What does a demon look like? Put aside for a moment, the question
of their existence and focus on the image of them. Perhaps what you see in your
mind, is a devilish figure with dragon wings, horns and a tail. It might also
have hooves and red skin.
That particular concept, dates back to around the fourth
century of the Current Era, or the fourth century AD in the Gregorian calendar.
More specifically, it came after the Edict of Thessalonica, when Constantine the
Great made Catholicism, the official religion of The Roman Empire. So much time
has passed, since those first paintings were created, that the physical
attributes of demons or devils, are now a part of popular culture. Other
concepts, that should awaken your mind’s eye, include gargoyles, leprechauns,
fairies, elves and dwarves.
Elves especially, have been a staple of fantasy fiction for
years. This is largely due, to J. R. R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”, which
was published in 1954. We’ve become so accustomed to their “leaf shaped ears”,
we take them and their presence for granted, in our entertainment. What’s
wonderful about fiction however, is its ability to go against convention and
spread new concepts, to excite our imaginations.
Classic Movie Trailers – Hellraiser (1987)
Hell and its description, is more than just a religious tenet.
It is something so engrained in popular culture, that it’s familiar to
non-Christians as well. The fiery pit strikes a familiar chord, among all of us.
There is an association that is immediate; it links the word, the properties of
the place and evil itself.
This picture never states, that the doors that are opened
lead to the Biblical Hell, but they certainly lead to the mind of the director.
What he shows us in this film, is a reality I never want to find myself in. Personally,
I think that looking onto the stage, which Clive Barker has created here,
reveals something more terrifying, than you will see or hear of anywhere else. This
is a world that’s so pervasive, that it spread over eight different sequels.
What was released that year in 1987, was so chilling, it
carved its own place into our culture. You can say “Hellraiser”, and there is
an immediate association, linking the word, the images and the contents
therein. Unfortunately for the series, I believe that it so shocked the audience,
it drove away a lot of potential patrons. As much as I’d never want to live in
Barker’s story, there are others that would like to view it, even less.
Among the famous horror franchises, the Hellraiser films
rank dead last in earnings. It’s far behind the ones starring Chucky,
Leatherface, Michael Myers, Freddy and Jason. That isn’t to say that Pinhead
isn’t as scary as those figures. I think instead, that the place he shows us,
is that much worse.
Granted, the film had a meager budget, of only one million
dollars. In addition to that, the effects of the time were limited, by the technology
of that era. There is a disillusion that happens today, when you look at
certain things in the movie, including the animatronics. It’s like bad CGI,
which takes you out of the experience for a while.
Clive’s resources, were still sufficient enough however, to
leave a lasting impression. Just the word “hell”, is a reason for movie theatres,
to choose another release. “Hellraiser” itself, turns mutilation and torture
into an art form. It isn’t a surprise, why it couldn’t hold on to a more mainstream
audience.
Still, what has been accomplished is, and may yet be, phenomenal.
The audiovisual nature of film, gives it a resonance shared, by no other form
of non-interactive entertainment. Reading words on a page can be a powerful
experience; seeing images placed with them, as in graphic novels, can also be
memorable. Motion pictures however, root farther down into our psyches. Many books
have described many properties, but if a movie takes up the same subjects, it defines
them in spite of the books.
Imagine then, what happens when a film defies convention.
What happens when a movie takes well established concepts, and presents them in
ways we don’t expect? Well I believe the answer is a movement, an idea that can
spread and cement itself, to become more than fiction, but a modern mythology. You
should consider for a moment, how horrifying that actually is.
-----------------------------------
@ChannelSeals
No comments:
Post a Comment