Novelist Clive Barker makes his directorial debut based on his novella "The Hellbound Heart" and comes out with a quite watchable effort filled with gooey effects, gore and a well-structured story.

When Andrew Robinson and wife Clare Higgins moved back to his childhood home they didn't suspect that his brother (who had solved a puzzle box and brought the wrath of Hell upon himself unleashed by the "Cenobites" - some nasty demon creatures) to come back from the dead. But things get even more out of hand when Higgins agrees to kill for him so he can have the blood that will make him whole. And if that wasn't enough; daughter Ashley Laurence discovers it all, accidently solves the puzzle box and brings the Cenobites back for revenge.

Steadily acted, filled with lots of cool gooey effects by Bob Keen and with a great score by Christopher Young; this is one of the more original horror films to come out in the mid-80's and managed to make "Pinhead" (the Cenobite with pins driven into his skull) into a horror icon - though the character didn't become as big an icon as say, Freddy Kreuger.

Smarter than a lot of films of its time and recommended despite a finale that's a bit corny with outdated "electric pulse" effects and a few logic lapses.

Followed by Hellbound: Hellraiser II and four other sequels.

Directed By: Clive Barker.
Written By: Clive Barker.

Starring: Andrew Robinson, Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Sean Chapman.

Picture Ratio: 1.85:1 Widescreen.

Picture Quality: Anchor Bay brings us a solid transfer though there is a bit of loss of clarity during some of the darker scenes.

Extras: You can now purchase this on DVD as a double feature that includes Hellbound. This has a decent batch of extras as we get a trailer, still gallery, a cool "Resurrection" featurette that's a good watch and an entertaining commentary by Barker and Laurence with Peter Atkins (who penned the first 3 sequels) as a moderator.