DVD Review: CLIVE BARKER ORIGINS: SALOME AND THE FORBIDDEN

CLIVE BARKER ORIGINS:  SALOME AND THE FORBIDDEN
Written and Directed by:  Clive Barker
Distributed by MVD Entertainment

  If you are a fan of Clive Barker, you will definitely want to check out SALOME & THE FORBIDDEN,  two short films made by Barker back in the 70's.   SALOME was made in 1973 when Barker was only 21 years old.  THE FORBIDDEN was filmed in 1978 when Barker was 26.   It is very interesting to get to see these early works of Mr. Barker's.   These two short films have been released together on one DVD from MVD.  Here is a bit about the films from the MVD website:

  In 1970s Liverpool, Clive Barker and a small group of friends from college made two short films. "Salome" (1973) and "The Forbidden" (1978) feature early footage of Barker, who also did most of the special effects, and Doug Bradley, who went on to fame as Pinhead in the "Hellraiser" films. Also included are interviews with Barker, Bradley and other key players. Contains graphic violence and nudity. "Salome" is an 18-minute version of the tale based on the Oscar Wilde play and "The Forbidden" is a 35-minute short.

  These films are very strange to say the least.  There is very little to no dialog in the films.  They are very "art-house" type films full of weird, creepy imagery and scenes.  Seeing as how they were shot in the 70's on pretty cheap film equipment, the quality is pretty bad so keep that in mind when you go to view these films.  Also, if there were plots for these films, I sure couldn't find them upon viewing these short films.  I'm not sure if plot is really what Barker was concentrating on here, though.   I think these were filmed more as a showcase for his special effects and creepy imagery.

  It's pretty amazing to see what Barker went on to do when you compare these early films to his more modern stuff.  I think everyone would agree that the HELLRAISER films were his greatest achievement.  Some of the imagery is similar and it is very interesting to see how he started his career.  

  Included on this DVD is a great interview with a young Clive Barker about his early films.  This was a very interesting interview I had never seen before and to me, makes this DVD worth the purchase for sure.   The DVD is available now from MVD.


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