Hellraiser and The Hellbound Heart

Hellraiser 1987 (left poster) British horror film directed by Clive Barker who some might not know also wrote the book it's based on The Hellbound Heart 1986.

Intro
It makes sense to say that Clive Barker knows his own novel inside out, so one would think his movie version would successfully portray the book correctly, right? Right! The film version adapted the book perfectly no doubt. Although, Clive himself made a few changes to the story, but not so much stepping away from the original. Mostly changes in character development, which in my opinion made the conflict between the film's characters more intimate and personal with each other than the book version as I'll explain why later.

Story plot
Yet again, the story plot of the movie follows the novel perfectly. There's no disappointment there. Main antagonist Frank Cotton opens the Lemarchand's box (puzzle box) summing the cenobites hoping they'll grant his wish for new pleasurable experiences only to be torture and become forever prisoner of the box. Some time later he's resurrected by consuming the blood of his brother's Larry aka Roy,  then seeks help from his long ago affair Julia; who's also Larry's wife. For love she seduces men to bring to Frank as prey in order for his rotten flesh to regrow, so they'll be forever together. Family friend/Larry's daughter Kirsty retrieves the box after a short confrontation with Frank.  She ends up at the hospital, where she summons the cenobites accidentally. Wanting to torture her, she bargains with them to take Frank in exchange for her life. Convincing the cenobites, Kirsty leads them to Frank only to discover that he's in Larry's skin. The cenobites catch on and torture him to death; Julia also dies. Kirsty fights off the cenobites, surviving the day, end.

Similiarities
Clive definitely delivers the same dark theme of pain, sex, and desperation as in his book. He brings forth a strange mixture of pain and pleasure. The discovering of ones inner flesh and the satisfaction of it. Sadomasochism is a plus.
We see this dark theme in the film with it's gore, guts and scary fantasy-like atmosphere.

Frank and Julia
Each characters are interesting. In the film/novel, we follow through the story with Frank and Julia Cotton who are proceed as greedy, desperate, unsatisfied, and suffering people. In other words evil. The majority of the story mainly involves around these two characters. Our focuses are set into their world and points of view. One can say they're the anti-heroes. They're not exactly good examples cause they'll only make you feel like you're life is unfulfilled.

In the novel Frank and Julia are said to be similar, yet different. They are both suave, persuasive, sensual, and their outlook in life are similar.

"They were not wholly dissimilar; a certain lilt in their voices, and their easy manner, marked them as siblings" (The Hellhound Heart).

Although, Frank is explained to be more distress about life's givings than Julia, which set their interests apart. Having traveled to many places, Franks grew bored of  the world believing it had nothing more to offer him. Which caused him to search for the puzzle box in hopes to uncover a new world that would fulfilled his needs. That back fired of course. After his resurrection, his new goal is to regrow his flesh and bones in order for him to return to society once again. By doing so he absorbs victim's flesh with the help of Julia.

Now Julia to begin with is describe to be resentful and unhappy with her marriage with Larry/Roy. This side of her is shown when the couple moves into their new home at the beginning of the novel. Four years ago she had slept with Frank just a few days before her marriage to Larry. She was quickly persuade by his manner. After many years of boredom marriage with Larry she discovered that the only person that really made her desperate for love was none other than Frank. She commits murder for him in the sake of love.

I believe Clare Higgins portrayal of secondary antagonist Julia Cotton stayed true to the character the most. Clare portrayed the suave, sophisticated, frigid, yet deprived Julia Cotton perfectly, hands down. I'm also impress with Andrew Robinson's (Dirty Harry) portrayal of Roy Cotton (aka Larry Cotton) and Frank Cotton (supposedly in Larry's skin). He managed to switch from characters of Roy's (Larry's) carefree, childish, ignorance personality to Frank sadistic, elegant manner; from loving dimwit father to uncle wants to kill you. It takes a well trained actor who's able to pull off playing two completely different characters in one film and make it believable to the audience. Andrew nailed it! Oliver Smith who played monster Frank performed perfectly as well. Imaging having an skinless, leaking, skeleton, veins popping out uncle with a desire to rape you; yikes and no thanks. Oliver performance of monster Frank is one of the most bizarre horror characters brought on to the screen in my opinion (besides Pinhead). Sean Chapman (Hellraiser 1 and 2) cast as the human Frank Cotton isn't so bad, but he was just cast to portray the image of Frank. Playing another bad pretty boy whining about life, not so much exciting.

Differences
First off we all know that movie versions can't be exactly like the novel versions, but there are changes done that either make the story better or make you prefer the book. Hellraiser is no exception even thought the movie is the book. I mentioned earlier that there where a few character changes that I believe made the conflict better than the book.

The Intro
Novel, the cenobites give Frank a five sense-like experience before they torture him. They enhance his taste, touch, sound, smell, and sight making him sensitive to everything around him. Afterwards he's in a room with rotten skulls of men with the female cenobite ready to torture him. The film version he's torture right away.

Characters
In The Hellbound Heart we are introduces to couple Julia and Roy Cotton moving into their new house. In the film, Roy was changed to Larry, but other than that there's no change in personality.  Next Kirsty (no last name) is introduce to be a close family friend of Roy (not Julia). Book Kirsty is sort of the opposite of film Kirsty. Novel version, she's described as plain, shy, passive, with a apologetic attitude, yet very bright. She also has a secret crush on Roy. Sadly her feelings are oblivious to him.

Those familiar with the film know that Kirsty is introduce as Kirsty Cotton, Larry's daughter, Julia's step-daughter, and Frank's niece. It is clearly reasonable why Clive would change Roy's name to Larry just to be on the safe side. Theses changes however don't ruin the story's original plot. Kirsty had a close friendship bond with Roy. Movie Kirsty and Larry share the same close bond, but a father/daughter one. There's no sexual interaction between the two in the novel anyway's so all is good. Oh she also has a boyfriend named Steve, but he only exist in the film.

Kirsty relationship with Julia is very strain. The two women are yin and yang. Julia finds Kirsty's apologetic personality to be annoying and pathetic, so she looks down on the girl. We see her irritation towards Kirsty when she comes to visit her twice. Julia is fully aware of Kirsty's crush on Roy (her husband), but doesn't give a what.

Although Kirsty tries not to be she's jealous of Julia's glamour and her marriage to Roy. She's fully aware of what Julia thinks of her, so she tries to keep a distance between them. The scenes between them are awkward. They can't even start a descent conversation. Though Kirsty would go out of her way to please Roy even if she has to face Julia.

I believe that Clive changing Kirsty's part from family friend to part of the family had made the confrontations between the characters more surreal because drama about family affairs makes a more tragic story. It also makes Kirsty's role more believable and painful. Better than novel Kirsty who just had the wrong place at the wrong time. Losing a father sounds more sad, than losing a friend. Drama's are more personal when it's a family manner. A story about an skinless uncle coming back from hell, murders your father, wears his skin, wants to have his way with you, and your evil step-mother helping him sounds more shakespeare-like. This is the only reason that makes me prefer the movie.

Pinhead and Cenobites
If there's one thing Clive Barker succeeded in doing is creating one of the most iconic horror characters ever known. Pinhead played by none other than Doug Bradley in the first film and eight other sequels.

Pinhead and the cenobites are slightly reimagine in the film, but they receive more dialogue than in the book. In the novel there are four of them, but their genders is uncertain.

"Its clothes, some of which were sewn to and through its skin, hid its private parts, and there was nothing in the dregs of its voice, or in its willfully disfigured features that offered the least clue" (Hellbound Hearts by Clive Barker).

Later we find out the fourth one of the group to be the female cenobite.

None of the cenobite's names were revealed. There is a cenobite describe to have pins on it's heard horizontally and vertically most likely to be Pinhead. Though, the cenobite had an excited girl voice unlike Pinhead in the film. Another interesting fact is that Pinhead is the second cenobite to speak during their first meeting with Frank. The first cenobites to speak was described being covered in hooks that pierced through his flesh and bones. He/she seemed more in charge though Clive excluded this character in the film.  There is hardly any details about the third one, but it does speak.

The Engineer is way different in the novel. It's describe as a small bright sun. Clive definitely changed it's appearance as shown in the picture.

Last thing I want to point out is the ending. It's quiet different than the novel, but not much. Though, I won't get into much details about it. Kirsty does manage to escape, while doing so she meets the Engineer who makes her the box's keeper. Film version Kirsty escapes with boyfriend Steve, they end up at some junk yard where Kirsty disposed the box only to be taken by a skeleton like dragon and flies away with it. (Comic Hellraiser: Dark Watch, described it as custodian of hell's devices).

Conclusion
There's many other things that I didn't mention or go into great detail. Such as Frank's mission of finding the puzzle box, Julia's miserable life, and the mysteries of unsolved puzzles of life, plus more. It's best to read the book because all books contain more details. This one's a must!