THRILL MEISTER

English horror author Clive Barker--who’s been winning awards for his grisly fiction and raves from the likes of Stephen King--is ready for films.

But his initial foray has left him less than thrilled: It’s “Underworld,” based on Barker’s script about underground mutants that’s in regional release from Empire Pictures. The writer told us that “There’s not much of my work left in it and it was not a terribly pleasant experience.”

He has higher hopes for “Rawhead Rex,” based on his short story about “a nine-foot monster that eats babies.” Empire recently wrapped it from his adaptation.

And Barker will direct his first movie, “Hellraiser,” for Virgin Films and New World, with a fall start.