In 1970's Liverpool, Clive Barker and a small group of friends from college made two short films, unseen by the general public until now. "Salome" (1973) and "The Forbidden" (1978) feature early footage of Barker, who also... more » did most of the special effects, and Doug Bradley, who went on to fame as Pinhead in the "Hellraiser" films. Also included are interviews with Barker, Bradley and other key players. Contains graphic violence and nudity. Silent with music score.« less
"Weird to see this old movie of ours on DVD. This was filmed mainly in the basement of my sister's florist's shop in Liverpool where some of the paintings for the set are still on the walls. We seemed to recut and re film so many times over a period of years that I can't recall ever thinking that the movie was finished. Still there it is for you hardened Barker fans - would have been nice if they spelt my name right!!! Ann Taylor"
Early Clive Barker's takes on "Salome" and "Faust"
Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 08/13/2001
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Clive Barker made these two silent shorts, shot in black-and-white with music, in the early 1970s in Liverpool and even appeared in them. "Salome" is an 18-minute version of the tale based on the Oscar Wilde play, with Anne Taylor as Salome and Doug Bradley as King Herod. Peter Atkins plays Faust in "The Forbidden," a 35-minute short that is the better of the two works. Uniquely stylized, these short films are powerful precursors to his late works involving a puzzle book sequence and a skinning segment that hint at what was to come from this modern master of horror. I am surprised these were not simply included as bonus features on the "Hellraiser" DVDs. These are clearly going to be of interest almost exclusively to Barker's fans, who might not want to own these short films but who certainly would be find them fascinating to see a couple of times."
Experimental Barker
Abe J. Flores | Culver City, CA United States | 09/20/1999
(3 out of 5 stars)
"This is early early Barker, at his most experimental. These two films are short and silent with a modern score overlaid. Transfers are rough, and scratchy, but that may be deliberate. If you've seen the AFI-Lynch shorts you know the mood of these pieces. I cannot make a general recomendation but for those of us with an unhealthy interest in Clive's work its a decent investment. Be warned though Redemption Video has an over-long and somewhat silly pre-movie video sequence that is basically an ad for their other releases."
The dark side is shown here
errata_hominem | tlalnepantla de baz, estado de mexico Mexico | 02/15/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"An excelent peace of master work, i see this movie for the first time in a concert in mexico city in a place called "La Victoria" it was part of a fetish festival and i get amazed by all his dark beauty,now that i i could finally watch al over i get stuned by all the details and all the dark impresions in my mind.
its a must have for any self called gothic or night creature."
A Must-Have for Barker Fans!
Lauryn Angel-cann | Frisco, TX | 05/08/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"These films are a fascinating look at Clive's early work. If you have only a mild interest in Clive Barker, these may not be for you, as they are a little difficult to follow at times. "The Forbidden", Barker's retelling of the Faust legend, is by far my favorite of the two--the part with the skin peeling is amazing! What makes the DVD worth owning is, of course, the interview with Barker about the making of the films. What makes no sense is the arrangement of the DVD. Instead of taking you directly to the menu, the disc runs completely through the program before the menu pops up. Another minus is Redemption Video's ridiculous, soft-core porn introduction that is nothing more than a glorified advertisement for their video line. It seems silly to take a star away for that, I know, but it really does detract from the overall experience. Trust me."