Few have created a vision of the netherworld as vividly terrifying as Clive Barker. Initially capturing this dark, menacing place in his 1986 novella The Hellbound Heart, it seemed almost inevitable that Barker’s words would eventually be translated into a visual medium.
Not entirely happy with the adaptations of his prior works (1985’s Underworld (also called Transmutations) and 1986’s Rawhead Rex), Barker opted to take control of his vision himself and make a directorial debut with Hellraiser in 1987. The first of only a select few films Barker has ever directed, which include 1991’s Nightbreed and 1995’s Lord of Illusions, Hellraiser sparked a lengthy franchise but, most importantly, presented audiences with the legendary Pinhead.
A modern-day monster different from Freddy Krueger, who torments his victims with sarcasm, or Jason Vorhees, who stalks them with relentless violence and silence, Pinhead (portrayed by Doug Bradley) is eloquent, thoughtful, and hauntingly impossible to take your eyes off. Looking closer at the character of Pinhead, Doug Bradley told Cryptic Rock in a 2018 interview –
“The language that Clive employed for Pinhead was very specific. It was poetic, darkly witty, and he clearly had a sense of humor.”
Exactly right, Pinhead is the leader of a group called the Cenobites (a demonic group that delivers pain to anyone who opens the puzzle box), who is not inherently a killer but more a gatekeeper into a world an individual enters at their own free will. In many ways more terrifying than a stalking killer, in Hellraiser’s world, you are your own worst enemy with human desires, morbid curiosity, and lack of strength to give into self-indulgence.
Not intended to be the focal point of the original film, Barker initially hoped to develop the character of Julia (portrayed magically by award-winning Actress Clare Higgins) as the first great female monster in Horror films. Accomplishing that in many ways, the Cenobites and, moreover, Pinhead himself sort of snuck up on Barker, thus becoming some of the most iconic Horror figures in the last thirty years. However, no one can overlook the power and intelligence of Kirsty Cotton (played by Ashley Laurence), who appears in the first four films and outwits the Cenobites.
With all of this in mind, the original Hellraiser was a relatively successful film, and it resulted in ten more films, including a 2022 reboot. With some of the entries better than others over the years, sadly, Barker never directed a Hellraiser film ever again. Attributed to the fact that the first experience may have been a little more stressful than he had hoped, at least he remained on for direct sequels, 1988’s Hellbound: Hellraiser II and 1992’s Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth 1992.
This original trio is arguably the three most beloved films in the entire series. Now, in 2024, fans have a chance to own them as part of a brand-new 4K Ultra HD set called Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment. Coupled with the fourth film in the franchise, 1996’s Hellraiser IV: Bloodline, this limited edition set arrived on October 22, 2024, through Arrow Video.
This is a follow-up to the earlier 2024 release from Arrow Films, Hellraiser: Tetralogy, which arrived in February. The difference is that Hellraiser: Quartet of Torment is a limited edition 200-page hardback book with new writing from Clive Barker. At the same time, Tetralogy is merely the same four films with reversible covers. Depending on how big a fan you are and which edition you want to spend your money on, you may want to increase the extra funds for the really nicely crafted packaging of Quarter of Torment. In truth, the release of Quarter of Torment is second only to the 2009 Puzzle Box DVD Set, with the first three films put out by Anchor Bay in terms of thoughtful display.
All of this being said, you get 1986’s Hellraiser, Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Hellraiser: Hell on Earth, and Hellraiser IV: Bloodline, all in new 4K restorations from the original camera negatives. Each looking equally more clarified than prior releases, the films are respectively given their own disc in the set with each of their own dedicated extra features. With some material carried over from prior home video releases of the films, you also get some new extras, such as extended interviews with Clive Barker, new audio commentaries, and more.
Overall, Arrow Video took the initially released Tetralogy (which became their best-selling global release ever) and added even more thought and care to it. A perfect gift for yourself or a Hellraiser fan in your family, Hellraiser: Quarter of Torment is recommended because Cryptic Rock gives it 5 out of 5 stars.
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