The 1980s produced a slew of horror films, one surprising addition was HellRaiser. The name seems a little misleading after watching, because Hell seems more like some extra-dimensional space than any previous notion of purgatory. As the antagonist, Frank Cotton explains, he was trying to find the ultimate experience where heaven meets hell. But it doesn’t really matter, if you believe the Cenobites are Demons or some sort of trans-dimensional aliens, what is important is that this movie is both horrifying and original when paired against the other horror films of the time. Its stand out cult like following lead to many sequels (even though none of these had much budget or production value). Good news is that there is a new HellRaiser out this year, but one should see the original, written and directed by the twisted Clive Barker, to really appreciate it.

Frank Cotton (Sean Chapman) begins the story by seeking out a special puzzle box for which he drops a load of cash. We see him again in his religious icon laden home, on his knees encircled with candles as he begins to “play” with the magic box. He is transported to another realm which is the epitome of an S/M dungeon, complete with an imposing dungeon-master and his grotesque servants. The imagery is intense but in my humble opinion pales in comparison to Frank’s return to our realm (perhaps the creepiest thing I have ever witnessed).

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Frank enlists the help of his sister in law Julia, who is as obsessed with Frank as he was with experience seeking. She becomes a black widow spider, luring men into her home and brutally murdering them, all the while keeping up pretensions of normalcy with her husband Larry. But he knows something is wrong as asks his daughter Kristy to speak to her step-mom. When she goes to see her, she finds the puzzle-box and accidentally reopens it.

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The acting in Autumn Born is bad by today’s standards, as with many 1970s productions, but Dorthy Stratten does do a good job in the lead role. Dorothy was killed tragically about a year after this film’s release by her jealous estranged husband, so we never got to see her truly flourish as an actress. This film is mostly valued for it’s TnA content. Dorothy Stratten was a tall leggy 18 year old teen beauty.

Ms. Stratten plays Tara Dawson an Autumn born spirited 17 year old heiress, about to gain corporate control of her father’s estate and company on her 18th birthday. She is carefree and spends most of her day either shopping or dancing in the local discotheques. Her uncle, sees her pending birthday as a threat to his controlling position in her late-father’s company and wants her to sign him over control when the time comes. However, he fights with her and tries to use his influence to control her spending. When she confronts him, he says that he will turn the company’s board of director’s against her for her frivolous and undisciplined behavior, to which she retorts that she will seduce them and see who wins.

Due to this Autumn Born’s exceptional beauty, her uncle does not doubt that she will be able to sway most of his colleagues. So he hatches a plan to have her kidnapped and sequestered to a special school where she will be disciplined and taught to submit. This includes the all too often used chloroform tactic popular in the 1970s entertainment genres. Once imprisoned in the private school, Ms. Stratten endures textbook manipulations and brainwashing, in an effort to break her spirit. This movie is especially valued among BDSM fans.

Autumn Born is shot in beautiful locations, it’s scenic beauty a wonderful compliment to Dorthy Stratten’s. We see her in lovely lingerie, clingy dresses and various states of undress. Autumn Born was represented as Wednesday’s Child in the movie Star 80 showcasing the tragic story of Dorthy Stratten.

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