One of Clive Barker’s lesser-seen short story adaptations was for Rawhead Rex. The British anti-religion film was felt like a Roger Corman version of folklore. Rawhead Rex is the cooler-than-cool berzerker demon who dresses in leather and wears a mullet like no other. Barker’s underappreciated, ultra-low-budget film is headed for a special Kino Lorber 4K UHD edition.
Synopsis for Rawhead Rex it goes like this:
“He is pure evil…pure power…pure terror! RawHead Rex is a demon, alive for millennia, trapped in the depths of hell and awaiting release. He is held by an ancient seal, sealed for centuries in a barren field near the hamlet of Rathmore, Ireland. Over time, this horrific legacy has been forgotten, dismissed as a quaint pre-Christian myth, until Tom Garron (Donal McCann) decides to show the field his ancestors knew better than to disturb. The seal is broken and an unspeakable evil is unleashed – in a fury of blood and lust. Howard Hallenbeck (David Dukes), an American historian on a working vacation with his family, discovers a series of scenes depicting RawHead Rex’s reign of terror in the stained glass windows of a local church, but the only piece of glass depicting defeat. the monster is missing. RawHead Rex is on the loose and insatiable as Howard desperately races against the clock for a way to stop the vicious monster. Directed by George Pavlou (Transmutations) with a screenplay by horror legend Clive Barker (Hellraiser, Candyman, Nightbreed, Lord of Illusions).“
The short story came from Clive Barker’s Books of Blood, Volume III and told a sacrilegious story about good ole Rex. Of course, there are some variations between the story and the film, but Rex remains intact.
If you saw Rawhead Rex at some point in your life, you and everyone else remember Rawhead Rex taking an acid piss, steaming on a preacher’s face. It’s one of those images that embeds itself deep in your mind.
Amazing special features for Rawhead Rex were created in part by Black Mansion Film producer Heather Buckley.
DISC 1 (4K UHD):
-New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – from a new 4K scan of the original camera negative
-Audio commentary with director George Pavlou, moderated by author Stephen Thrower
-5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio
– Optional English subtitles
DISC 2 (Blu-ray):
-HD Restoration 2017 – From a 4K scan of the original camera negative
-Audio commentary with director George Pavlou, moderated by author Stephen Thrower
-CALL ME RAWHEAD: Interview with actor Heinrich von Bünau (Rawhead Rex)
-GROWING PAINS – THE CHILDERS OF RAWHEAD: Interview with actors Hugh O’Conor and Cora Venus Lunny
-WHAT THE DEVIL DID: Interview with actor Ronan Wilmot
-RAWK ‘N’ ROLL – REX SESSION: Interview with songwriter Colin Towns
-RAWHEAD FX – A COCK AND BULL STORY: Interview with crew members Peter Mackenzie Litten, Gerry Johnston, Rosie Blackmore, John Schoonraad and Sean Corcoran
-RAWHEAD RISING: Interview with artist Stephen R. Bissette
-RAWHEAD REX: Gallery of behind-the-scenes footage and original art
-RAWHEAD REX: Restored Theatrical Trailer
-5.1 Surround and 2.0 Lossless Audio
– Optional English subtitles
Release of Kino Lorber Rawhead Rex is headed to 4K UHD and Blu-Ray on March 28, 2023. You can pre-order your copy right HERE.