After a 4 year hiatus, a new Hellraiser dawns on the big (well, depending on the size of your television) screen and we brace ourselves, ready to be immersed in the sadomasochistic world of Clive Barker once again…
We have such sights to show you.
Following the story of Riley (Odessa A’zion), a recovering alcoholic trying to sort her life out, her AA partner and lover, Trevor (Drew Starkey) offers her a B & E opportunity that will hopefully allow her to come into a bit of wealth. Unfortunately, the only reward that awaits them is a mysterious kind of puzzle box. After trying to decipher this ancient device, it isn’t long before evil extradimensional beings begin picking her friends off one by one.
Now, you try your best not to have any expectations and tell every fibre of your being not to make any comparisons. Unfortunately, it seems an almost impossible task when a less-than-memorable title sequence doesn’t even raise expectations, let alone hell…
Anticipation is built before being introduced to the long-awaited cenobites. Sadly, although creative in their design, it is very apparent they are no more than actors in prosthetics, a far cry from their ’80s predecessors. It also seems that ever since the franchise opted to use the cenobites as villains as opposed to umpires and veered away from the intimate setting of the first instalment, the recipe for what made Clive Barker’s original so great seems to have been lost.
Feeling more like that of a noughties teen slasher flick with the underwhelming gore factor, it’s only in the final act does it start to feel like a genuine Barker property. However, the downside to the third act resembling that of an original Hellraiser film – even bringing back the classic score – is the feature no longer knows what it’s trying to be. Is it an original, a homage or some sort of confusing continuation?
All in all, it’s worth a watch as Jamie Clayton truly is the best Pinhead (well, Priest) we’ve had since Doug Bradley and totally makes the role her own. Although, Gary J. Tunnicliffe (makeup effects creator) perhaps said it best about what is required when taking on a Hellraiser movie:
I think there’s a taboo to this material that needs a dark presence or someone with some darkness to their soul.
And sadly, this instalment just doesn’t seem to have that presence.
Jacked In Recommends ‘The Pagemaster’ (1994)
The Pagemaster follows the life of an over-cautious boy, Richard Tyler (Macaulay Culkin), who buries himself in […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ (2021)
For fear of having to dodge spoilers like the Green Goblin’s pumpkin grenades, Jacked In’s Jack hit the […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘The Batman’ (2022)
As we tour Gotham city on a dark, rainy night accompanied by a gritty narration announcing it’s “October 31st”, you […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Natura’ (2023)
From the opening shot, you’re immediately captured by an open woodland which truly readies you for being emersed in […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Aldbrough’ (2023)
Gail Smith’s Aldbrough gives us a grainy, 8mm window into the past with archive footage of a town long gone.
Jacked In Recommends ‘Willow’ (1988)
Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) is a Nelwyn, born into the simple life of farming, with aspirations of one day, […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Bone Tomahawk’ (2015)
Bone Tomahawk takes place in the small western town of Bright Hope and locals are shuck up after an outlaw wanders […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Red Ocean Blues’ (2023)
We follow the story of, political candidate, Geoff (Chris Orton), as he pays a friendly visit to, potential voter, […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Melanie’s Grave’ (2023)
A robber on the run chooses to lay low, away from prying eyes and the law. Unfortunately for him, the chosen […]
Jacked In Recommends ‘Drive’ (2011)
Drive follows the story of a Hollywood stuntman/mechanic (Ryan Gosling) who also happens to moonlight as a getaway […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Fire At Will’ (2023)
Put in the line of fire, both physically and emotionally, the centre of our story is Will (James Whetstone) – […]
Jacked In Reviews ‘Crimes of the Future’ (2022)
After more than a twenty-year hiatus from body horror, the legendary David Cronenberg makes his long-awaited return […]