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Friday, October 7, 2022
Review: "HELLRAISER III: Hell on Earth" Raises Fresh Hell
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 59 of 2022 (No. 1871) by Leroy Douresseaux
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)
Running time: 93 minutes (1 hour, 33 minutes)
MPAA – R for strong violence and sexuality, and for language
DIRECTOR: Anthony Hickox
WRITERS: Peter Atkins; from a story by Peter Atkins and Tony Randel (based on the characters created by Clive Barker)
PRODUCER: Lawrence Mortorff
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Gerry Lively (D.o.P.)
EDITORS: James D.R. Hickox and Christopher Cibelli (supervising film editor)
COMPOSER: Randy Miller
HORROR/FANTASY
Starring: Terry Farrell, Doug Bradley, Paula Marshall, Kevin Bernhardt, Ken Carpenter, Peter Atkins, Peter G. Boynton, and Ashley Laurence
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth is a 1992 supernatural horror and dark fantasy film directed by Anthony Hickox. The film is based on characters and concepts taken from the 1986 novella, “The Hellbound Heart,” which was written by Clive Barker, who is the executive producer of this film. Hell on Earth is also the third film in the Hellraiser film franchise. Hellraiser III focuses on a young reporter who finds herself taking on the most powerful of the Cenobites.
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth opens in the wake of the incidents depicted in Hellbound: Hellraiser II. The Cenobite (demon) called “Pinhead” (Doug Bradley) has been split into two entities: his former human self, World War I British Army Captain Elliot Spencer (Doug Bradley) and the manifestation of Spencer's id that has taken on the form of Pinhead.
In modern day New York City, J.P. Monroe (Kevin Bernhardt) visits the “Pyramid Gallery,” a creepy art gallery where he buys an intricately carved pillar, “the Pillar of Souls,” which depicts writhing figures and distorted faces etched into its surface. J.P. installs the pillar at his popular nightclub, “The Boiler Room.” What Monroe does not know is that Pinhead is one of the figures trapped in the pillar, along with one of those puzzle boxes used to summon the Cenobites.
Meanwhile, Joanne “Joey” Summerskill (Terry Farrell), an ambitious young television reporter, is struggling to get respect and attention at the station for which she works, Channel 8. However, an incident at a local hospital brings her into contact with Terri (Paula Marshall), a young homeless woman who has had a relationship with J.P. Monroe. As Joey delves deeper into the the hospital incident, she learns that Terri has a puzzle box in her possession. Now, the box is diving into Joey's dreams. Trapped in limbo, Elliot Spencer needs Joey's help, because he is depending on her to send Pinhead and his new Cenobites back to Hell.
Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth is a direct sequel to the second film in the series, Hellbound: Hellraiser II. That surprised me, as I have only seen Hell on Earth once, and that was when it was first release to theaters – 30 years ago! I remember not liking it, but now, I can honestly say that Hellraiser III is much better than Hellraiser II.
The third film was the first to be filmed in the United States (specifically North Carolina), and it is more action-oriented than the previous films, including the original, Hellraiser (1987). Hell on Earth also emphasizes that the Cenobites are denizens of Hell and are demons. Previously, the Cenobites' “home” was a dimension called “Labyrinth,” and they could be angels or demons – depending upon the point of view. The third film also has something the first two films did not have – a thumbing soundtrack full of good rock and heavy metal music.
The film has some interesting characters, especially the human characters: Joey, Terri, and J.P., but it really does not do much with them. As Joey, Terry Farrell does her best with weak character material, and Kevin Bernhardt adds a jolt to the film as the arrogant womanizer, J.P. Doug Bradley does his best work in his dual role as Pinhead and as Capt. Elliot Spencer. If there were ever any doubt, Hellraiser III makes it clear that Pinhead is the true star of this franchise, although Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence), who makes a cameo here, is the film's “other star.”
To this day, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth is the last film in the series that I have seen. When I originally saw it, I did not care for it, and it finished the series for me. Three decades later, I like it, and I really like the new Cenobites. We are awaiting the debut of the franchise reboot, entitled Hellraiser, in early October 2022 on the streaming service, Hulu. So, I feel comfortable recommending the heavy metal Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth for those interested in the original movies.
6 of 10
B
★★★ out of 4 stars
Monday, October 3, 2022
The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.
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Thursday, October 6, 2022
Review: Gory "HELLBOUND: Hellraiser II" is More Weird Fantasy Than Horror
TRASH IN MY EYE No. 58 of 2022 (No. 1870) by Leroy Douresseaux
Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988)
Running time: 97 minutes (1 hour, 37 minutes)
Rated – R
DIRECTOR: Tony Randel
WRITERS: Peter Atkins; from a story by Clive Barker
PRODUCER: Christopher Figg
CINEMATOGRAPHER: Robin Vidgeon (D.o.P.)
EDITOR: Richard Marden
COMPOSER: Christopher Young
HORROR/FANTASY
Starring: Clare Higgins, Ashley Laurence, Doug Bradley, Kenneth Cranham, Imogen Boorman, William Hope, Barbie Wilde, Nicholas Vince, Simon Bamford, Sean Chapman, and Oliver Smith
Hellbound: Hellraiser II is a 1988 British supernatural horror and dark fantasy film directed by Tony Randel. The film is a direct sequel to the 1987 film, Hellraiser. Like the first film, Hellbound is based on characters and concepts taken from the 1986 novella, “The Hellbound Heart,” which was written by Clive Barker, one of the people behind this film. Hellbound is also the second film in the Hellraiser film franchise. Hellbound finds the survivor of the first film, Kirsty, in a psychiatric hospital and dealing with a doctor who is obsessed with the sadomasochistic beings known as the “Cenobites” and the occult world from which they originate.
Hellbound: Hellraiser II opens shortly after the events of the first film. Kirsty Cotton (Ashley Laurence) has been admitted into the Channard Institute, a psychiatric hospital. She is still dealing with the terrible events surrounding the death of her father, Larry Cotton. When she is interviewed by Dr. Phillip Channard (Kenneth Cranham) and his assistant, Dr. Kyle MacRae (William Hope), she gives her account of the events at her father's home (as seen in the first film). Kirsty is shocked to discover that the bloody mattress upon which her murderous and wicked stepmother, Julia Cotton (Clare Higgins), died is in police custody, and she begs Channard and MacRae to destroy it.
What Kirsty doesn't realize is that Dr. Channard is secretly obsessed with the puzzle boxes that bring forth the Cenobites and with their occult, demonic underworld. Taking possession of the mattress, Channard discovers that Julia is still inside it, waiting for the blood of fresh victims that will revive her. Channard's plot involves another patient at his institute, a girl named Tiffany (Imogen Boorman). Seemingly mute, Tiffany demonstrates an aptitude for puzzles, and Channard wants her to solve one of the three puzzle boxes that have come into his possession.
Now, Kirsty must enter the labyrinth-like world of the Cenobites because she believes that is where she can save her father. However, both she and Tiffany will have to survive the Cenobites, Julia and Channard's schemes, and “Leviathan the Lord of the Labyrinth.”
The original Hellraiser was indeed a supernatural horror film. Hellbound: Hellraiser II is more dark fantasy than horror. In fact, it reminds me of a number of weird and unusual 1980s sci-fi and/or fantasy films that took readers on strange journeys, from 1981's Heavy Metal and 1983's Krull to 1985's Legend and 1986's Labyrinth.
Hellbound has good production values – not as good as Hellraiser, however. Christopher Young, who scored the first film, provides the musical score for Hellbound, but this time, the music is a bit noisier than in the first film. The costumes are still good, but mostly repeats the aesthetic of Hellraiser. The make-up seems more tacky, and in some cases, needlessly gory and excessively bloody.
The story is odd, but has some interesting elements. Unfortunately, the film does not have much of a plot, and there really isn't a beginning, middle, and end. It is as if Hellbound is a slice of something larger. Hellbound is more about shocking visuals and gruesome images than it is about plot. Other than introducing the Cenobites' labyrinth-like dimension and its lord, Leviathan, the film tells us nothing in the way of details about it or its inhabitants.
The characters are intriguing, but the writer and director treat them like nothing more than bodies to be abused, tortured, and killed. Still, I find myself fascinated by Ashley Laurence's Kirsty and newcomer Imogen Boorman's Tiffany. In this film, I decided that Clare Higgins' Julia was more fascinating than she was in the original, although she was good in that, also.
Hellbound dimmed my enthusiasm for this franchise, and I had little patience for the next film in the series, Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992). Hellraiser wanted to tear your soul apart. Hellbound: Hellraiser II only wants to cut your body to pieces … before the boredom sets in.
4 of 10
C
★★ out of 4 stars
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
The text is copyright © 2022 Leroy Douresseaux. All Rights Reserved. Contact this blog or site for syndication rights and fees.
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