#HorrorMovie Favorites - Hellraiser Part 2 #PromoteHorror

I can smell the exquisite stench of what you really are. Pinhead

Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996) is the origin story of the box a.k.a. LeMarchand’s Box a.k.a. Lament Configuration. This is also the final theatrical release in the Hellraiser franchise. It’s obvious to me that this film was made as an anthology, but unlike other anthology movies, there is a continuum that puts it together into a cohesive story.

Dr. Paul Merchant tells the story of his ancestors and how the box became. The only part of the story that I question the most is how Jacques was alive in 1996. He has a vampire feel to him at this point, which I guess could be attributed to something with Angelique, but it’s never said. The other thing that is barely touched on is the erotic flavor.

In this fourth installment, the special effects have greatly improved as do the Cenobites. I’ve always loved the twins and the way they are created with the exquisite machine that fuses them so they never have to be separated from the other for eternity. The hellhound like beast is excellent too, part Chatterer part wolf.

I give Hellraiser: Bloodline 4.5 of 5 Stars.

Maybe this guy just wants his box back. Detective Tony Nenonen

Hellraiser: Inferno (2000) is the first in the Hellraiser franchise that was a direct to video release. It is also the first that changes the pace completely. I’m not saying that it’s bad. It’s one of those things that if you aren’t expecting it, you’re going to be disappointed or hate it because of that strange step into a different reality.

It always trips me out when I see Craig Sheffer as Detective Joseph Thorne in this film because he was Boone in Nightbreed. I’ve seen him in tons of other things throughout the years, but this role is strange for me because of the Clive Barker Universes colliding, even though the characters are entirely different.

At times, I felt like I was watching a Sam Spade mystery with Hellraiser aspects thrown in as an afterthought. There are references to the Engineer (from the novella) and thoughts of hell chambers (from one of the comic adaptations, I can’t remember which one) are introduced, it adds an ethereal layer that makes the different bits stick together better. But then I start to get pissed again because I feel ripped off with dream sequence horror; the shit didn’t happen, so who fucking cares.

I like the Cenobite girls. They are creepy and dark. The symbols carved into their skin remind of something, and it’s Nightbreed (Cabal), making the two universes collide again. The audio effects with what’s happening behind closed doors are excellent, but I really want to witness the events in the room not just the blob-like goo coming from under the door. A few other things make me think WTF. Kung Fu Native American Cowboys, really? And then there’s the horrible transition from therapist to Pinhead, I’ve seen that effect done so much better in classic 50s and 60s movies.
Hellraiser: Inferno could’ve been so much better even with it being a direct to video film.

I can only give it 3 out of 5 Stars.

Which do you find more exhilarating, Trevor, pain or pleasure? Personally, I prefer pain. Pinhead

It’s been a while since I saw Hellraiser: Hellseeker and I couldn’t remember if I liked it when I started watching it. Kirsty Cotton is back, well, for a few seconds here and there, so that’s a bonus. It’s another mystery style film with, I guess, another hell chamber (megafans, please don’t be offended by the term). Dean Winter takes the lead as Trevor Gooden – he’s always nice to look at – who is experiencing hallucinations and nightmares.

I’m not impressed with the new Cenobites, they aren’t anything special, so I don’t know why they bothered since Pinhead is the only one we care about. The torrid events of the story aren’t spectacular enough for me to even mention more than I have in the previous paragraph.

When Trevor finally gets chained, I almost don’t care, but then his memories return, and we get to the meat of it with Kirsty. She made a deal with Pinhead to trade five souls for hers, and Trevor was the fifth. She also gets the box back. Lucky her. Too bad nothing came of that reunion.

I give Hellraiser: Hellseeker 3 out of 5 Stars.