Terry's Reviews Page |
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Miramax
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By Mike Porciello In 1986, Sci-Fi master, screenwriter, director, Clive Barker, not yet fully established as a master, introduced us to a novella titled The Hellbound Heart. Covering lessons learned with the dangers of perverse addiction, and sado-masochism, this ultimately was the seed for the Hellraiser series, as we've come to know and enjoy. The legendary Pinhead (Doug Bradley), ruler of hell, and his cast of hench slaves, Cenobites, were brought to the silver screen the following year, with the release of Hellraiser, a movie based on the book The Hellbound Heart. Heavy on gore, strong on suspense and dialogue, hell was opened up through a direct connection, with the Lament Configuration box, for those seeking self pleasure. 1988 brought the best, most violent, bloody, and interesting one of the series, Hellbound: Hellraiser 2. THAT was one hell of a movie!! After Clive Barker left involvement with the Hellraiser series, the movies went a little downhill. Some more than others, but still, there really wasn't a bad one in the bunch. This 6 DVD set, parts 3-8, are now yours for your self seeking pleasure; all in one box!! Watch as science fiction and horror marry, to bring you other directors takes on Clive Barker's all time brainchild. Decide for yourself, which one, sans Barker, you like best!! I've been hearing about a Hellraiser remake, and I'm certain it won't live up to expectations. |
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DIMENSION Release CLIVE BARKER Presents: Hellraiser 3: Hell On Earth Starring: Doug Bradley Terry Farrell Paula Marshall Kevin Bernhardt Directed by Anthony Hickox Produced by Lawrence Mortoroff Rated R 1992 93 minutes |
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And thus begins my Top Pick for the 2011 season of the haunt!! As the leaves lay dying on your lawn, as the trees slowly sink into slumber, the nights will grow longer, the days shorter and colder. Just remember, there is worse. There is a box which has survived it's supposed destruction, and a nailed, scarred man, who awaits your one fatal mistake!! Hellraiser 3: Hell On Earth, was the last to receive a theatrical release, and the series began to take a more personal direction with this 1992 release. Pinhead, trying to free himself from imprisonment upon the Pillar of Souls, begins to methodically set traps, and carefully plan his return to the flesh. A young reporter (Farrell) happens upon The Lament Configuration, and with the naiveté of a nightclub owner, all hell literally breaks loose!! Hellbound; Hellraiser 2, will always be favorite of the franchise, but my favorite Pinhead kill(s) will always be in this movie, when Pinhead wastes an entire nightclub. "Shall We Begin"?!! I always found the ending quite humorous, when The Lament Configuration winds up in the architecture. This movie is a bit heavy on suspense, and not as gory as it's two predecessors, but a keeper!! |
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Dimension
Films/Trans Atlantic
Entertainment Hellraiser 4: Bloodline Starring: Doug Bradley Bruce Ramsay Valentina Vargas Written by Peter Atkins Directed b Alan Smithee 1996 Rated R 86 minutes |
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A trilogy, Hellraiser 4, a.k.a Hellraiser: Bloodline was the last Hellraiser to see theaters upon it's release; although nowhere near the scale of it's predecessor Hell On Earth. This Hellraiser is easily the most interesting in the series as it chronicles the 1727 creation of The Lament Configuration, then shifts forward a few hundred years, and ultimately ends with the destruction of Pinhead and the box on the Space Station Minos, in the year 2127. This particular Hellraiser, I felt was the last to have a Clive Barker-esque feel to it. |
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Dimension Home Video Hellraiser: Inferno Starring: Doug Bradley Nicholas Turturro Craig Sheffer James Remar Written by Paul Harris & Scott Derrickson Directed by Scott Derrickson 2000 Rated R 100 minutes |
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After the destruction of the Lament Configuration box, Pinhead, and the Cenobites at the conclusion of Hellraiser: Bloodline, there were a few more stories to tell, before the ultimate throw down. So step back into the year 2000, to a much more Americanized Hellraiser, and see what happens once again, when addiction and greed are dealt with face to face. This Hellraiser, part 5 to be precise, is like I previously mentioned about the direction of the series, after Clive Barker was no longer directly involved, a much more personal story. Denver PD Detective Joseph Thorne, (Sheffer) from Homicide, is a cocaine loving, cheating family man, who has a gift of solving puzzles. When he steals the Lament Configuration from the evidence room, he delves further into his own twisted world of sin, not realizing that he himself is practicing black magic. And black magic always come backs to you harder!! Slowly his world begins to fall apart, and the macabre unravels around him. It is up to Thorne to put the pieces back together, and to salvage the shambles that is his life. "Welcome To Hell"!! Pinhead (ruler of hell, and a neutral omniscient) although rarely seen, is there when you need him most to dish out the punishment. A new batch of Cenobites rounds out this dark lesson of lust. |
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Dimension Films/Neo Art& Logic Hellraiser: Hellseeker Starring: Doug Bradley Ashley Laurence Dean Winters Rachel Hayward Written by Carl Dupree & Tim Day Directed by Rick Bota 2002 Rated R 89 minutes |
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Another dark, lonely, and melodramatic turn down the evolution of the Hellraiser series. Much like part 5, more of a short story feel to it. You can expect greed, adultery, and assorted sin to be judged and the retribution to follow, by rare appearances from Pinhead, and some new Cenobites. Trevor (Winters) tries to cope with his amnesia, while his world is turned upside down. Trying to determine what is and what is not reality, his past finally catches up with him, with one twist of the blade. Kirsty (Laurence), his wife, once again you will find, is up to her tricks of escapism, as the subplots keep mounting in this stranger than paradise 6th installment. Evil vs. evil vs. evil vs. evil, so pay close attention to detail, of this in between story.
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Dimension Films presents A Stan Winston Production In association with Neo Art& Logic: Hellraiser: Deader Starring: Doug Bradley Kari Wuhrer Paul Rhys Simon Kunz Written by Neal Marshall Stevens and Tim Day Directed by Rick Bota 2005 Rated R 89 minutes |
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Wow!! This is the Hellraiser that you've been waiting for!! Hell awaits reporter Amy Klein, (Kari Wuhrer, whom some of you may remember from MTV's "Remote Control") who is investigating a bizarre cult, bent on achieving immortality through suicide and resurrection. This seventh installment shifts focus back to Europe; and just as with the early Hellraisers, the lighting is reminiscent of parts 1 and 2, with it's blue hue, and magnificently depressed features. Add to that an excellent unsettling score, S&M violence, gore, and torture to compliment this thrilling sequel. The Deader cult have it in for Klein, and it's a whirlwind battle to the finish. She must complete the story she is following up on them, yet not wind up dead, or DEADER herself!! We see a little more of Pinhead, and retro looking Cenobites, and once again, those whose tempestuous appetites are fed, oft end up with humiliating results. Someone always survives tragically, while someone dies with penance to come. The best Hellraiser sequel since part 3!! Hell awaits!! |
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Dimension/Neo Art & Logic: Hellraiser: Hellworld Starring: Doug Bradley Lance Henriksen Katheryn Winnick Christopher Jacot Story by Joel Soisson Screenplay by Carl Dupre Directed by Rick Bota 2005 Rated R 95 minutes |
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| Hellraiser: Hellworld will slowly uncoil, and sink it's venom into you. As 5 invited guests go to a party at the mansion of an online game master, (Henriksen) terror lurks around every corner. Feast your eyes on revenge. Once again Doug Bradley reprises his role as Pinhead, in what may very well be the final entry into the Hellraiser series. Add an element of mystery, and shape changing. If you stay till the very end, it turns out to be a clever story. A stand alone story, as the world seems to realize what Lemarchand's box can bring. Maybe not the ultimate sendoff, but an enjoyable 90 + minutes. Happy Halloween. |
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