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Enigma Boy yawns through HELLRAISER: HELLSEEKER!
Harry here with another horror franchise that is being beaten into submission by a studio without a clue how to develop these sorts of stories. God HELLRAISER started off with such promise... Remember that Stephen King quote? "I've seen the future of horror and its name is Clive Barker." Sadly, I see no future in Clive Barker right now. I've seen the future and frankly it seems to be LOVECRAFTIAN!
It's Enigma Boy again, and I just want to throw a little review your way. Through a friend of a friend, I came upon a video screener for the latest entry in the Hellraiser legacy, HELLSEEKER. The title is lazy, which sums up a great deal of the movie.
The latest one stars Dean Winters (who gets stabbed every now and then as Ryan O'Reily on OZ) as a guy who just lost his wife in a car crash/drowning. The body disappeared, however, and police are suspicious. Trevor (Winters) goes on with his normal life, but it continues to be anything but normal, as headache-induced hallucinations and flashes of memories thought forgotten fuck with his head. He keeps on seeing things, ranging from standard "Talking to a person no one else can see" to sexual encounters with the other women in his life, and, of course, the Hellraiser-expected torture sequences involving brains and chains. As the movie progesses, the odds are stacked up high against Trevor, culminating in him being wanted for the murders of at least three people.
I hate to say it, because I am not a big fan of the Hellraiser series, and even less a fan of straight-to-video horror movies, but the story is fairly clever. Yes, it is by-the-numbers, but it gives us information at just the right time, and we piece together the puzzle at the same time as the main character instead of being steps ahead, which often happens in movies such as these. The flashbacks slowly make a coherent backstory, only piecing together when is absolutely necessary for the plot. It's interesting to note that Trevor's amnesia only acts up when he needs to remember something important, but it all basically makes sense in the end.
The acting and directing, however, explains a great deal about why BLOODLINE was the last Hellraiser movie to hit American screens. It has no individual style, and looks and feels no different from any other piece of crap horror movie. Winters does the best he can, but when it comes to dialogue, the script comes up short, and he is left to utter complete nonsense with zero conviction.
An interesting thing to note is that this movie has barely anything to do with the actual Hellraiser mythology. This story could concern any member of hell or some other soul-seeking realm and it wouldn't make a lick of difference. The only thing that really makes it a Hellraiser movie is that goddamned puzzle box (which I'm getting sick of), the basic theme of hell wanting souls, and Pinhead showing up for about five minutes. Otherwise, this is a standard murder-mystery with some interesting supernatural twists.
I have a question for all involved in the making of this movie: when chains come out of the ground and latch onto your cheeks, ripping them down, all you can say is "Ouch" ?
Also, it seems to be a failure on the part of the movie when a dark shadow is following the main character, and all I can think is "I would be somewhat scared or at least concerned for Trevor if it were the police detective coming for him, but if it's a minion of hell, it'd be alright."
Overall, the hallucination bit gets old, and this really has no reason to be called HELLRAISER: HELLSEEKER, but it's not bad. If you are a fan, rent it come Halloween, but otherwise, spend your money on renting COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO again.
--Enigma Boy
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Hellrasier was Ok..at best...why are they continuing with this ..dung?
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At least my hopes are no longer up on seeing this film. I am still going to rent it... maybe.
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...only to have those hopes dashed on the rocks. Inferno blew big chunks, since like the reviewer said, Pinhead is only in for 5 minutes. I'll give Hellseeker a look though, expecting to be disappointed.
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Adapt Ramsey Campbell's short story "Cold Print", replacing the book with a puzzle box and putting some bondage gear on Y'golonac. sk
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Sep 27, 2002 8:53:13 AM CDT
You know I saw this 2 months ago and fell asleep half way throug
by blacket-man
I was so excited when I got it, because I thought for sure I could finally send a scoop here. Wrong!!!! Was not even worth finishing.
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I guess the only thing Clive Barker has to do with this is taking a wegde of cash for the right of using the Hellraiser name.
Instead of renting this, go and buy a copy of Weaveworld and read Clive Barker's greatest work of fiction (in my opinion anyway). What ever happened to the mini-series? It will probably suck, but I'd like to see it anyway.
P.S. Hellbound was my favourite of the franchise so far (if anyone could care less). -
I DIDNT post first to gain some kind of pathetic glory, you fairy. I guess I was the first to post because no one gives a cats cock about the lame-assed Hellraiser franchise anymore. And by the way, dont go believing your own hype...I've no idea who the fuck you are even though you're truly a frightening prescence...no..really...I'm not joking...Look, I have a straight face and everything....(yawn)
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Stephen King (who, incidentially, has announced his retirement - see IMDB) was talking about Barker's BOOKS, and that quote way predates the HELLRAISER movie. HELLRAISER was a good film, possibly better than the so-so book (best Barker story - THE YATTERING AND JACK. Best book, CABAL.) HELLBOUND was tolerable, and had some nice stuff to look at (like the LEVIATHON imagery - very cool.) The new cenebite was like EVIL DEAD animation on less of a budget, however, which ruined the whole film. HELLRAISER 3 blew major chunks aside from the pool balls in the guys mouth. BLOODLINE again was a nice idea and certainly better parts 2-3. However, it didn't blend together well. I still think it's above average. However, I gave up after that because it was evident they were running out of ideas, AND because BLOODLINE seemed to pretty much tie up the entire story arc. And finally, I agree (if you were serious) that Campbell's COLD PRINT story is fantastic, long overdue an adaptation, and arguably the greatest non-Lovecraft work in the Cthulhu Mythos.
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I'm probably gonna get (rightly)flamed alive here but I've never read any Lovecraft (although I've known about his work for years) anyone got any suggestion as to which book might be a good starting point?
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Time was you thought that Barker would spawn tasty horror flix for years to come; like a modern Poe or something. Rawhead Rex was great b-movie fun. Hellraiser was genuinely NEW, insane effects, creepy-fuck characters, all in service of a weird, engaging mythos. The second film was a bit of a cock-up compared to the first (going INTO Hell is never as scary as things coming OUT of it) but still great fun. Besides, Barker was still churning out great books that you just KNEW would make great films or mini-series or some damn thing. But no. It hasn't happened. I blame the limp reception Night Breed received. Hollywood seemed to go cold on Barker and seemed to start diving for anything that might make a buck, which he is entitled to do. But when you go back and read The Books of Blood, you can't help but to wonder what might have been..........
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I've been a Lovecraft fan for years and have read the bulk of his work and others in the Cthulhu Mythos. However, you can save yourself from a lot of crap by purchasing the three LOVECRAFT OMNIBUS books which contain lots of stories by H.P. and other authors (including the mentioned COLD PRINT by Ramsey Campbell, plus August Derleth and others.) They're good in their own right and a great starter. The book titles in full: (1) H.P. LOVECRAFT OMNIBUS VOL 1: "AT THE MOUNTAINS OF MADNESS" AND OTHER NOVELS OF TERROR. (2) H.P. LOVECRAFT OMNIBUS VOL 2: "DAGON" AND OTHER MACABRE TALES. (3) H.P. LOVECRAFT OMNIBUS VOL 3: "THE HAUNTER OF THE DARK" AND OTHER TALES. If you buy just one, get the second book (DAGON) as it offers the biggest variety. It's worth getting DAGON for the cover alone! :)
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IMHO THAT is his best work. And how cool would it be to see the insane infant-god Hapexamendios on the big screen?
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Sep 27, 2002 4:17:00 PM CDT
Sorry everybody, but "The Great and Secret Show" and "Everville"
by elgyn6655321
I`m not so sure it could ever work in a movie, though. It would have to be like 4 hours long and ultra-huge budget for all the effects. And that`s just for adapting ONE of the two books!
As for the "Hellraiser" series, the first 2 were really cool, then it all went downhill with Part 3 trying to make Pinhead a Freddy Kruegar-type villian. "Inferno" had a cool concept, the the acting & direction left much to be desired. And it sounds like this new one "Hellraiser: Hellseeker" (awful title by the way, sounds like a computer game or something)will be a lot like "Inferno" - both concept-wise and quality-wise. BTW - fettastic, your ideas for a "Hellraiser" movie are all really cool, and a few of them could even be combined into one movie. Oh and your "cult that worships Pinhead" idea is already being used in the next one,"Hellraiser: Deader". That`s right, they`re already starting on a new one. -
Sep 27, 2002 4:22:00 PM CDT
"Hellraiser: Inferno" is one of the worst horror movies ever mad
by smilin'jack ruby
It actually made me re-visit "Bloodline" and say, "Oh, wait, this is actually pretty serviceable in comparison."
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That'd be like blaming Carpenter for HALLOWEEN: RESURRECTION. Barker has said many times that the only reason he stays minutely involved with this shit-hole series is because of his friends Doug Bradley and Pete Atkins. If it wasn't for them Clive would have dropped these movies like a bad habit yeard ago.
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and i read somewhere online that clive barker actually likes hellseeker!
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I shall make this more clear: ..... the SCRIPT was KIND OF clever, but the FINAL MOVIE pretty much blew. If you are a FAN, you should rent. OTHERWISE, don't bother. ..... I hardly think this is praise. Don't tell me you've never had certain mixed feelings about movies, that they were so-so. You try explaining those feelings, really try to break down why this is so, and this is the response ya get. No respect.
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So sad. As to Mr. Chuff's question of why they are continuing with this dung, I have no idea. Cthulhu knows it can't be making any money. Toppu o Nerae!
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No one making that, seemed to understand that the Cenobites were sado-masochists.Having the puzzle box turn a guy into pinhead in one minute flat...is nowhere near as disturbing ,as someone doing that shit to themselves , slowly over a long period of time..and getting a kick out of it.The Cenobites were self mutilaters..looking for sexuel thrills.Frank Cotten was kinky...but he got totally out of his depth.Barker confused the issue a bit with his first movie, ..but you'd think anyone out to make a sequel ..would have read the source story {which spells it out} before they started.At least the first movie made sense ...all the others since are all over the bloody place!
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first posters should beware of his wrath. But they secretly want his attention because (say it with me now) they have an insatiable penchant for anal sex. And the books of blood kicked serious ass.
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Sep 28, 2002 3:50:16 AM CDT
I think the sequel should be called Raising Hellizona with Hulk
by chaffro
"I will tear my shirt apart, brother."
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Cthulhu has come to grips with the realization it can't be making any money. Cthulhu's been running its operation at a loss since the early 80s because it freely hands out millions of dollars in gold and other riches to new converts as a sign-on bonus, yet produces no goods or services which bring in revenue. It's all part of Cthulhu's long-term financial stratagy for dominating mankind. Cthulhu (for the time being) is content to lose money in the hiring and maintaining its staff of human 'breeding barns' and 'protein factories' until we all become supplicants to its unholy, divine will... Then, when that's all done, it'll be nothing but clear profit for the old dark god.
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Hellraiser was one of the best horror movies ever made. It was made before it's time and it still freaks people out. I would love to see a real studio but the rights and turn this one around. I have rented all of the straight-to-video shit with the Hellraiser name on it just hoping to be at least a little satisfied, but it never happens. When in the hell did they decide to quit using Pinhead as the main character and use the Hellraiser name to market cheesy detective stories? I don't understand and I would love nothing better than to see a great director grab ahold of this far out idea and run with it.
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Well I have to agree with almost everybody. The Hellraiser series totally sucks now... I wish somebody would inform the filmmakes about the Hellraiser comics, -- which by the way they are reprinting and are better than any of the movies. Much, much darker and all the writers/artists really expanded on the puzzle box and cenebites -- Clive hasn't been involved since the first movie... so don't blame him. Blame the dumb ass producers, writers and directors who haven't respected the source material and never picked up a comic book.
For anyone in LA, Clive has a FREE art exhibit at the Pacific Design Center (check out CliveBarker.com for info). I saw it yesterday, the paintings are amazing and are part of his new book coming out "Abarat". It looks like Hollywood rediscoved thier taste for Clive, they are doing adaptations of "Thief of Always", "Abarat" (which will be a four book series) and I don't know if it will ever be finished, but "The Damnation Game" (my fave) is also being adapted.
Clive is going to be heavily involved with the Abarat movie, so let's hope they finally get it right... it's been way too long since I had my celluloid Clive fix. -
I thought it was great, at least they tried to do something original with the Hellraiser series. And Pinhead is NOT the central focus of the Hellraiser series, he is NOT the main character, it's surprising how many so-called "fans" have a problem understanding this.
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i'll cast another pro vote for inferno. can't say i didn't see the ending coming, but the twin cenobites were creepy. after the load of dreck that was BLOODLINE, anything would have been an improvement. would i rather they stayed true to the original? sure. but what bothers me the most is that after all the $ the franchise has brought in, they still won't pony up any real cash for a quality sequel, which is the main reason it has degenerated to direct-to-video.
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Let's face it: none of the sequels measures up to the original HELLRAISER, although HR III is marginally interesting mainly because of lead Terry Farrell. The HR series is like the PUPPETMASTER and CHILDREN OF THE CORN series: it has gone on way too long. I do however commend the idea of borrowing from Lovecraft for any further HR plots. Borrowing saves money, after all. Are you listening, Hollywood?
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...I look forward to his TBs as much as I look forward to the regular articles. Good stuff.
Now and Forever, Poops
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