cover the making of both Hellraiser and its first sequel.

Today comes the exciting word that production is nearing completion, and you'll find full details by opening up that weird box that sits in front of you...

... or by simply reading on, if you prefer.

After wrapping interviews with the original film's third assistant director, Rupert Ryle-Hodges, as well as make-up effects artists Beverly Pond-Jones and Simon Sayce, the latter of whom designed and created the iconic puzzle box, the UK portion of the documentary's production is now completed.

Sayce shared never-before-seen original design images for the Lament Configuration box and even revealed hidden meanings within the box's design. All of that information will be included as part of the documentary in addition to a...

Just how far would you go to attain physical perfection? What would you be willing to do to hold onto that beauty once it’s within your grasp? How much would a compromise like that cost: financially, morally, and physically? Being beautiful isn’t easy and there are so many factors that you need to take into consideration: the mass murder, the resurrections, the cannibalism, the head-hoarding, the upkeep of an immortal body steadily declining into rot and, of course, locating somebody tight-lipped enough who’ll supply you with fetal-flavored dumplings as a starter.

The intention of this column is to cast a net over some ladies in the horror genre whose evil grooming techniques resulted in flawless skin, great hair, a high-body count and their own inevitable annihilation.

A word of advice: don’t try any of these beauty regime at home, kids.

Hellbound: Hellraiser 2: Julia Cotton (dir:...

I grew up in rural Virginia. Numerous un-huggable critters roam the woodlands, and it's not unusual to encounter snakes, leeches, and swarms of mosquitoes. But none of these hold quite as much power as the tick. I have seen grown men – mannish men who like cars and sports and hunting stuff – reduced to pale, quivering blobs because a single tick burrowed neck-deep into their apparently tender flesh. I have come to know ticks as one of the great fear equalizers: no matter how tough you are, all bets are off when ticks come into play. In 1993, executive producer Brian Yuzna (Re-Animator) and director Tony Randel (Hellbound: Hellraiser II) created a now hard-to-find flick about these bloodsucking beasts. Welcome to this week’s installment of The Unseen: Ticks (a.k.a. Infested, a.k.a. C2). Ticks (which is the title I have always known it as) received a lot of...

Tiff’s Midnight Madness program turned 25 this year, and for two and half decades, the hardworking programers have gathered some of the strangest, most terrifying, wild, intriguing and downright entertaining films from around the world. From dark comedies to Japanese gore-fests and indie horror gems, the Midnight Madness program hasn’t lost its edge as one the leading showcases of genre cinema. In its 25-year history, Midnight Madness has introduced adventurous late-night moviegoers to such cult faves as Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused and Quentin Tarantino’s Reservoir Dogs. But what separates Midnight Madness from, say, Montreal’s three and half week long genre festival Fantasia, is that Tiff selects only ten films to make the cut. In other words, these programmers don’t mess around. Last week I decided that I would post reviews of my personal favourite films that screened in past years. And just like the Tiff programmers,...

Reviewed by Chris Wright, MoreHorror.com

Directed By: Tony Randel

Written By: John G. Jones, Christopher DeFaria, Antonio Toro

Starring: Stephen Macht (Jacob Sterling), Shawn Weatherly (Andrea Livingston), Megan Ward (Lisa Sterling), Damon Martin (Rusty Sterling), Jonathan Penner (Dr. Leonard Stafford), Nita Talbot (Iris Wheeler), Dean Cochran (Andy)

Some horror fans automatically have a negative connotation attached to franchises with a lot of sequels. Moreover, some have antipathy toward direct to video sequels and make assumptions that because they were not in the theater that they are automatically going to be bad regardless. I have watched the entire original run of the Amityville movies and this could be argued as the best direct to video sequel of the lot. First released by Republic Pictures in 1992, “Amityville 1992” takes the premise of the book it is based on and gives a good outing to a dying franchise.

The plot is that Jacob...

  Despite a handful of notable exceptions, horror sequels aren't exactly known for being the greatest movies in the world. Franchises typically overstay their welcome for far too long, resulting in never-ending cash grab sequels that are endlessly inferior to the films that spawned them. For every exceptional sequel like A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors or Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, there are several well past their prime installments like Hellraiser: Revelations and Leprechaun Back 2 Tha Hood, which is why we horror fans tend to look down on sequels, sight unseen.   Unfortunately, because of the proven track record of horror sequels, and the bad feelings that are inherently attached to them, there are a handful of truly impressive sequels that don't get a whole lot of respect, simply because they're either attached to franchises that fans had long given up on by the time they came around,...

Pope Francis movie in the works? Friend of the Poor: The Pope Francis Story is the working title of a projected English-language biopic about the recently elected pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires. According to the National Catholic Register‘s Joseph Pronechen, German-born producer and Catholic convert Christian Peschken (listed on the IMDb as Chris Peschken) decided to make a movie about the first American pope (as in, from the Americas) after watching Pope Francis appear on the balcony at the Vatican on the day of his election. The National Catholic Register report states that an "European investment group has already approved a $25-million budget" for Friend of the Poor: The Pope Francis Story — which doesn’t even have a screenplay ready. Amg Films, a company that specializes in Catholic-themed movies, would handle sales. Peschken has invited Spanish filmmaker Antonio Cuadri, whose best known effort is probably the...

If you’re a child of the 1980’s, you’ll likely remember Ami Dolenz for her roles on films like Can’t Buy Me Love, She’s Out of Control, and Miracle Beach and guest spots on Silver Spoons, Webster, and Saved by the Bell: The College Years. She even played Sloan in the short-lived TV adaptation of Ferris Bueller. The actress, however, is no stranger to the horror genre as she’s had parts in films from Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings to the greatest (and quite possibly only) movie ever made about giant killer ticks, Ticks. Tony Randel’s 1993 flick is an absolute blast and an obvious time capsule of early 90’s movie clichés, in the very best way possible.

With Olive Films’ new Blu-ray of Ticks recently hitting stores, FEARnet sat down with Dolenz to discuss her memories of the film, Seth Green’s hair, and creepy crawlies.

A Planet Fury-approved selection of notable genre DVD releases for the month of January.

Lightning Bug (2004) Image Entertainment Blu-ray and DVD Available Now

Effects guru Robert Hall’s semi-autobiographical film about a small town teen (Reaper's Bret Harrison) who has aspirations to become a special effects artist. An opportunity to manage the town’s local haunted house is thwarted by his alcoholic stepfather and the staunchly religious views of the surrounding population. The solid supporting cast includes That 70’s Show’s Laura Prepon, Hellraiser’s Ashely Lawrence and Kevin Gage. Written and directed by Hall, it’s an affectionate coming-of-age drama that works in spite of an uneven narrative that falls apart in the final half hour. Hopefully this new extended cut will remedy the scripting problems of the original release.

Special Features include:

* Never-before-released extended cut of the film.

* Making-of Featurette

* Audio commentaries with the writer/director and cast.

Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Jan. 22, 2013

Price: DVD $24.95, Blu-ray $29.95

Studio: Olive Films

Clint Howard suffers the after-effects of a bit from some mutant Ticks.

One of the more ridiculous monster horror movies to emerge from the Nineties, 1993’s Ticks finally makes its DVD and Blu-ray debut.

A group of problem teens from Los Angeles join an inner-city wilderness project in and attempt to get back in touch with life’s priorities; led by do-gooders Holly and Charles (Rosalind Allen and Peter Scolari). When they get to the campsite, they begin having problems adjusting to the wild life, particularly with the local marijuana growers using herbal steroids to accelerate plant growth…and the mutated ticks that the leaky steroid system has created! The oversized mutant ticks with an insatiable lust for human flesh begin to terrorize the campground, eating the campers and everything else in sight.

The cast also includes Ami Dolenz...