QUEER HORROR CLASSIC #1
HELLRAISER (1987)
Words by Alex Secilmis
2 June 2024
Our first pick falls in the latter category. One of the most celebrated horror films of all time, Clive Barker’s Hellraiser (1987) is a grizzly take on the haunted house tale, where abnormal, carnal desires invade a quaint home in suburban London. Shot with the working title “Sadomasochists from Beyond the Grave”, the film follows a family under attack after the devious Uncle Frank, an extreme hedonist, contacts the Cenobites - interdimensional beings who promise sensations beyond human comprehension, or “pain and pleasure indivisibile.” You may recognise these creatures from their distinctive leather costumes and otherworldly mutilations. You’ll almost certainly recognise their leader, Pinhead, whose iconic look is lovingly replicated today by major artists like Megan Thee Stallion and on Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
While it may not feature any explicitly queer characters, Hellraiser was created by a gay man and brims with queer poteniality - thanks to its highlighting of non-normative sexuality through various BDSM practices and its reflection on dangerous desire. Writer/director Clive Barker, who adapted his own novella The Hellbound Heart, took inspiration from the leather scene (queer S&M clubs).
Hellraiser is body horror perfection: an explosion of sex and gore with unparalleled practical effects and costume/character design. There’s also a sumptuous, sinister orchestral score from Christopher Young and elegant yet intense villainous performances by Sean Chapman (Frank), Clare Higgins (Julia), and of course Doug Bradley (Pinhead). For the newcomers, you’re in for a treat. For those familiar, it’s time to revisit the Cenobites. They have such sights to show you!
To read our interview with Jane Wildgoose,
costume designer for the original Hellraiser,
order issue 001 now
costume designer for the original Hellraiser,
order issue 001 now