6 Shots From 6 Films: Special Clive Barker Edition


4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films is just what it says it is, 4 (or more) shots from 4 (or more) of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 (or more) Shots From 4 (or more) Films lets the visuals do the talking.

Today, we wish a happy 71st birthday to writer and occasional director Clive Barker!  Barker’s stories have provided the basis for several films and Barker himself attempted to build a career of his own as a filmmaker.  Though he pretty much retired from directing after the box office failure of Lord of Illusions, he still has a better directorial track record than Stephen King and his films (along with his stories and his novels) continue to influence new horror storytellers.

Today, we honor both the birthday and the cinematic career of Clive Barker with….

6 Shots From 6 Clive Barker Films

Salome (1973, dir by Clive Barker)

The Forbidden (1978, dir by Clive Barker)

Hellraiser (1987, dir by Clive Barker, DP: Robin Vidgeon)

Nightbreed (1990, dir by Clive Barker, DP: Robin Vidgeon)

Candyman (1992, dir by Bernard Rose, DP: Anthony B. Richmond, based on a short story by Clive Barker)

Lord of Illusions (1995, dir by Clive Barker, DP: Ronn Schmidt)

Horror Song of the Day: It Was Always You, Helen from Candyman (by Phillip Glass)


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Latest Horror Song of the Day comes courtesy of one Phillip Glass who was tasked with composing the film score for the film adaptation of Clive Barker’s short story “The Forbidden”. The film would become Candyman.

“It Was Always You, Helen” becomes the film’s overarching theme throughout the film. Unlike other horror themes before it, the one created by Glass for Candyman highlighted the Southern Gothic backstory of the title character and the origins of the Candyman legend. It’s been called a minimalist score, yet it’s selling the film score short, especially this theme. While Glass has become famous for his work within the minimalist music movement he actually created a very symphonic score, albeit one which focused on subtlety over bombastic.

While listened on it’s own doesn’t evoke any sort of shivers up one’s arms and back, this theme will bring about such feeling of supernatural dread when paired with the film. It’s a shame that Phillip Glass doesn’t do more horror film scores because this theme and the score for the film shows that he has a knack for it.