Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005)

In the mid 1980’s, Lance Henriksen was offered the role of Uncle Frank in the original “Hellraiser”. He turned it down only because he wanted to star in the vampire film “Near Dark”. So almost twenty years later Mr. Henriksen is offered and accepts a role in the “Hellraiser” franchise, staring as The Host in ”Hellraiser: Hellworld”. This film also stars the yet unknown actor who would one day be the next Superman, Henry Cavill. “Hellworld” also marks Doug Bradley’s eighth appearance as Pinhead, a horror icon as timeless as Jason, Michael, or Freddy.  This is also Rick Bota’s third and final “Hellraiser” film that he has directed.

“Hellraiser: Hellworld” is considered by most to be the most disliked of the “Hellraiser” films, or at least it was until “Revelations” came along. I personally really enjoyed “Hellworld” because as I’ve mentioned before, I was a fan of the “Hellraiser” comics of the 1990’s and this feels like it could have been one of the stories. “Hellraiser” at its core it all about the human condition and what people are willing to do to fulfill their desires. In this instance, it’s not about pleasure or wealth but about revenge which as we all know is still one of the seven deadly sins.

The Host has lost his son after committing suicide, being driven to do so after becoming addicted to an online game based on “Hellraiser”, the Cenobites, and the Lament Configuration. The Host blames his son’s friends because they introduced him to the game and didn’t try to stop him from killing himself. So two years later he throws a party and invites the friends (who think they won the invites by beating a section of Hellworld”. They arrive at a house out in the woods that is full of sexy revelers, all who wearing masquerade masks. Each person is given a cell phone and a mask and is taken on a private tour by the Host himself. No one knows who the Host is so they don’t have any reason to be suspicious. Because of this, he is able to poison the friends before letting them join the party. The film continues with hallucinations of Pinhead and other Cenobites, waking up in a coffin buried alive, and dying from their terrors. Two survive and the Host meets his end when he solves the real Lament Configuration and learns that “Hellraiser” is not a game….

Hellraiser: Deader (2005)

The seventh film in the “Hellraiser” series is “Deader”. The title refers to the cult-like group that follows Winter LeMarchand, a decedent of the creator of the Lament Configuration. He believes that he is the rightful heir of the Box and should be the ruler of the Cenobites. The only problem is the fact that he can’t open the box himself. So he creates a cult of down and out and emotionally damaged individuals that he kills and then brings back to life through necromancy in hopes that they are now able to open the Lament Configuration for him. The cult gains some level of fame and attracts the attention of a media editor who sends his best reporter Amy to investigate the story. Amy finds the Box, gets wrapped up in the cult, is killed and brought back, ultimately solving the Lament Configuration and allowing Pinhead and his Cenobites to damn the cult before killing them all. Rather than go to Hell with Pinhead, Amy kills herself and the movie ends.

Like the last two movies, this storyline came from a generic script that was then adapted to fit in the “Hellraiser” elements. While the first two feel like natural fits, this one takes a touch of forgiveness from the viewing in accepting all that’s going on. Surprisingly though, the movie is fun to watch and the plot is best ignored for serious thought. The nearly the best film nor is it nearly the worst film in the franchise, “Deader” is just there to give the fans more Pinhead and another way to look at the “Hellraiser” world.

Hellraiser: Hellseeker (2002)

SPOLERS AHEAD!

“Hellreasier: Hellseeker” is easily my third favorite of the series. It’s dark and mysterious and feels like the film that “Hellraiser: Inferno” wanted to be. Just like Detective Thorne, Trevor is piecing together memories that he lost after suffering amnesia caused by a terrific car accident in which his wife Kirsty died in. Yes, it’s the same Kirsty from the first two films! Through most of the movie Trevor is seen as a likable guy who is trying to mourn his missing wife, but as he goes about his daily routine, various women in his life try to seduce him such as his boss and neighbor. The police detectives working on his case keep hounding him for answers and his best friend wants answers to his own questions. It’s only when Trevor begins watching an old home movie (he loves recording “moments”) that we see him giving Kirsty the Lament Configuration for their fifth anniversary.  

As the movie slowly untangles the mess that is Trevor’s mind, we learn that he is dead and he is being forced to relive these memories as part of his suffering before going to Hell. It turns out that Trevor was having multiple affairs and that Kirsty was the sole heir to her father’s and Uncle Frank’s massive fortune (money that was never mentioned before…), and that he and his best friend from work decided to kill Kirsty and split the money. But Trevor decided to give her the Lament Configuration instead and forced her to open it (but telling her in a very stern way while holding the camcorder). Kirsty meets Pinhead and offers him a deal; in return for sparing her soul and finally leaving her alone, she will bring Pinhead five souls. He agrees and she kills three of Trevor’s mistresses and his work friend. The fifth and final soul is Trevor whom she shoots in the head while they are driving, causing them to crash into the river just liked the opened showed. She managed to frame Trevor for the murders and tells the police that he just shot himself while he was driving. They believe her and hand her the Lament Configuration. They ask her what it is and she tells them that it was a anniversary gift, so they give it back to her and she walks away, free.

It's important to note that "Hellseeker", "Deader", and "Hellworld" were all directed by horror cinematographer Rick Bota. It feels like the stories and his style were possibly influenced by the "Hellraiser" comics of the 1990's, short stories that have different takes on what the "Hellraiser" world means to them.

Favorite moment – I love it when Pinhead makes his first appearance, stepping through a chart of a human with needles hanging in an acupuncture studio. The music and visuals are perfect, and sense Trevor is already dead, there is no need to explain why Pinhead suddenly appears with the Box.

House on Haunted Hill (1999)

Do you know who makes a great mad scientist? Jeffrey Combs! He was great on the "Re-animator" series and he's now/was freaky as Dr. Richard Benjamin Vannacuttin the remake of "House on Haunted Hill". Granted, this is more of ghost story than one about a mad scientist but I think it counts because while he was alive, Dr. Vannacutt performed hideous experiments and torture upon the mental patients in his care. And after their uprising, Dr. Vannacutt became one badass ghost straight from a Tool music video.

Simple synopsis 

Stephen Price is throwing a party for his wife Evelyn. They thoroughly hate each other and would love to find a way to kill the other, so Stephen holds the party at a condemned insane asylum and invites his choice of guests and not hers. But a group of unassociated individuals are arrive, a group that neither Stephen or Evelyn even know. Stephen continues with his party plan and explains that whoever stays the night wins $1,000,000 dollars. Once inside, the party is trapped and the spirit if Dr. Vannacutt begins to play with the guests. Or is it just an elaborate scheme of Stephen's to scare his wife to death?

Favorite part - I love the whole movie! But the opening scene with Stephen is a great way to start a movie!