Hellraiser (1987)

Man opens box, sadomasochistic hell ensues

Clive Barker’s unrelentingly grim Hellraiser thoroughly and intelligently deals with the complicated relationship between pain and pleasure, employing the fetishized S&M of the 80s punk scene (think leather, studs, and piercings) as a springboard for this tale of hedonistic exploration. It also works as a clever examination of British repression (stifled Brits hiding dark urges) and as a commentary on the predatory nature of male sexuality (note the piggish nature of the men lured into the attic, as well as almost every male in the film lewdly telling Kristy to “Come to daddy”). The performances are mostly strong, the imagery quite visionary (of course, Pinhead and the box became iconic), and the practical effects still hold up quite well. Some of the internal logic of the film’s somewhat convoluted plot will leave you scratching your head and the ending is rather conventional, but this is an inventive and ambitious horror film.