Clive Barker’s 1987 Hellraiser introduced millions of people to the dark world of the cenobites, blending pleasure and pain into an indistinguishable experience and one notably torturous scene includes an infamous line that was never in the script. Following the story of Julia, a woman obsessed with her husband’s mysterious brother Frank, the film explores the true meanings of horror, lust, and pain.
Perhaps more well-known for its depictions of the horrific yet sensual cenobites, Hellraiser is first and foremost a story of human monstrosity, and has given birth to quite a few iconic and highly quotable lines such as, “No tears, please, it’s a waste of good suffering,” “We have such sights to show you,” and “Your suffering will be legendary, even in hell.”
However, perhaps the most iconic line takes place in the final scenes of the movie when Kirsty Cotton has finally managed to reunite the cenobites with their escaped prisoner, Frank. Now wearing Larry’s skin, and so played by Andrew Robinson, Frank is caught with hooks and chains, trapping him a web of torture. Just before the chains literally pull him to pieces, Frank says the now-iconic line, “Jesus wept.”
Though this line is now considered one of the most memorable and iconic quotes in Hellraiser, it wasn’t originally in the script and was actually ad-libbed by Andrew Robinson. Interestingly, as was discussed in Leviathan: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser II a documentary about the makings of the first two Hellraiser films, the line was originally supposed to be “f**k you” as Frank expresses his anger at Kirsty having led him back into the clutches of the cenobites.
However, Andrew Robinson (Clive Barker loved it immediately, or only came to love it later after initially being frustrated at the change, however, regardless of the immediacy, it’s clear Clive loved the line swap enough to use that take in the final cut of the scene.
“Jesus wept” is perhaps most well-known for being the shortest verse in the King James version of the Christian Bible, appearing in John 11:35. To be specific, it refers to Jesus’ reaction to Lazarus’ family and their grief at the death of their beloved family member. However, the phrase is also used commonly in British and Irish dialects as an expression of exasperation, often used sarcastically or even as an expletive. In the context of the scene, it’s possible that the phrase is used as a way to mock Kirsty's horror and grief over her father is mocked in the face of Frank's sublime agony. It can also be seen as a sort of dark comedic line, as if Frank is essentially saying something like, “oh bother,” just before he’s literally ripped to pieces.
Fans have considered all sorts of rationales and deeper meanings for the iconic line with its biblical origins in this film that’s so darkly sexual and deviant. However, while it’s not unfair to read a lot of that as secondary intent, the real story behind the “Jesus wept,” line in Hellraiser is much more mundane - Andrew Robinson simply didn’t want to swear.
