Salome (1973)
Clive Barker is a multi-talented horror artist. Mainly a writer, but also a screenwriter, director, producer, actor, painter, illustrator... Although most of you know him as the author of "Hellraiser" movies, for me his life achievement will always be a collection of short stories Book of Blood and video game Undying. Salome from 1973 is the first cinematography attempt of then 20 years old future king of horror. This is short 18 minutes black and white silent film. Maybe more of a visual performance than a real movie. This low-budget or more accurately no-budget film is made in some basement with just a few friends. Using just one light source in complete darkness Barker concentrates more on building an atmosphere than telling a story. Considering when it is done, his age and budget and fact that this is his first amateur attempt of filmmaking, it is very ungrateful to try to rate it objectively. For true Barker fans and film students, this is a must-watch film, which will almost surely leave a positive impression. For the majority of the rest, this will probably be unwatchable crap. To me, this is
<3 Barker <3 /10
The Forbidden (1978)
This is Barker's second movie attempt. Like Salome, this is short, black and white silent film, but this time a bit longer, printed in negative and combined with animation. Barker claims it's based on Faust. Technically it's very experimental and inventive, and special effects are fascinating considering almost no budget. Some elements from this film he later incorporates in "Hellraiser". Although I'm impressed by results amateur achieved without a budget, relying only on his imagination, cleverness and small group of friends, it would be lying to say I liked it. It's so boring that I barely endured till the end. I must admit that the skinning scene is unbelievably convincing considering circumstances. When I found out how it's done I was sincerely stunned.
4/10
