Hellraiser - Inferno

Amazon.com

This is the first Hellraiser sequel that doesn't bear the imprimatur of creator Clive Barker, and that makes it a sequel that many Hellraiser fans will want to disown, but they shouldn't dismiss it altogether. Now under the control of Miramax producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein, the franchise takes an entirely new direction, and Inferno is primarily a detective thriller in which a corrupt cop (Craig Sheffer) takes on a case that will judge his soul and, ultimately, damn him forever. His judge and jury will be Pinhead (Doug Bradley) and his legion of twisted Cenobites, but before he can be tried and condemned, Sheffer's cop will watch as those around him are killed off one by one, leaving a trail of blood (and telltale severed fingers) that leads back to the torment of his own youth.

So, what you really have here is a variation on It's a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, with all the themes reversed to hellish extremes. The plot doesn't hold together all that well, but you can't fault the film for establishing and maintaining a heavily somber tone. This is pretty dark stuff, after all, and although Hellraiser fans will lament that Pinhead's appearance is relatively brief, he's presented here in an intriguing new light--not merely an icon of pain and suffering, but a giver of counsel and justice to those (like Sheffer's cop) who arguably deserve the eternal anguish they will receive. Does that make Pinhead a good guy? If this otherwise lugubrious sequel achieves anything, it's that it raises that question and lets the viewer decide. --Jeff Shannon

Description

A spine-tingling thriller, HELLRAISER: INFERNO is the next inescapably terrifying chapter in the heart-stopping HELLRAISER series! It's the powerful story of a shady L.A. detective (Craig Sheffer -- THE PROGRAM, A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT) who finds himself lost in a darkly nightmarish world of evil when he solves the mysterious puzzle box that releases the diabolical demon, Pinhead! As those around him begin to meet tragic fates, he sets out to conquer the horrifying Pinhead and escape eternal hell! Also starring popular Nicholas Turturro (TV's NYPD BLUE, EXCESS BAGGAGE), HELLRAISER: INFERNO combines great special effects and relentless thrills to deliver exciting, edge-of-your-seat entertainment!

Customer Reviews:

It is desent.......2007-02-04

Hellraiser: Inferno is probably the best of the far too many films to follow the orginal two classics, Hellraiser and Hellbound.

I do not think Inferno is great and I do not think it compares at all to the 1st two films, but is superior to the pointless gore fests of Hell On Earth and Bloodline and the laughable parts of the series in 6, 7, and 8.

Inferno returns to the orginal idea of the 1st two films in that it revolves around how solving the box brings both mental and physical suffering to the individual who opens it.

Inferno focuses more on the mental aspect and perhaps shows more in depth the hell Frank went through in the orginal film through the eyes of Joe Thorne.

When it comes to Pinhead, I think less is more. I feel that he was far overexposed in parts 3 and 4 and it limited his effectiveness when he did appear. Though his overall appearence in Inferno is brief, it is powerful nonetheless.

Unlike most of the Hellraiser sequals, Inferno actually has good acting and a decent plot with some substance.

Though I doubt anyone will be blown away by Inferno, it is definatly worth seeing once.

Hell raiser inferno sucked and still sucks.......2007-02-01

After solving a creepy puzzle, unscrupulous Det. Joseph Thorne (Craig Sheffer) finds himself trapped in hell with the hair-raising ghoul Pinhead (Doug Bradley) and a murderer at large. Thorne tries to outwit Pinhead and discover the killer's identity in an effort to escape, but the trail keeps leading back to one man: Thorne. As his transgressions begin to torment him, Thorne learns the real meaning of the word .Hellraiser and Hellraiser 2 apparently jaded me. I really didn't enjoy this movie. Although the plot itself was a decent one (though a bit slow moving at times), the acting was terrible, the special effects left plenty to be desired, and it just wasn't a Hellraiser movie, at least to me. I might have at least not hated this movie if I had no expectations. However, when I rent a Hellraiser movie, I expect Cenobites and Pinhead. I expect good dialogue and a creepy factor of 10.

I don't expect crappy acting, moralistic dialogue, and, of all things, NARRATION. Hellraiser movies are supposed to make you creep out and think a bit. If the movies make you think about the dualistic nature of humanity, that's great, but I don't want first person narration expounding on it.

I don't know which was worse -- Hellraiser 4 or this one. This movie bares so little resemblance to the original that it shouldn't even have the title. Do yourself a favor and re-rent the first or second of the series. Or better yet, read the novela they're based on.Do yourself a favor and pass this disgrace.

No hell left to raise.......2006-10-24

After Hellraiser 1 and 2, the series became increasing boring, pointless and without meaning. I couldn't wait for this episode to end. Another hellraising piece of boring garbage. Guys, give it a rest and Clive, please DON'T remake Hellraiser 1. Don't do it. Just walk away. It's already been trashed and drained of meaning 6 times or is it 7?

i like it, most people don't, but i do.......2006-09-20

Hellraiser: inferno is one one those special horror flicks, this is one of the hellraiser sequels that fans often put down, this one along with hellseeker are considered the dead sequels, meaning all of the fun of the original films is gone, i disagree, i thought hellseeker definately needed some things to make it better, even though the great ashley laurence from the original made a comeback, that film didn't serve the series well, and the same is often said for this film, but there is a very unique feeling about this film that i think completely sets it apart from the rest, people complain often that pinhead isn't in this film enough, i love pinhead but quite frankly they have already done enough about him with hellraiser 3, i think pinhead's impact on this film is so much greater with his short cameo than it was in any hellraiser movie since the original, and the fact that he was even performed breifly by james remar made even cooler in my opinion, this one has something to it that i like specifically in light of the entire series, i guess i see this film from a different perspective, but all i have to say is it deserves a chance.

LMAO!!!!!.......2006-05-19

This is the funniest film i have seen in ages, and i owe all the comedy to the last bit where the detective is ripped apart by the chains barely holding the tip of his skin, I laughed so hard at that, and it's the only bit i watch now, in all the horror films i have seen, this is probably one of the worst, but that bit alone makes this a 5 star.

Average customer rating:

"I...AM...PAIN"
Awesome set
THE GOOD AND THE VERY, VERY BAD
A GOOD DEAL

Hellraiser - Inferno/Bloodline
Starring: Craig Sheffer , Nicholas Turturro , James Remar , Doug Bradley , and Nicholas Sadler
Director: Scott Derrickson , Alan Smithee , and Joe Chappelle
Manufacturer: Dimension
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Horror | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Genres | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B000066765
Release Date: 2002-07-02

Description

Hellraiser: Bloodline - DVD-Pinhead is back -- and this time, he's out for more blood -- in the fourth and most terrifying chapter of the wildly popular HELLRAISER series! Spanning three generations, this horrifying story chronicles the struggle of one family who unknowingly created the puzzle box that opened the doors of Hell -- setting the diabolical Pinhead free to spread evil here on earth! Now, the family must fight to slam those doors shut again ... but not before Pinhead wages one of his fiercest and most frightening battles ever! Hellraiser: Inferno - DVD -A spine-tingling thriller, HELLRAISER: INFERNO is the next inescapably terrifying chapter in the heart-stopping HELLRAISER series! It's the powerful story of a shady L.A. detective (Craig Sheffer -- THE PROGRAM, A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT) who finds himself lost in a darkly nightmarish world of evil when he solves the mysterious puzzle box that releases the diabolical demon, Pinhead! As those around him begin to meet tragic fates, he sets out to conquer the horrifying Pinhead and escape eternal hell! Also starring popular Nicholas Turturro (TV's NYPD BLUE, EXCESS BAGGAGE), HELLRAISER: INFERNO combines great special effects and relentless thrills to deliver exciting, edge-of-your-seat entertainment!

Customer Reviews:

"I...AM...PAIN".......2004-06-20

The Hellraiser franchise holds a special place in my heart. I will never forget the first time I saw the opening chapter in the series of films inspired by Clive Barker's nightmarish visions. Watching the original "Hellraiser" now is a mixed bag-some of those special effects look a bit hokey, but others still come across as chillingly effective. Who can forget the glistening visage of Uncle Frank? The lascivious Julia? Or the first appearance of the ominous and verbose Pinhead? The second installment improved on the first, as the film whisked the viewer away to the abode of Pinhead and the Cenobites. A gruesome, perverse picture, "Hellbound: Hellraiser 2" raised the expectations about future entries to a fever pitch. Up next came "Hellraiser 3," a personal favorite of mine even though legions of fans have subsequently disowned it. The series moved into the latter stages of its life from this point forward, taking bold steps in an attempt to expand far beyond what viewers had come to expect. The series continues today with at least two further sequels in the works. Will they find an audience or will the new arrivals fall flat on their faces? Fans will probably grumble even as they queue up to watch.

"Hellraiser: Bloodline" took the risky step of moving the storyline into space, a cringe inducing idea at first until you actually watch the movie. Who can forget the nightmare that was "Leprechaun 4"? Fortunately, only certain segments take place on a spaceship. The majority of the film heads back to the past to explain the origins of the Lament Configuration, that dreaded box which hundreds of seekers have opened only to find the Cenobites waiting for them. Dr. Paul Merchant (Bruce Ramsey) locked himself away on the spaceship because he wants to destroy this infernal device once and for all. A group of marines arrives on the ship to take the "mad" doctor into custody. During his detainment he tells a dark story about his family's history, about how his ancestor Phillipe Merchant designed the box in the eighteenth century for a decadent French nobleman who wished to plumb the dark depths. The box does its job, horribly so, conjuring up a demon named Angelique (Valentina Vargas) who promptly carves up people left and right. Unfortunately for Merchant, the box somehow curses his bloodline. Every one of his descendants will suffer because of the Lament Configuration. Watch the hijinks unfold!

"Inferno" is a cracking good tale about a cop, Detective Joseph Thorne (Craig Sheffer), and his descent into madness. While investigating a horrendous crime scene at the house of a man Thorne knew in high school, the cop discovers the Lament Configuration and wonders what it is. He also finds a finger left behind by someone called the Engineer. Then we learn more about Joseph. Although married to a beautiful woman who bore him a delightful child, Thorne spends most of his time away from the house shaking down criminals, using narcotics, and taking free favors from women of the night. His partner Tony Nenonen (Nicholas Turturro) has no idea what his partner is up to, which suits Thorne just fine. In fact, no one knows what this corrupt cop is doing except the people he leans on for personal gain when he should bring them up on charges. When Thorne heads to a local hotel with a woman who is not his wife, he inadvertently opens the box. What follows is at times confusing and gory, but it is easy to forget one simple thing in the unfolding madness: Thorne did open the Lament Configuration. Again, remember that Thorne DID open the Lament Configuration. Keeping this fact in the forefront of your memory will help you follow the story.

"Hellraiser: Bloodline" is an uneven film anyway you slice it. Director Kevin Yagher withdrew from the production after his studio heavily interfered in the project. Thus, the film carries the dreaded "Alan Smithee" label, a moniker all too familiar to moviegoers in the know. The result of this turmoil behind the scenes set the movie adrift, so someone decided to just slap the whole thing together and dump the final result in the video stores. That's a real shame as "Bloodlines" has at its center an interesting premise for fans of the series: how the box came about and how it was first used to conjure up evil. With "Inferno," certain fans continue to lament the decline of the series. Barker was long gone by the time "Inferno" hit video store shelves, but that doesn't mean we can't find something to like here. Sure, the movie confuses until you hear Pinhead wax on the morality of man as he shows Thorne just what his destiny has become. But the new Cenobites were appropriately grotesque, the special effects looked good, and even the acting is an improvement over many movies in the series. Can any viewer convince himself or herself for a second that most of the performances in the first two films were anything other than complete drivel? Heck no! I've seen better acting in a kindergarten play than I did in the first few films. Here, Sheffer does an acceptable turn as the corrupt Joseph, as does Turturro in the role of concerned partner Nenonen. Doug Bradley is as fantastic as ever as Pinhead even though the script dramatically reduced his role to a walk on part.

"Bloodline" and "Inferno" are good additions to your DVD collection. As for the extras on the discs, "Bloodline" contains a trailer for "Children of the Corn 666" and not much else. "Inferno" has more extras, including a short special effects video about the Lament Configuration and an interview with Doug Bradley. Ultimately, I thought "Inferno" vastly superior to its predecessor, but both films entertain adequately enough. Give 'em a chance.

Awesome set.......2003-11-17

Set contains two great sequals to HEllraiser: Bloodline and Inferno, a great deal for two great sequals, don't miss this one people!

THE GOOD AND THE VERY, VERY BAD.......2002-09-16

Do not make the mistake that this package is a special edition of any kind - it is not, just the 2 seperate films shrinkwrapped together but at a very reasonable price. BLOODLINES watched first reminds any fan just how bad the series can be and not just due to editing (or butchering depending on your point of view!). That this film in a way ends the Hellraiser mythos you would at least hope they could go out in style. You'd be wrong - a dull rushed ending ruins what should and could have been an epic confrontation and what we're left with is a feeling of seen it all before (Aliens anyone?). The final scene for one major character is totally pathetic but to reveal more would ruin it for those of you who HAVE to see this just because you love Hellraiser. To sum up a film strangely lacking in gore with a plot that reeks of made for television. In fact I cannot think of a film I'd rather not see at the cinema. You may be wondering why I gave this package 3 stars but thats mainly down to INFERNO - a superb movie and even more so when compared to the film its twinned with. Craig Sheffer plays the anti hero to perfection and even with so many dark traits is still a character you can't help but like. Many have complained that this movie has little to do with Hellraiser and yes, Pinhead isn't in it much but to be honest it is a better movie for that fact. Hellraiser 2 and 3 were ruined by overusing the character and a step back was needed otherwise we'd have another comedy villian on our hands a la krueger, Myers etc. This film is easily the best since the first if not better in some ways and unlike the other movies this one does not end happily or leave itself open to a sequel. And yet the poetic finale is beautifully done and I couldn't shake the feeling that for once a Hellraiser sequel could be consistently good throughout the course of the movie. So one very bad movie and one exceptionally good one - lets just hope they hit the ground running with HELLRAISER - HELLSEEKER and try for another INFERNO not another BLOODLINES.

A GOOD DEAL.......2002-07-16

this is a great bargain if you need the two movies to complete your collection. there is only one bad point though, they only come shrinkwrapped together. shame they dont come in a slipcase or something. anyway, these are the two least popular of the Hellraiser movies, but even so, they are still well made and most entertaining

they are both my favourites :O)

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