Review: The Hellbound Heart by Bafflegab Productions
Like opening Lemarchand’s configuration, I didn’t have a full understanding of what I was getting into. This is not an audiobook, it’s a full-blown audio drama. This means that though it is extremely faithful to the story, it is an adaptation by Paul Kane. There is no narration because the story is told through dialogue, the musical score and sound effects.
As stated above, this is an adaptation, so it veers from the original story only in that the narration and description have been replaced by dialogue. That, and There were a couple anachronistic lines that pull it slightly askew of its 1986 origin. One in which Kirsty, in her office, said she had to send out some emails, and another where the doctor told Kirsty he found her phone… These minor facts shouldn’t overly-bother even the purest of the purists, the strictest theologians, because this production will get its hooks into you.
The cast did an amazing job that rivals Clive Barker’s film adaptation, Hellraiser (and is a worthy alternative to the audiobook narrated by Clive Barker himself). In particular, Neve McIntosh, who played Julia was amazing, though they were all a great cast. I also wasn’t aware until the writing of this review that both Frank and Rory were played by the same person (Tom Meeten). Hellraiser fans will also be pleased to know that the Chatterer himself, Nicholas Vince, plays a cenobite, and one of Julia’s victims — the businessman. Full cast and press release below.
The first thing that struck me about this audio production was the sound design by Simon Robinson. The music by Edwin Sykes is haunting and top-notch. It sets the atmosphere perfectly, and the sound effects are visceral and very real. Particularly the sounds of Frank feeding on his victims, which was unsettling.
Once I started, I had a hard time putting it down. I’d escaped into Clive Barker’s novella, and did not want to get out of the car and go back to work into the world of rain and failure. I can’t recommend this production enough. Whatever sum they are asking, you must pay it. I thought I’d gone beyond the limits. I hadn’t.
This audio drama will be available at www.bafflegab.co.uk on CD for £11.99 GBP or digital album for £8.99 GBP. It will be available on April 27th, 2018.
Keep an eye, or ear out as we’ll be talking about this production again in an upcoming podcast episode.
Press Release Below
THE HELLBOUND HEART
When Frank Cotton (Tom Meeten) finally acquires a fabled puzzle box, he gets more than he bargained for. Because the box is a doorway to another world, to Hell and its dubious pleasures, ruled over by the sadistic Cenobites. And Frank’s reward for opening the box is an eternity of pain beyond imagining.
But when his brother, Rory, and his wife Julia (Neve McIntosh) move in to the house where Frank conducted the ritual, he sees a means of escape. For Julia was once Frank’s lover and swore to do anything for him… even kill, if it would make Frank whole again. Julia will stop at nothing to bring her lover back from Hell, and only Rory’s friend Kirsty (Alice Lowe) unwittingly stands in their way…
Starring Alice Lowe (Prevenge, Sightseers), Tom Meeten (The Ghoul) and Neve McIntosh (Doctor Who), this is a faithful, full-cast adaptation of Clive Barker’s novella (adapted for the screen as the classic horror movie Hellraiser), by Paul Kane (Sherlock Holmes and the Servants of Hell)
Starring
ALICE LOWE as Kirsty
TOM MEETEN as Frank and Rory Cotton
NEVE MCINTOSH as Julia
EVIE DAWNAY as Cenobite 1 and Amy
CHRIS PAVLO as Kircher, Cenobite 2 and Patrick
NICHOLAS VINCE as Cenobite 4 and Businessman
SCOTT BROOKSBANK as Cenobite 3, Sykes and Doctor
LISA BOWERMAN as Susan and Nurse
Written by CLIVE BARKER
Adapted by PAUL KANE
Produced and directed by SIMON BARNARD
Sound design by SIMON ROBINSON
Music by EDWIN SYKES
Artwork by MATTHEW DOW SMITH
Design by MATT BRIGHT
Recorded at MOAT STUDIOS, London
A Bafflegab Production 2018
Running time: 75 minutes
Released on April 27thfrom www.bafflegab.co.uk and Amazon
