Hellraiser and 4 Other Best Adaptations of Clive Barker's Works for Fans of Old-School Horror

Clive Barker is a horror author who has succeeded on all fronts. As an artist, as a writer and as a director. He has even participated in the creation of two video games: Clive Barker's Undying and Clive Barker's Jericho.

We decided to remember Barker's best works, both those he directed himself and those based on his stories, because there can never be enough quality horror.

1. Hellraiser, 1987

The adaptation of the novel The Hellbound Heart and the author's directorial debut not only became the most important film of his career, but also launched one of the biggest horror franchises in history: Hellraiser now has eleven installments.

The secret of the undying interest in the series lies in its mythology. The mysterious LeMarchand's box, which promises unearthly pleasures to anyone who opens it, but condemns them to terrible torment; an endless hell with personal chambers for suffering; and, of course, the Cenobites – disfigured demons who wear devices that cause pain.

2. Candyman, 1992

The plot of the film adaptation of the novel The Forbidden revolves around a murder in a poor neighborhood, which, due to the lack of real suspects, is attributed to Candyman – the spirit of an African-American man who was burned there, an urban legend.

Director Bernard Rose is perhaps the only one who was able to transfer the spirit of Barker's prose to the screen no worse than the author himself.

It's not only about the grotesque and naturalistic scenes of violence: Rose accurately recreated the measured pacing, the emotional palette, and the chilling but compelling atmosphere of the literary source.

3. Lord of Illusions, 1995

Lord of Illusions begins with a raid on a house in the desert, the execution of a cult leader, and the rescue of a prisoner, but it's best not to draw any conclusions at this point.

After the prologue, the action moves to Los Angeles, where the viewer is no longer in for an action movie or a thriller, but an old-fashioned noir detective story.

The original story The Last Illusion was initially made in the framework of the crime genre, so the author's usual mysticism is at the center of the conspiracy plot, but does not draw all the attention to itself.

Lord of Illusions was the third and last movie for Barker as a director, and this is his most professional and consistent work.

4. The Midnight Meat Train, 2008

This is one of the most notable Barker adaptations of the new millennium. In this story, a man named Leon encounters the serial killer butcher Mahogany in a subway car. And the finale is not going to be anything like what you were expecting.

The oppressive atmosphere of the dark city, mysterious disappearances of people, and brutal action – after watching The Midnight Meat Train, you will definitely feel uncomfortable riding the subway for at least a few days.

And Vinnie Jones as the serial killer is the best casting decision of the 21st century. Vinnie always looked menacing even without a weapon, but with a giant hammer his image is forever etched in our minds.

5. Quicksilver Highway, 1997

A little-known anthology by Mick Garris that includes a short story by Barker and a short story by Stephen King: The Body Politic by the former is about a surgeon whose hands take on a life of their own, while Chattery Teeth by the latter is about a toy that suddenly saves its owner from a brutal death.

Apart from the possibility to compare the techniques of the two masters, Quicksilver Highway is interesting because of the clever combination of horror and comedy.

Both stories are ideologically very creepy, but at the same time somewhat ridiculous and almost absurd. Due to the abundance of black humor, you will be able to see both Barker and King from an unusual side here.