Belial (Basket Case, 1982)
Watercolor on 8.5 x 11 in. art paper
Created: October 11, 2025
Original and prints available — contact for availability.
Part of the 31 Days of Horror 2025 series
In Frank Henenlotter’s Basket Case, Belial is one of horror’s most unforgettable creations — the misshapen, telepathic twin hidden inside a wicker basket and driven by rage, trauma, and a warped bond with his brother, Duane. This portrait focuses on Belial’s raw aggression and anguished expression: all teeth and torment, lit from below like a grindhouse nightmare come alive. The splashes of sickly flesh tones and deep reds call back to the film’s grimy, DIY exploitation roots, where sleaze, sorrow, and shock all blend into one unforgettable cult experience.
Fun Facts:
Basket Case was shot on a shoestring budget in New York City and became a midnight-movie staple.
The Belial effects were achieved through puppetry, stop motion, and handmade practical work.
Director Frank Henenlotter would go on to make more cult oddities like Brain Damage and Frankenhooker.
Behind This Artwork:
I wanted to tap into Belial’s emotional ugliness — not just the monster, but the wounded creature underneath. There’s something tragic in those twisted features, like a child frozen in rage and abandonment. Even if you’ve never seen Basket Case, Belial has lived on through VHS art, horror zines, and cult-film posters — the image of “the thing in the basket” is impossible to forget once you’ve seen it.
Explore More:
This piece is part of my 31 Days of Horror watercolor series. If you love sleazy 42nd-Street horror, strange creature features, and off-beat cult monsters, take a look at the other paintings in the collection.
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