Customer Reviews

Clive Barker's Salome & The Forbidden

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I love his work, but I found this a bit hard to get through. It's all images, no text or dialogue (save for the interviews), and though it is visually compelling, it may not be appealing to those who don't like surrealistic art flicks. The Forbidden is beautiful to see, as is Salome...very different from what we're used to. The bizarro introduction put forth by Redemption Video is pure tripe; fast foward through it.

This is a rare example of Barker's early work, featuring a young Doug Bradley (Pinhead from the Hellraiser series) as a surreal incarnation of a celluloid nutter and electroconvulsive therapy boy next door. These two short films 'Salome' & 'The Forbidden' were restored under Barker's supervision and are accompanied by filmed interviews with Barker, Bradley and other key players.

First we have 'Salome' Directed by Clive Barker, Music by Adrian Carson, Cast by Ann Taylor, Graham Bickley, Clive Barker, Doug Bradley, Phil Rimmer, Lyn Darnell, Susan Bickley and Julie Blake, filmed in 1973.

Second we have 'The Forbidden' Cast by Peter Atkins, Clive Barker, Doug Bradley, Phil Rimmer, Lyn Darnell and Julie Blake, filmed in 1975-1978.

Both short films feature early footage of Barker himself, who also did most of the special effects. In 'The Forbidden', Pete Atkins plays Faust, who is rather convincingly flayed toward the end of the film. Atkins later wrote the screenplays for the three 'Hellraiser' sequels and more recently wrote the screenplay for 'The Wishmaster'. Also featured is the inspiration for Pinhead's amazing appearance - a square block of wood covered in 6" nails. The anatomical etchings of Vesalius are also rather convincingly brought to life.

The discovery of these early shorts came about when an independent television production company interviewed Barker about his work. Clips were needed for the documentary, and so the task of restoring both shorts was undertaken. However, although 'Salome' was more or less completed, 'The Forbidden' remained in an unfinished, unedited state. With Barker's assistance, this was achieved, and he approved the final cuts of both shorts for this release on DVD.

If you are a fan of Clive Barker or just want to own all the strange movies like I do (trust me I have a lot), then purchase this one and enjoy my friends. You have to enjoy the early works of famous directors. They have to start somewhere. Look at Peter Jackson's first films (Brilliant I might add). Dead-Alive, Meet The Feebles or Bad Taste. Or David Lynch's Eraserhead. Or Cronenberg's Videodrome, The Brood, Scanners, Shivers or Rabid.

You can appreciate that these directors can make movies like 'Lord Of The Rings', 'eXistenZ', Spider, Naked Lunch, Lost Highway, Twin Peaks, Lords of Illusion or even Hellraiser, but look into the early stuff that the great directors have produced/directed. There is some great stuff that is hidden/forgotten out there that should be in everyone's collection of the strange, weird or abnormal movie collectors. Here's another great one 'The Short Films Of David Lynch'. To find out more, read my review on 'The Short Films Of David Lynch' or any of my other reviews. Look folks I didn't make these movies, I just enjoy stuff that is NOT mainstream. It's not every day you get to see movies like these. I swear it even opens new doors in your imagination. I'll keep on watching these movies and then writing these reviews, if you keep on reading them. Enjoy KIDDIES!

Not only was I pleased with the price of this product but also the perfect condition it came in as well as the speed with which I received it. Excellent seller and I would highly recommend them and I would buy from them again.

Clive Barker's Salome & The Forbidden are marvels of eccentricity and artistic freedom. Both shorts, within its silent contents, are provocative food for the eyes and mind and an example of Barker's early talent for film making. These include eye opening performances by Doug Bradley, Anne Taylor and Clive Barker. A must see for all!

Well Ladies and Germs! This one's for the ole man in da sky ... an odd but not disappointing first vision of Mr. Barker's sm and then some world. Salome counterpoints Nazimova's version quite cutely - now - the Forbidden? Reminds so much of other student efforts .......

Vaguely amateur - but piquant - so we must applaud?