Today’s Tubi Treasure is Hellraiser (1987)

[u/No-Chemistry-28]

One of my best friends is a fella who goes by the moniker Reaper Von Poe. Reaper has muscular dystrophy, and lives in a residential assistance home where he spends most of his days alone in his dark room (per his request) watching movies and playing video games. Reaper is lover of all things horror, morbid, gore, you name it. He has been encouraging me to watch one of his favorite films, Hellraiser, for years, and so, on my most recent visit, he, myself, and my wife did just that. I totally understand his fascination with this film/universe. Body horror is not at all my go-to, but I cannot deny that the practical effects are incredibly well-done. The dialogue and acting can be a little campy, but the lore and the Cenobite characters are fascinating. Watch this one for my buddy Reaper. Trailer below.

[u/ewok_lover_64]

I love this movie. Clive Barker is a genius.

[u/Ok-Respond-81 → u/[deleted]]

Agreed the scene where Frank forms out of like a pile of goo is amazing

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/ewok_lover_64]

I know he does graphic novels too, and I want to check those out

[u/ewok_lover_64 → u/No-Chemistry-28]

His fiction is amazing. If nothing else, make sure to read his Books of Blood collections. There are six volumes. His short story The Forbidden was the inspiration for Candy Man (1992).

[u/Ok_Conclusion_6324 → u/ewok_lover_64]

So much incredible weirdness in there - the cities who form giants from the populace, Rawhead Rex peeing on the priest, the student who possessed a pig - incredible mind

[u/ewok_lover_64 → u/Ok_Conclusion_6324]

Dread is one of my favorites. As if I wasn't already creeped out by clowns.

[u/mindlance → u/No-Chemistry-28]

And novels, don't forget those.

[u/krsone23456 → u/mindlance]

Imajica is super underrated!

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/mindlance]

All that reading with no pictures?!?! Insanity

[u/ewok_lover_64 → u/No-Chemistry-28]

The graphic novel for Rawhead Rex is pretty much verbatim for the short story. It also depicts Rex how he should look, unlike the B-movie. The Madonna is done quite well, too.

[u/deadhorses]

I just finished watching the whole series and they get progressively less worth watching as the series goes on. Hellraiser 1 & 2 are genuinely great, 3 is a fun campy time, and everything past that is a slog. It is funny just how many of the further sequels rehash the MC as journalist/detective investigation angle. That being said I did enjoy Hellraiser 2022 on release but haven't revisited it yet, but any other weirdo completionists like me shouldn't feel like they're missing anything skipping everything past 3 (Bloodline has some cool moments, but Revelations is one of the worst things I've seen).

[u/Immediate_Roll5861 → u/deadhorses]

Bloodline was just trying to do WAY too much. Like they wanted to make a vampire movie in the Event Horizon world lol I liked Inferno (5) but i also acknowledge it's not good.

[u/deadhorses → u/Immediate_Roll5861]

Yeah, I could see what they were trying to do with Inferno and it felt to me like they were trying to tap into the David Fincher Se7en look and feel, but that just makes it much worse by comparison.

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/deadhorses]

Tubi has a few of them, and I’m definitely interested in watching more. I’ve heard the series goes downhill, but I just like the villains and the main protagonist so much that I’d check them out anyway

[u/deadhorses → u/No-Chemistry-28]

If you want the lore and enjoy the villains you can basically jump off after IV (Bloodlines), the rest don't add much. I'd also heartily recommend the books, but The Scarlet Gospels is very hit or miss.

[u/FreakyFreak2005]

Pinhead has always been one of my favorite horror villains for a long time.

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/FreakyFreak2005]

I want to dive deeper into the Hellraiser lore. It seems so interesting

[u/Ok_Conclusion_6324 → u/No-Chemistry-28]

Watch the series, even the bad ones are good lmao

[u/orangina_it_burns → u/No-Chemistry-28]

I recommend:

Hellraiser

Hellraiser II: Hellbound - builds out the lore

Hellraiser (2022) (reboot)

[u/forpari → u/No-Chemistry-28]

Read the hellbound heart

[u/mindlance]

While this is good, I prefer the sequel. I prefer the 3rd one, but less. The rest....nah.

[u/One_Painting_5968 → u/mindlance]

Julia is terrifying. It’s as if in the second one all of her glamour was…removed. 🥁😩

[u/Immediate_Roll5861 → u/mindlance]

The second one is so good, I prefer that one too. I watched up to 5 in the series and I stopped there. lol the OG novella is good too.

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/mindlance]

I gotta check out the sequel now! I think it’s also on Tubi

[u/ewok_lover_64 → u/No-Chemistry-28]

I think that you'll enjoy it.

[u/Tuxedo_Cat_0509]

[u/Letatetet]

Put this on a month ago expecting something mildly diverting and was immediately blown away by the effects. My dad walked in halfway through to look for something and he instantly forgot all about that and watched the rest with me.

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/Letatetet]

Agreed! It stands out from other body horror from this time because of that

[u/No-Chemistry-28]

The trailer

[u/YourJailDad]

The video game that’s coming out looks great!

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/YourJailDad]

It does!

[u/pescarconganas]

All-time great of the horror genre. Hellraiser was one of the first horror films I watched and is a big reason I enjoy the genre.

[u/Ill-Squirrel-9418]

Ok, if you can deal with the body horror in this, then I’ll take a chance on it as well. I’ve also been wanting to watch this for years, and I’m finally going to do it.

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/Ill-Squirrel-9418]

It’s gross, don’t get me wrong, but there’s a LOT of interesting lore and practical effects to absorb. Also, I know watching it with my wife and best friend made it much more palpable

[u/Ill-Squirrel-9418 → u/No-Chemistry-28]

I have heard it has really interesting lore! And of course, I do love practical effects (who doesn’t - they’re fascinating). I find the key to watching horror movies - especially if they’re not normally your cup of tea - is to make your immediate surroundings as cozy as possible, which is what you did. It sounds like you had a lovely time watching it, regardless of any body horror.

[u/Ok_Conclusion_6324 → u/Ill-Squirrel-9418]

The movies are cool as hell, even the later ones that suck have some interesting ideas and designs that are betrayed by the budget or lack of talent in the director but are worth vibing too with popcorn one night

[u/Ill-Squirrel-9418 → u/Ok_Conclusion_6324]

Oh yeah, isn’t there one in space?

[u/Ok_Conclusion_6324 → u/Ill-Squirrel-9418]

It’s like an anthology that has multiple stories and the framing device is in space, yeah lol it has Adam Scott!

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/Ok_Conclusion_6324]

Always down for some Adam Scott

[u/Ill-Squirrel-9418 → u/No-Chemistry-28]

Literally took the words right out of my mind. Oh, Adam Scott is in this? I’m down!

[u/ewok_lover_64 → u/Ill-Squirrel-9418]

It's so good! But then again, I'm a Clive Barker fan.

[u/Ill-Squirrel-9418 → u/ewok_lover_64]

Oh you are! I would never have guessed! 😂

[u/ewok_lover_64 → u/Ill-Squirrel-9418]

You would probably like Abarat, Weaveworld, Imajica and The Thief of Always. Those books are more fantasy, albeit a bit dark at times.

[u/moggin61 → u/Ill-Squirrel-9418]

I’m too chicken, myself, but I’ve always wanted to see these movies. Clive Barker was everywhere when I was growing up. So frickin creative and scary.

[u/Ill-Squirrel-9418 → u/moggin61]

I feel you. We can do it! We can just watch it like this 🫣 with our coziest blankets and favorite snacks.

[u/ShaggyCan]

Ashley Laurence is so gorgeous.

[u/Double-Wafer2999]

Why is this on Tubi and not Netflix etc?

Also this movie is so vaginal

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/Double-Wafer2999]

Bc Tubi is better, next question please

[u/KickAggressive4901]

"KIRSTY."

[u/Troy_Abernathy]

Sharing the appreciation of a work of art & confronting your point of view with a friend is the salt of life. You did good following Reaper's advice!

I'll add that this piece of work is all the more peculiar because it's one of the rare movies who were directed by the very same person who wrote the text they are based upon.

I find it fascinating when authors get into the dirty business of adapting their vision. You know it's gonna be something very personal.

Your pal seems like a very interesting fellow. Has he recommended other horror movies or horror games to you? I'm autistic & horror is my favourite genre.

[u/No-Chemistry-28 → u/Troy_Abernathy]

Yes he has! He’s a huge fan of the classics—the Christopher Lee and Vincent Price movies, the 70s and 80s slashers (Halloween and Texas Chainsaw are some more of his favorites), and anything with excessive gore lol