The Hellbound Heart: The Supernatural Horror Novel and Inspiration for Hellraiser

Noah C. Patterson

A Staple of Horror Literature

"Some of the darkest stories with the most exceptional writing are the shorter ones. The need for a lengthy novel isn't necessary for telling a good story--specifically a good horror story. Clive Barker's novella, The Hellbound Heart, is one of the finest examples of a brilliant, mystical, and harrowing story told in a shorter format. Thanks to the development of the e-book and devices such as Kindle and Nook the writing form of novellas and even novelettes are finally coming back into vogue. These types of stories you can sit down and read in one to three reading sessions. This would be in lines with Edgar Alan Poe's criticism of literature. He believed and wrote that good literature should be brief. A reader should be able to sit a read a story in one sitting therefore receiving a full experience without interruptions. But Clive Barker was one man who was writing novellas before the rise of the internet. Clive Barker stands as one of the most influential and versatile horror author's of the modern age. And likely his most well known and influential books is The Hellbound Heart. Most fans of the horror genre will know this little story for its film adaptation title: Hellraiser. Just the thought of the film adaptation brings images of the frightening and insidious Pinhead, one of the demonic Cenobites released by the Lament Configuration. The Hellbound Heart begins with Frank, a lustful and angry man who is no longer satisfied with the debauchery of the human realm. For years he has been searching for something more. What he has found in his pursuit is the Lament Configuration, a golden puzzle box that when opened will reveal a new world of pleasures and sensations. Frank manages to get the box open and the Cenobites step through, horrific and deformed creatures of pain an torture. Frank is appalled that what he thought would be the ultimate pleasure is actually unending nightmares. The Cenobites take him back into their world to be tortured for eternity. Jump forward a few months and Frank's brother, Rory, and his wife, Julia, are moving into the family home where Frank first opened the box. Julia is unhappy with the new home and with her life with Rory. Throughout the first part of the book Julia reminisces about the one night stand she had with Frank and reveals that she still lusts after him. She wishes she could be with him and not Rory. One of the room's upstairs gives Julia a sick feeling so she locks it up. She wonders what about the room frightens her . . . and yet draws her in. It is on one fateful day that Rory accidently splits his finger open while doing some repairs on the house that acts as the catalyst for the story. Rory runs upstairs to get Julia's help. She has opened the room again to try to figure out its nature and Rory stumbles in. His blood spills onto the floor. They rush Rory to the hospital to get stitched up. What they don't see is the blood being absorbed by the room. It is just enough for Frank to return to the real world, but only in part. He is a deformed and skinless creature forced to crawl along the floorboards. But he desires blood--needs blood--to survive and grow strong before the Cenobites find him again. And he will stop at no ends to get it. Clive Barker is a masterful storyteller and has a beautiful way with words. Although this little novella isn't perfect it is a piece of significant horror fiction the disturbs the mind and questions the moral. Barker has an odd way of switching between the minds of his characters. IT is reminiscent of the modernist elements. There is no break in text to indicate the change. At first this felt odd and was a little hard to follow but later on it was easy to catch on. I am still trying to delve deeper and see the literary purpose behind these shifts. Perhaps the idea that the moral and immoral are much closer than we like to think is one reason for this type of flow in writing, or perhaps the closeness of the two worlds--the mortal with the demonic. Either way, I grew to like his shifting omniscient narrator--able to peer into the minds of any character he wishes. The sections of the book were each fairly short and gripping. This type of writing is very effective in short fiction since it grasps the reader into continuing reading. It's always easy to say, "just one more section, one more chapter" with well structured writing such as this. There was the small occasion where the story was a little slow or dull. But I think this was purposeful to contrast the mundane with the horrible fantastic. The simple and weak desires of the mortal realm are laughed upon in the realm of the Cenobites. The storyline is dark and enjoyable to follow. Clive Barker truly weaves a tale of modern horror like none-other. The gory scenes are well written and reserved enough to not be sickening. Clive Barker's writing is dark and strangely mystical. He manages to weave a tale of disturbing desire and torture while still tastefully sustaining believable and relatable characters. The themes and elements of literature put The Hellbound Heart far above many other horror novels today that only focus on gore and disturbing content. Barker understands horror more than many creators today and I hope more up-and-coming writers will learn from his works of sin, lust, and redemption. (Originally posted on www.asliceofhorror.com) ["

Show more

November 23, 2015 Verified Purchase

Michael Cunningham

"The bell started to ring..."

"Clive Barker's mature horror novella 'The Hellbound Heart', made its debut in 1986 and spawned the cult classic horror film Hellraiser and its subsequent sequels. The book is so short I read it in one sitting and it almost feels like a short story, and this is both the book's strength and weakness. It's a strength because it doesn't waffle on too much and delivers a chilling story in a bite sized chunk, but it's a weakness because its size limits its ability to 'flesh' out the characters and make them three-dimensional. The story is very bleak, and revolves around a hedonist named Frank who travels the world extensively in pursuit of maximum pleasure, and eventually learns of a rumour - 'from the lips of a fellow derelict' - of a 'pleasure dome where those who had exhausted the trivial delights of the human condition might discover a fresh definition of joy.' It's said that a handful of maps to this territory had been held by certain people, such as the Marquis De Sade, who had possession of one such map and 'used it, while imprisoned in the Bastille, to barter with a guard for paper on which to write The 120 Days of Sodom'. Frank finds one of these maps, a puzzle box built by a craftsman called Lemerchand, and solves it in order to summon the Cenobites - demonic beings that rule the realm of pleasure that Frank desperately wants to visit. Frank quickly realises that the Cenobites definition of pleasure is a far cry from his, and actually involves considerable amounts of pain and torture. This makes the allusion to the Marquis De Sade having possession of the map an interesting one, as it implies that he wrote his infamously sadistic book due to his own twisted experiences in the Cenobite's dimension. The book then introduces three more characters: Rory, Frank's polar opposite 'nice guy' brother, Julia, his beautiful yet cold wife, and Kirsty, an innocent daydreamer who is secretly in love with Rory. Both Rory and Julia move into the house that Frank used to live in before he mysteriously disappeared, soon after, however, Frank manages to escape the Cenobite's dimension and lurks in their attic as a scarred and hideous monster, and he needs blood to replenish his damaged body. I won't give any more away as to do so would be to rob you of finding out yourself, unless of course you've seen the film Hellraiser, in which case you already know what happens. It's impossible not to compare the book to the movie as they are so similar... I think they're both just as good as each other, but I have a slight preference towards the movie. The book's greatest triumph is its poetic prose, which manages to bring unreal situations to life through its painting of descriptions and scenes in vivid detail; it also has a gritty edge to it and describes gore and the fragility of the human body with a surgeon-like precision. Unlike the movie, which is very much a product of the time it was created (the 80s), the novella's lucid descriptions are essentially timeless. The other element that the book excels in over the movie is the construction of the ending, while the movie takes the more typical action oriented approach to the ending, the novella instead adds layers of tension and presses on it like a tightly wound spring, holding it until its shocking release and epic resolution. I only wish the middle part of the book had been as well told as its end. The beginning of the book - the story of Frank - was also very good, but I feel it should have been explored a bit more. I wanted to learn more about Frank's experiences in the Schism and how it shaped the monster he had become; even a few flashback paragraphs here and there would've been better than nothing. The Hellbound Heart is almost like three mini books in one, and rather than being seamlessly interwoven, they are awkwardly hanging together by bloody hooks and chains. The first book is the story of Frank and the Cenobites, the second book is the clumsy tale of Julia and her longing for Frank, and the third book is the story of Kirsty and the tense climax (that didn't sound sexual at all). The other thing that the film wins on is the aesthetic. While the book is very well written, if it weren't for having seen the movie I doubt I'd have been able to picture a lot of what was going on. Also, the film's aesthetic was so strong, and so perfectly done, that I couldn't picture anything but the film while I was reading it. Frankly, I also thought the movie was a bit scarier, mainly because of its portrayal of body horror and its claustrophobic filming techniques. However, seeing as the book came first, I'm going to review it on its own merits and not its weaknesses compared to its film counterpart, so in that case it gets a 4/5 instead of the 3/5 I wanted to give it. ["

Show more

April 15, 2014 Verified Purchase

Negan 88

Revisiting an Old Friend, and Noticing Many Differences...

"I started this read with such fervor! I absolutely love Clive’s work! As I read the book I was intrigued at how much I missed that was different from the film when I read it years ago. Therefore, after I breakdown the novella I decided I would compare it to the film. But first the novella by itself. I have to admit it was a different journey reading this at 32 in comparison to my early 20’s and younger. I suppose possibly I have become more familiar with the film since then. (It is one of my favorites). The plot is very simple, yet it grabs your attention at the very moment Frank is introduced in the beginning chapter. It has a very mysterious quality to what actually happened to him once he opens the Lemarchand Configuration. Not until later does it become apparent. Once the box is opened the Cenobites, although independent, seem to have a oneness. It is also interesting that the Cenobites really don’t feel as menacing, or evil as Frank is in the novel. Julia seems to be a holier than thou type of human. She sees others as inferior, and also has the air of what she wants she gets. In other words a B*^$&. Turning into an evil B*^$& later upon discovering Frank, and wanting to bring him back no matter the cost. Rory is such a boring character. He is very dependent on Julia’s affection, and approval. He seems very whiney and a sissy. Not to mention passes out at his own blood! He simply is a average Joe wanting a decent life in their newly acquired home that he inherited. Kirsty is also a very annoying character. For being the “final girl” so to speak she really sucks. She is a Debbie downer, always thinks “poor pitiful me”, she loves Rory and is jealous of Julia having him. Unbeknownst to her Julia doesn’t really love Rory, and she despises Kirsty. As the novella propelled forward very quickly it was an amazing, and easy read! I was shocked at the differences I noticed, but I still love this novella. I will most certainly revisit it again in the future at some point. I will go into a bit more detail when I compare the film. However, I still stand firm and give The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker five stars out of five! I honestly thought this rating would change, but I was not let down once again! It remains one of my favorite horror novellas of all time! Comparison: Novella & Film I absolutely love Clive’s 1987 movie Hellraiser, and the second installment Hellbound Hellraiser II! I have watched the film countless times, and it never gets old! In fact after reading the novella once more there were some things that I felt Clive changed to better the film. First off, the Cenobites each have more of their own personality, or fleshed out so to speak. They are much more menacing in the film, and depicted differently than the novella. For starters Pinhead is really only described once in the novella when Frank first opens the box, and in the book seems to be female having a breathy girl/female voice. I felt that changing Pinhead and using Doug Bradley was an amazing change! Also, the movie seems to incorporate the Cenobites much more especially in the climax. I felt that this was much more effective. However, even though Frank is evil it did seem to make him a bit more tame when the Cenobites were included a bit more. Julia was spot on! I feel like it was perfect that hardly if any changes occurred in her character, and personality. Stone cold B*^$& she was, and remains. Rory seems to be a bit less pathetic in the film, but still rather boring. However, having a daughter makes him seems much stronger, and not as whiny. Still, afraid of his own blood. I thought it was genius that Clive used a nail in the film to cut Rory’s hand, but I much rather would have seen him slip with the chisel (as in the novella), and gash is hand open. Kirsty, the “final girl”, is so much more amazing in the film than on paper! I felt that Clive’s changes were absolutely perfect! Making Kirsty Rory’s daughter was so much more effective than someone who desperately loved Rory but couldn’t have him. She also has a much more strong personality, and it only grows stronger throughout the film. The scene where she is fighting Frank in the room upstairs I particularly like the fact that the line changed to “you want it f*^%ing take it!” Rather than Kirsty simply throwing the box out the window. So much more power for her character. Also, Frank being her uncle makes him a bit more depraved when he craves Kirsty. Overall, I feel the film was completed much more efficiently than the novella. However, I love that they differ in many ways. It makes it fresh, and it is fun to see the differences and decide what could have been done differently or not. All in all, I give Hellraiser 1987 five stars out of five stars. I feel that it certainly was a passionate project that Clive poured his blood, sweat, and tears into. I do think that those who bash the films should read The Hellbound Heart because I think it would possibly bring more respect to what the film achieved in comparison to the novella. Although I gave both the novella and the movie five stars out of five stars I felt like they both deserve it in their own right. I attempted to be as non biased as possible when breaking this down. ["

Show more

July 15, 2020 Verified Purchase

Jessica Norris

A brillant book!

"I wasn't sure what to expect with a Clive Barker novella, to be honest I had seen movies with his name attached and had more often than not been let down. I picked this book up from a paperback swap site and was surprised at how short it was. Although and avid horror fan, I love the Hellraiser film series! I was pleasantly surprised. Although it is obvious that the original Hellraiser film follows this story almost exactly, the daytime soap opera acting kept the movie from realizing the horror of this book. I found "Hellbound Heart" to be a surprisingly quick read, easy to follow and descriptive enough to see what is being said without being overly wordy. I would have to agree with the other readers that the concept is very Lovecraftian, the style however is very different. The story follows Frank, a disturbing man who has sought out pleasure of the senses his entire life. Viewed by others as a wastrel, he spends his time committing petty crimes and seeking to fill his lustful desires. He learns of a special puzzle box, which is supposed to open a door to the Cenobites who will show him a new realm of pleasure. Our journey starts as Frank opens the box, meeting the Cenobites and discovering the reality of their being. What follows is a tale of lust, pain and pleasure. To what lengths will someone to go fulfill their fantasy? What are they willing to believe, to do, and to suffer through? The book is well written and can be taken at just face value as a horror tale. However it also begs to discuss the reality and strength of ones desire and fantasy. With this being one of his first novels, there are some writing flaws to be found throughout the book, but none are distracting enough to jump out at you. My main irritant was not having any background or understanding of the relationship Kristy had with the rest of the characters. At first I assumed her to be a sister, I recalled from the movie she was a daughter, and then finally settled on the idea that she was an old friend of Rory's. Her relationship is never laid out for us. I think knowing that bond would have strengthened her position in the story since she is so vital to the finale. All in all this is a wonderful quick read for any horror fan. ["

Show more

August 4, 2016 Verified Purchase

Ryan Sean O'Reilly

A carnal visage of thrill-based plotting that is both fast and to the point…that being the tip of a meat hook.

"This tale is told from differing points of view. The story’s initial character, Frank, is wrought with hedonistic addictions that can no longer be satiated through earthly delights. Instead, Frank, uses his seedy contacts in the underworld to push his fingers through quivering portals which grant access to other planes of existence. Clive Barker’s prose is airy and meaty at the same time. When the gate opens, this author is off to the races and deftly capturing the horrific tones he aims to achieve. Along the way he manages to let storyline stub its toes and scrape its knees along the ground just enough to make sure the reader is paying attention (without overdoing things). The characters in this fast-paced novella all have issues. Each of them wrestles with banal afflictions based in selfish desires. Barker manages to intertwine their journeys through familial relationships and themes of unrequited love—contrasted by base desires. Each person’s fate is wrapped up in the others. Then Barker throws open a supernatural gate to hellish dimensions, and lets the demons feast on all the weakness and short comings that have been laid bare. The demons, Cenobites, are unique entities that have managed to capture horror fans everywhere in their unique yet familiar perspective. Barker etches out the barest flesh of this secondary world and utilizes the fantastical elements sparingly, mostly preferring the humans to bring about their own demise (as they wont to do) and letting the Cenobites play clean up. There is always a choice, perhaps not a clear choice or an easy choice, but the characters in this novella all take matters into their own hands. And pay for their choices. I must say that this short story took me back to younger days, when I would stay up late cracking the spine of an old Stephen King tome—every once in a while looking up to make sure that a dimensional rift hadn’t opened up behind me without my noticing. It’s a fun tale of terror that moves along at an impeccable pace and takes enough shots at your gut to make you think twice about our baser human leanings. In contrast to King, however, Barker’s prose is much less wordy. The story has a good mix of immoral complexities and supernatural interferences to give the characters a healthy dose of agency and make you concerned about their wants/needs/goals, whether from aghast or earnest emotion. You simply have to find out if they might pull this off, or if you know they won’t—how far they’ll get before it all comes apart. All in all, a solid read. If anything, I would have liked to see more of the Cenobites, but perhaps that was the point. Too much of the supernatural element might have lessened the effect. Podcast: If you enjoy my review (or this topic) this book and the movie based on it were further discussed/debated in a lively discussion on my podcast: “No Deodorant In Outer Space”. The podcast is available on iTunes, Tune-In Radio, Stitcher, Google Play Music, YouTube or our website. ["

Show more

October 18, 2016 Verified Purchase