VHS Vault: Hellraiser (1987)

 

"He'll tear your soul apart."

You pull this one off the shelf and instantly know you’re in for something twisted. Chains on the cover, a pale figure with nails in his skull, and that eerie tagline whispering from the box.

Hellraiser (1987) is Clive Barker’s blood-soaked dive into pleasure, pain, and interdimensional torment. This horror classic redefined body horror with its mix of sadism, surrealism, and unforgettable creatures like Pinhead.

It’s art-house horror wrapped in VHS grit; equal parts disturbing and mesmerizing, the kind of movie you weren’t supposed to rent but did anyway.

Vault Fact File

• Title: Hellraiser
• Year: 1987
• Director: Clive Barker
• Runtime: 94 minutes
• Rating: R
• Tagline(s): “He’ll tear your soul apart.”
• Studio / Distribution: New World Pictures
• Cast: Doug Bradley, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Andrew Robinson
• Fun Fact: Pinhead’s official name in the credits is simply “Lead Cenobite.” Fans gave him the name “Pinhead,” which Clive Barker originally disliked.
• Extra Trivia: The infamous puzzle box, the Lament Configuration, was handmade for filming—its golden glow achieved using camera tricks and glass reflections.
• Legacy: Spawned a massive horror franchise, cemented Doug Bradley as a genre icon, and proved that 80s horror could be philosophical and grotesque at the same time.

⏪ Rewind or Fast Forward?

Rewind. Hellraiser is a fever dream soaked in blood and leather. It’s sensual, smart, and totally deranged, the kind of movie that burns into your brain like a Cenobite’s hook. This tape deserves a spot on the top shelf, though maybe keep it out of reach of the faint-hearted.

⚡ Watch It

Summon Hellraiser (1987) on Amazon, or unlock the Hellraiser Blu-ray to experience every scream and chain in glorious high definition.

official Trailer for hellraiser

Back to the Vault: Craving more 80s nightmares? Rewind to Poltergeist (1982) or keep digging deeper into the darkness of the VHS Vault.