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 last in which he would
have any official involvement.
Fans
of the franchise will be all too familiar with the first three movies, which
are by far the best of the series. 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, the demonic beings from another realm
who are intent on reclaiming the soul of her deviant Uncle Frank.
Picking
up immediately after the events of the original Hellraiser, Hellbound:
Hellraiser II finds Kirsty detained at a psychiatric institute and under the
care of Phillip Channard, a doctor who abuses his position to realise his own
dark aims.
In
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, a reporter investigating a mysterious death in a
nightclub finds herself in the way of Pinhead and the Cenobites, who plan to
bring their horrifying world into our own.
It
has to be said, Arrow have really gone above and beyond with this superb set.
The films have never looked better, all three movies now benefit from a brand
new 2K restoration with Hellraiser and Hellraiser II being approved by director
of photography Robin Vidgeon. The visual presentations are as close to pristine
as you are ever likely to see. Barker’s original Hellraiser does display a
varying amount of grain (especially in some of the interior house scenes), but
the high level of fine detail and vivid colour (especially in those fleshy,
blood soaked scenes) is exceptional. The Hellraiser series of films has never
leaped out as the sharpest of films. Hellraiser in particular, has often
appeared a little diluted or desaturated, even in its theatrical presentation,
it looked rather dull upon the eye. However,
there is now a genuine freshness to the films, a new edge to them which makes
the whole viewing experience something quite different. The
audio elements are also bound to please with uncompressed PCM Stereo 2.0 and
Lossless DTS-HD MA 5.1 sound for Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II, while
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth sounds pure and clean with a Lossless DTS-HD MA
2.0 soundscape, all of which works very adequately. Each film also boasts multiple audio commentaries which
hardened fans will recognise from the Anchor Bay 4 DVD box set released in
2004. However, Arrow’s box of goodies does secure a brand new additional audio
commentary (on Hellraiser III) and provided by writer Peter Atkins.
All
three movies are presented in their uncut versions, alongside a bonus
presentation of the unrated cut of Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth. Running some
four minutes longer than the theatrical cut, this includes bonus unrated footage
(in standard definition) which has been inserted into the 2K high definition
version of the film. It may not be ideal, but Arrow have again been up front
and honest, and assured us that the bonus footage has been ‘sourced from the
best available material.’ The material in question is actually from the video
master that was used for the U.S. panned and scanned laserdisc, therefore expect
a slight drop in quality and a change in the aspect ratio for these particular
scenes. Arrow should of course remain free of criticism for their decision to
include this, remembering that these scenes were never included or intended for
the theatrical version. Accepting it purely on the basis of a bonus feature
should leave everyone feeling satisfied, and yes, grateful for Arrow’s
foresight.
On
the subject of bonus material, Arrow’s Scarlet Box is packed and practically bursting
at the seams. One of the main bonus elements includes the comprehensive
fan-made docs, Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II.
These were previously released as an individual 3 DVD set with a mammoth
running time, (Disc 1: The Story of Hellraiser approx. 4 hours 37 minutes), (Disc
2: The Story of Hellbound approx. 3 hours 19 minutes) and (Disc 3: Bonus
Features approx. 3 hours). Arrow has (perhaps wisely) taken the opportunity to
present this fascinating documentaries as ‘brand new versions’, split into two
parts and making the whole story of these two films much more presentable and
tighter in the process. It’s a decision that arguably works to their advantage.
The original (very long) documentaries have received negative criticism in the
past, particularly for their pacing and structure. However, Arrow’s re-edits could
hardly be considered as thin and without substance with running times of 90 minutes
and 120 minutes respectively, there is still ample material here to be enjoyed
and appreciated.