Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Explore the depravity of the human heart, 28 Nov 2002
This fast-paced, action-packed novella served as the basis for Clive Barker's extreme horror movie masterpiece Hellraiser, but it is well worth reading on its own merits. The human heart and its vulnerability to perverse pleasures of a sensuous nature is a compelling theme at the heart of Barker's writing. Those familiar with the movie will find that this original story matches up fairly closely with what they have seen, but there are some important differences. For one, a little more information about the infamous puzzle box is revealed. The characters are fleshed out a little better, yet Julia remains a cold person whose motives are not completely understandable. The Cenobites are actually featured much less here than in the movie, and the physical descriptions of them are far less developed--Pinhead himself reportedly speaks with a girlish voice in the novella. The blood and gore are certainly here, but their full magnitude is determined by the imagination of the reader. Interestingly, Kirsty's relationship with Rory (who was called Larry in the movie) is ambiguous at best. While one assumes Rory is her father, Kirsty always refers to him by name, and her relationship with him, if he is her father, is not a normal one for she seems to relate to him as some sort of potential lover. The depth of Barker's vision is much better developed in print than on the movie screen, and that is what makes this novella a must-read for fans of extreme horror. The dark side of the human soul is a source tapped deeply by Barker's imagination, and he is unafraid of revealing the depravity of any given individual. As such, his writing betrays a complexity and ingenious subtlety which critics of horror will never identify or understand. Surprisingly, there is really not a great deal of perverse sexuality in this particular work, so readers who tend to shy away from his Books of Blood may actually find The Hellhound Heart to be the optimal doorway by which to enter the haunted, terrifyingly alive world of this modern master of horror.
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2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A masterpiece of horror that will shock, grip and seduce you, 8 Mar 2006
At last he had solved the puzzle of Lemarchand’s box. He was standing on the threshold of a new world of heightened sensations. In moments the Cenobites – who had dedicated an eternity to the pursuit of sensuality – would be here. They would reveal dark secrets that would transform him forever. But with the exquisite pleasure would come pain beyond imagining. To escape his hideous tormentors and return to this world, he would need the help of his brothers with Julia, the woman who loved him. But most of all he would need blood. The Hellbound Heart was Clive Barker’s forth full length novel since the ‘Books Of Blood’ series. First published back in 1988, the novel formed a dark mix of horror and S&M, bringing a seductive trip into the erotic world of pleasure and pain. Barker rewrites the laws of humanity as we know it, with his ideas of there being no good or evil, only flesh. The novel draws you quickly into its bizarre and twisted storyline, taking you into a world of dark fantasy and horror. The characters are extremely well described, allowing the reader to sympathise with them and drawing you into the plot. Questions are brought forward throughout the novel, as Barker carefully reveals his dark concepts on life, with a terrifying reality to it all. The novel was later to be adapted (with some differences) into the 1987 film ‘Hellraiser’ which was to be Clive Barker’s debut at directing. The film has been dubbed a modern day horror classic and has formed a huge cult following worldwide, with many sequels to follow. The Hellraiser success also spawned a large collection of comics, models, memorabilia and other such items. The novel runs for 128 pages in total, of which the storyline never slows from the fast pace you are thrown into. The book is a true masterpiece of horror fiction that will open your eyes to the horrific and divine.
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4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This book goes to show that short can mean good., 3 Dec 1999
By A Customer
If you've picked this up and thought that it's been to short for your liking, think again. The detail in this book is really good and the descriptive detail never lacks. The story could have been a bit more bulky, because, in hindsight, not really too much happens in it. If you like lots and lots of blood and gore this is definitely the book for you. Incidentally, this was filmed by the author as 'Hellraiser', and if you've seen any of the others in the series, you'll know just what sort of content to expect!
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