[Film Review] Rawhead Rex (1986)

Rawhead Rex is a 1986 fantasy horror written by Clive Barker. It follows Howard Hallenbeck on his journey across Ireland, researching articles of religious significance. Whilst researching a lurid stained-glass window in a local church, he is witness to the rebirth of Rawhead Rex, a bloodthirsty, befanged harbinger of chaos.

Rawhead soon begins to wreak havoc on the village, terrorising people in farmhouses and caravan parks. Howard, heedless of his wife’s misgivings and the growing tension between them, refuses to leave the village until it is too late. For this, he pays the ultimate price, and then sets out for revenge, determined to punish Rawhead for his wicked ways. But it is soon made clear that sending Rawhead back to Hell will be much more difficult that it seems. 

There are certain elements of Rawhead Rex that are clearly Clive Barker, including a bizarre baptism with urine, and the ecstasy of pain and destruction. There is also an interesting tension between traditional religion and older, more ancient, deities. A priest confronts Rawhead, stating ‘this is Christ’s house’ but it wasn’t always so. Rawhead is the embodiment of old evil and old religions clashing with a modern world that has forgotten to fear them. This is a common theme with Clive Barker’s work, and it is interesting to see this in rural Ireland, a place full of ancient pagan traditions that often clash with Christian faiths. There is also the significance, and power, of women and the divine feminine, exploring the interesting cycle of birth, death and rebirth, and its role in the vanquishing of evil. There are some fantasy elements alongside the rampage of Rawhead, that add another element to the film, particularly in the final act. These elements are well produced, and the effects have held up well over time. 

Aside from this, Rawhead Rex could be a forgettable addition to the canon of Cliver Barker’s work, and it is by no means in the same league as Hellraiser, but it is not without its charms. There are some excellent practical effects, including severed heads and arms. However, this creativity ends with Rawhead himself. The costume is a hilariously bad mix of Poundland fright mask, and DIY skills with lightbulbs. The effect is so bizarre that it removes any potential for scares. But the over-the-top sequence in a caravan park is fun, and overall, this is a more than passable watch. It is an 80’s horror offering, and we all know what we are getting into. Although the production quality of Rawhead is so low that it in fact transcends beyond bad into so bad it’s good territory, the plot of the film is entertaining and well-written. What else would you expect from the master of horror? Try Rawhead Rex on a day when you want to be entertained, rather than terrified, and want to see some masterfully 80’s knitwear and a funhouse demon of epically bad proportions. 

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