After four theatrical and six direct-to-video releases “Hellraiser” has been given a reboot as a cinematic release for Hulu. For those not familiar with the series based on a story by Clive Barker, it involves a cube-shaped puzzle box that when opened summons demons known as Cenobites who demand sacrifices and promise great rewards to those who summon them. Naturally, their version of rewards is the stuff of nightmares as the line between pleasure and pain for them is even more distorted than their horrific visages leading those who encounter them to plead for death but often face tortures beyond imagination. The new take on the series stars Odessa A’zion as Riley, a recovering addict who is living with her brother and his boyfriend as well as a roommate. Her brother is concerned over her relationship with her boyfriend as he believes anyone she met in recovery is not stable enough to support her in her times of need. Desperate for money; Riley is convinced to take objects from an abandoned warehouse but finds only the mysterious puzzle box which she in time is able to reconfigure to one of the various options it is capable of. In doing so, she summons the Cenobites who promptly take her brother which forces Riley and her friends not only to question her sobriety but her sanity as well. As they attempt to understand the nature of what is happening to them, their investigation leads them to a larger puzzle and encounters with more Cenobites including their leader Pinhead (Jamie Clayton) whose at times cryptic messages can tempt and torment those who try to survive and manipulate the events they find themselves in. What follows is a mix of tension and gore as personal ambitions, survival, temptation, and base emotions are tempted as the characters attempt to understand a complex and rapidly changing nightmare from which there seems to be no escape. While the new version does have a slow and more deliberate pace leading up to the finale, it was engaging enough to hold my interest. For me, the theatrical films became at times redundant as they did not advance the mythos as much as up the gore in an attempt to keep the audiences coming. The fact that the last theatrical release had the Director remove his name from the film shows how things had deteriorated too. The six video releases were hit and miss with Barker no longer being involved and eventually the same for original Pinhead Doug Bradley who no longer wanted to be part of a series where a film was produced in a matter of weeks simply to maintain the rights. This time around thanks to a good cast and effects along with a story that is true to the mythos yet updated and engaging, the franchise has had a much-needed new direction and it will be interesting to see where it goes next as there are already rumors of a prequel in the works. Hulu has done well with their recent “Predator” film “Prey” which has invigorated the franchise and this new outing is not only ideal for their format but a fresh step for the franchise. You can check out “Hellraiser” on Hulu on October 7th.
Yes, Hellraiser has had a Disney make over and it shows. I like Clive Barkers work. I've read a lot of his novels and I remember the original Hellraiser films. Frankly, this film does not feel like an adaptation, of his work. For a start, its predictably woke, no surprises there, right? Its cardinal sin however, is dumbing down the lore found in the original franchise and applying the little that is left, in an inconsistent and at times incoherent, manner. The results a borderline watchable affair. Its pretty tame compared to the original flicks and for me, failed to resonate. Acting is alright and as you might expect, production values are decent. That said, the original films are, I believe, considerably better and far more disturbingly horrifying, than this rather weak facsimile.
Not a bad movie... but not a decent movie either. It's not as entertaining as most of the Hellraiser sequels to date. It's predictable, in no way suspenseful and much of it makes little to no sense. It has nothing in common with the other Hellraiser movies and nothing in common with 'The Hellbound Heart' which is the Clive Barker novel that Hellraiser is based on. The original Hellraiser movie was very true to the book and is still by far the best Hellraiser movie with the most suspense, horror and entertainment value. I'm sure we'll see more Hellraiser movies... and I'm sure they will all be uninspiring.
In the year 2035, convict James Cole reluctantly volunteers to be sent back in time to discover the origin of a deadly virus that wiped out nearly all of the earth's population and forced the survivors into underground communities. But when Cole is mistakenly sent to 1990 instead of 1996, he's arrested and locked up in a mental hospital. There he meets psychiatrist Dr. Kathryn Railly, and patient Jeffrey Goines, the son of a famous virus expert, who may hold the key to the mysterious rogue group, the Army of the 12 Monkeys, thought to be responsible for unleashing the killer disease.
Movie Star Rating : 7.6 Read More
Leonard Shelby is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty of locating his wife's killer, however, is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of short-term memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.
Movie Star Rating : 8.2 Read More
It's Halloween 1989, best friends Sam and Josh are trying to enjoy what's left of their final Devil's Night before graduating high school. But trouble arises when the two pals and a group of friends take a detour on their way to a rock concert, finding an old abandoned barn and awakening the evil inside. Now it's up to Sam and Josh to find a way to protect their friends and defeat the creatures that lurk within "The Barn".
Movie Star Rating : 4.9 Read More
A team from the intergalactic fast food chain Crumb's Crunchy Delights descends on Earth, planning to make human flesh the newest taste sensation. After they wipe out the New Zealand town Kaihoro, the country’s Astro-Investigation and Defense Service (AIaDS) is called in to deal with the problem. Things are complicated due to Giles, an aid worker who comes to Kaihoro the same day to collect change from the residents. He is captured by the aliens, and AIaDS stages a rescue mission that quickly becomes an all-out assault on the aliens’ headquarters.
Movie Star Rating : 6.3 Read More
Pinhead is set loose on the sinful streets of New York City to create chaos with a fresh cadre of Cenobitic kin.
Movie Star Rating : 5.6 Read More
The abandoned home of Wilfred Butler, a wealthy but troubled man who committed suicide in 1987, has been willed to his grandson, Jeffrey. The house has sat in disarray since Wilfred's death, standing in the way of developers who want to turn the property into residential homes. Just before Christmas 2012, many years after Wilfred's death, Jeffrey and his lawyer appear in town to negotiate the sale of the property. But an Axe wielding maniac has set up residence in the house, and he doesn't take kindly to strangers.
Movie Star Rating : 2.6 Read More
In a far-future time ruled by the supernatural, a young girl requests the help of a vampire hunter to kill the vampire who has bitten her and thus prevent her from becoming a vampire herself.
Movie Star Rating : 6.6 Read More
A mad scientist named Psöicheldoc has developped a serum that can bring the dead back to life. His evil plan to conquer the world with an army of zombies by his side gets suddenly interrupted when a group of young metalheads decide to make a stand. And so the "Brunstelwald-Massacre" begins...
Movie Star Rating : 8 Read More
The Legend of Lake Hollow 2024 - Movies (Jun 26th)
All of Us Strangers 2023 - Movies (Jun 26th)
Horizon An American Saga - Chapter 1 2024 - Movies (Jun 26th)
Summer Camp 2024 - Movies (Jun 26th)
The Boys in the Boat 2023 - Movies (Jun 25th)
The London Underground Killer 2024 - Movies (Jun 25th)
Love Lies Bleeding 2024 - Movies (Jun 25th)
Ezra 2023 - Movies (Jun 25th)
I Am Celine Dion 2024 - Movies (Jun 25th)
The Boy and the Heron 2023 - Movies (Jun 25th)
Diane von Furstenberg Woman in Charge 2024 - Movies (Jun 25th)
Blue Giant 2023 - Movies (Jun 24th)
Katak The Brave Beluga 2023 - Movies (Jun 24th)
Wake 2024 - Movies (Jun 24th)
Two Scoops of Italy 2024 - Movies (Jun 24th)
Yoga Teacher Killer The Kaitlin Armstrong Story 2024 - Movies (Jun 24th)
Daddys Deadly Secret 2024 - Movies (Jun 24th)
Death Down the Aisle 2024 - Movies (Jun 24th)
Danger in the Dorm 2024 - Movies (Jun 24th)
Familiar 2023 - Movies (Jun 24th)
Furiosa A Mad Max Saga 2024 - Movies (Jun 23rd)
Dimension 20 - (Jun 27th)
The Beat with Ari Melber - (Jun 27th)
American Detective with Lt. Joe Kenda - (Jun 27th)
The ReidOut - (Jun 27th)
Match of the Day - (Jun 27th)
The Bold and the Beautiful - (Jun 27th)
The Price Is Right - (Jun 27th)
The Young and the Restless - (Jun 27th)
Holy Marvels with Dennis Quaid - (Jun 26th)
Beyond Skinwalker Ranch - (Jun 26th)
The Cheap Seats - (Jun 26th)
The Supervet- Noel Fitzpatrick - (Jun 26th)
Deadline- White House - (Jun 26th)
Love Island - (Jun 26th)
MSNBC Reports Andrea Mitchell Reports - (Jun 26th)
Sun, Sea and Selling Houses - (Jun 26th)
The Kelly Clarkson Show - (Jun 26th)
One South- Portrait of a Psych Unit - (Jun 26th)
Renovation Nation - (Jun 26th)
Roast Battle Canada - (Jun 26th)