Raising Hell

Well I'm not sure how I missed this but I found this video above of a live concert recording

of the music from Clive Barker's classic horror movie Hellraiser (1987) along with

Hellbound (1988).

And for a late 1980's British Horror movie I thought the crashing opening music was so over

the top. But as I warmed to the films I realized how it was the music that enhanced the films.

I do have a three dvd box set of Hellraiser 1, 2 and 3, of which Hellraiser III Hell on Earth

has to be my favourite. It clearly had a bigger budget with more effects thrown in. And the thing

with the Hellraiser movies is that despite the horror and gory scenes, it actually had quite a bit

of humour in them along with some iconic lines mostly spouted by it's leading actor Pinhead

played by Doug Bradley, the original and only Pinhead for me.

Bradley has often said that if the call came for him to take on the roll of Pinhead then he would

jump at the opportunity. I can't think why he was dropped in the first place. He absolutely owned

the role of Pinhead the leader of the Cenobites. And after he was replaced I guess I lost interest

in the follow up films.

Music by Christopher Young and Conducted by Pascula Osa.

Video kindly uploaded to Youtube by Elizabeth McReynolds  HERE 

Above and below:  Doug Bradley the original Pinhead.

Below: Kevin Bernhardt in Hellraiser III

( Gifs by diabilito666 )

Burt Reynolds at His Best in SHARKY'S MACHINE.....Repost.

I wonder why certain great films never seem to show up on tv.  So I was pleased to find

online a new blu-ray release of 'Sharky's Machine' starring Burt Reynolds. It was made

in 1981 and was filmed in and around the City of Atlanta.

And yes Burt is remembered for films like Deliverance and Boogie Nights, but for

me this was Burt's best film in which he also Directed.

In the movie plot Sharky (Burt Reynolds) is demoted to the seedy world of the Vice Squad

after a bust up goes horribly wrong. And in his first case in Vice, his team lead by Charles

Durning, just happen to stumble across a mob murder tied to prostitution and government.

Vittorio Gassman is the mobster that's pulling all the strings in the City, even pocketing a local

politician (Earl Holliman) who is running as Governor, while orchestrating his campaign for

his own ends.

Gassman's top hitman 'The Screaming Assassin' is played brilliantly by actor Henry Silva.

And in the bloody climax of the movie he becomes almost ghost like.

In the Youtube clip above we get one of those quiet moments in the middle of the film. I'm not sure

what they call these quieter segments in the movie industry but my guess is that it allows the cinema

goers in the theatre a chance to get their breath back again. And it's in this top scene that Sharky

is on a stake-out keeping an eye on the beautiful Rachel Ward. And not surprisingly it's a favourite

scene for fans of this movie. It also features that classic Hart & Rogers song 'My Funny Valentine'

as a jazz score.

The film was also Directed by Burt Reynolds.

( Video kindly uploaded to Youtube by Jan Shaw )