Hellraiser

Right now you can watch Hellraiser in Australia on Amazon Prime Video and Foxtel Now, and in the US on Amazon Prime Video and fuboTV — and it earns its twists rather than manufacturing them. A tight runtime that never overstays its welcome. A 7/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Andrew Robinson anchors it, but the writing does the real work. Put it on tonight on Amazon Prime Video and see for yourself.

Hellraiser is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. At its heart, Hellraiser understands what makes crime drama work — character first, plot second. A hedonistic man finds a mysterious puzzle box that summons a group of gruesome beings known as the Cenobites. These otherworldly entities open the doors to a dominion where pain and pleasure are indivisible. Andrew Robinson and Clare Higgins lead a cast that never lets the mystery feel thin. It hit screens in 1987. Hellraiser is at its best in the quiet scenes between the plot beats, where the character work actually happens. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

If you cannot walk away from a good mystery, Hellraiser will keep you hooked. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Short enough to finish in one sitting, substantial enough to feel satisfying. Andrew Robinson's performance is the kind that shows up on best-of lists years later. If you have been looking for something to fill the gap left by a recently finished story, this is a reliable answer.