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Hellraiser - Bloodline

Hellraiser - Bloodline

List Price: $14.99
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Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Bloodline flatlines.
Review: The fourth installment in a series already spiraling toward mediocrity, even self-parody, the best one can say about Hellraiser: Bloodline is that it isn't any worse than its immediate predecessor, Hellraiser III - Hell on Earth. Sadly, though, it isn't any better, either.

What's gone wrong? It's hard to pin down (no pun intended). First, while there's plenty of the requisite gore, none of it is particularly frightening. The effects aren't bad, by any means, but the hooks in the flesh leave the veteran Hellraiser viewer with a "been there, done that" feel. And abandon all hope for fun, new Cenobites right away. The "Doublemint Twins" are about as uninspired, if not worse, than anything dredged up in Part III. Second, there's the story itself. A stumbling effort to explore the history of the Lemarchand box, the plot left me torn (again, no pun...). On one hand, anyone who has become emotionally vested in the series is delighted, I'm certain, to delve deeper into the storyline's origins as opposed to another tired slasher rehash a la Hellraiser III. On the other hand, the story is so clumsily and uninterestingly presented that it ultimately leaves the viewer disappointed. Yes, the multigenerational aspect is fascinating in theory, but only the 1700s section of the story delivers on any level. As for the 1990s generation, an explanation of the intended practical purpose of the Merchant building would have been nice. As would any development at all of the characters if one expects the viewers to care about them. I won't even get into the rhetorical questions of "how did Merchant's wife suddenly know how to use the box?" or "if the Cenobites can cross dimensions, why can't they get out of a locked room?" The film is hideously paced and terribly edited, probably an indication that the finished (or unfinished) project simply didn't leave anyone much to work with. Pinhead doesn't need an eternity to know your flesh; these 81 minutes are certainly long enough to make anyone suffer.

Finally, however, the real failing of Bloodline is the series' mascot, Pinhead. I still feel that the finest entries in the Hellraiser lexicon - Part I, Part II, the surprisingly good Inferno, and the Hellbound Heart novella - all prove that less is more when it comes to the legendary Cenobites. Presented with loads of screen time compared to previous entries in the series, Pinhead in particular fills his time with the typical "I am emptiness!" soundbites that become repetitive and, ultimately, laughable. Furthermore, the Cenobites are also scariest on their own turf. Part III proved that to take them out of hell and put them on the street simply doesn't work. Neither does orbiting them on a space station. Or camping them out in the basement of an office building.

In summary, despite being an overall stinker cinematically (the Alan Smithee directing credit should tip off most potential viewers), this is still, of course, necessary for devotees of the series. That said, it's still hard to part with your money for a bare-bones DVD with a grainy picture and anemic sound. Not even the original trailer is included, though you do get a sneak peek at...Children of the Corn Part 6. Don't get me started.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Bad@ss Film
Review: Well, HellRaiser is awsome. It's the only movie I've seen that continues to freak me out. Personally I think that Pin Head is the freakiest villian ever created. Anyways, I haven't seen any of the other Hellraisers but I am sure they are just as good as this one, if not better. Clive Barker did a great job on creating a creepy atmosphere and a creepy as hell bad guy.
Not to mention a awsome story.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: 2.5stars- Do I Look Like Someone Who Cares What God Thinks?
Review: What a great line... but from such a mediocre movie. Bloodline is a confused movie if I have ever seen one and with its whole director issue it is obvious why. The scenes in the past regarding the creation of the box are quite entertaining, but from there this movie looses steam and fast! This film goes through three generations represented by the past the present and then the future which takes place in space. So could we say that Pinhead really dies... but not yet. This is like a prequel a sequel and a series closer all in one. But it should not have been. I would have much rather seen more history and not the idea of putting Pinhead back as a Freddy Krugar type character yet again. Trying to piece this movie together in any logical way will prove to be futile.

An interesting thing to see here is the relationship between Pinhead and his cohort in the film, Angelique. How they inevitably meet up is unclear to me but boy do they seem to have a lot of stuff to talk about. Mostly worthless stuff that wastes screen time. Pinhead just pops up and says hey somewhere in this movie and goes man I have not talked in a while let me just yap yap until the end, which he does. Basically if he learned to close his mouth he probably would not have been taken out by the good guys.

One notable thing you see is the building from the end of Hell on Earth that you learn was designed by an ancestor to the creator of the Lament Configuration. This is during the modern time of the story so one could say this is where the Hellraiser story could continue from the third. In the building there are two twin cops who happen to stumble across Pinhead. Yea Pinhead is just chilling you know...they did not open the box and what did he need cenobites for anyway. For this scene they decide just to say hey lets take some time to show some more gore and a creation of a cenobite. My gripe with the third movie is the same with this one. Why is Pinhead making cenobites!? Basically this movie just digs Hellraiser deeper into the mud. I really do not know how Clive Barker could crucify the Hellraiser: Inferno movie and still have his name attatched to the third and fourth movies. At least Inferno goes back to the personal hell and cenobite ideals of the mythology. More mysterious creatures out to explore the further regions of experience.

So in the end they end up in space. Why must every horror movie go in space nowadays. You have your Leprechauns and now your Jasons and it is getting to be rediculous. This part just exists to add more body counts for Pinhead and to attempt some sort of climax, but having a future battle is a waste of time. It actually really is not a battle just a bunch of guys being chased by Pinhead and a chattering dog cenobite thingy. Lame! Here Pinhead just gets way too carried away with talking as if he had not done enough of that in the modern scenes.

In conclusion, Bloodline is a separate film from the previously three. It starts off with cool history then turns into Pinhead's revenge. Both this one and Hell on Earth clearly lack the feel and fun of the first two. The series gains some steam again with the next one Inferno where Pinhead's appearance, not his role, is wisely cut down. Tune into that one!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Astronomically horrifying!
Review: I'm a big supporter of the "____ in Space" motif of sequel-making. It's difficult to come up with fresh situations for familiar characters, but combining the genres of horror and science fiction provides undreamt-of potential.

"Hellraiser: Bloodline" is the perfect example of the way it should be done.

Director Alan Smithee weaves an intricate tale of old favorite Pinhead, and introduces inspired new elements to the "Hellraiser" mythos. I hope to see another genre film from this talented director; "Burn Hollywood Burn" was a departure from his skills as a Space "Chopera" auteur.

Frightening events become even more terrifying when set on a spooky spaceship, or desolate alien moon. "Alien 3" and "Event Horizon" are science-fiction movies with scary elements, thus it only makes sense that scary movies with science-fiction elements would be just as cool. Seeing Pinhead commit acts of brutal violence in a space setting enhances the bleak loneliness of being afraid.

So let's continue this bold trend...I wouldn't mind "Jaws in Space," or even "The Shining 2057."...

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Enough is Enough!
Review: Hellraiser Bloodlines is a prime example of why I do not like sequels. I gave this movie a 1 star rating because it only has 1 star and that is Pinhead(Doug Bradley). He is the only reason I continued to watch this boring drawn out movie. It was neither frightening nor was it entertaining. I have no clue what this movie has to do with the first 3. We learn where the box came from and what it's meaning is. Somehow, the box has ended up in space and I'm just wondering how it got there and where it's creator and family members where in the first 3. There is typical Hellraiser gore which is always a plus but believe me this movie is not worth seeing. I haven't seen Hellraiser 5 (Inferno) yet and after seeing Hellraiser 4(Bloodlines) I don't know if I will. Even if your a fan of Hellraiser I'd say stay clear of this bomb.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best of all Hellraisers
Review: First of all, I do not agreee with those fools who tell you to forget the plots of Hellraiser 1, 2 and 3. Hellraiser movies were never meant for rocket scientists and it is not hard to follow this plot from the others. Bloodline delves into the history of the LeMerchant Configuration. There are three different stories that all come together in the end. Much gore and much Pinhead is present in Bloodline and that's why it is the best of all the Hellraisers. Also, Valentina Vargas, who plays Angelique, is damn good looking. If she tried to terrorize me, I'd let her! Pinhead(Doug Bradley) has great lines as usual and the new cenobites are great. Also, there is a great decapitation seen that I could watch for hours on end. So like I said, even though this does not deal with Kirsty Cotton or any of her family, you must keep in mind where the LaMerchant configuration has been to know where it is going. Buy it to complete your Hellraiser collection, buy it for hours of gutbusting fun!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It was ok
Review: I agree with the reviewer who recommends forgetting the plot of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Hellraisers. It is necessary to do that in order to enjoy this film. It has plenty of gore and not much scare. It is entertaining nevertheless. For the 8 year old viewer...go to bed. Somebody should slap your parents. Back to the adult viewers...I happen to like the first 3 installments of the Hellraiser films a bit better myself, but like I said...it is not bad when you're bored and have seen the others. Not worth adding to my collection though.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Faulty but Great!!!
Review: First things first. Hellraiser: Bloodline is a mess of a movie. There were 4 cinematographers on the set and two directors. Once again, Clive wasn't involved. Nontheless, I love the movie. I think it's because I love the story behind it. It shows the origins of the box and the curse of the family that has lived with it through time. I think it's great that the design to destroy the box couldn't work out due to lack of technology. And this movie spans the entire history of the box in general. I admit that some of the rules in this movie are pointless, but Pinhead rules as usual. If you are not a mainstream person and love involved plot that most people couldn't swallow in one sitting, then this movie delivers. I love watching this movie over and over, I just find it interesting. While not as good as the first two, Bloodline is heaps better than part III and the horrid Hellraiser:Inferno.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: worst horror movie ever
Review: I wanted to see hellraiser-bloodline relly bad but when i wached it on tv it wasin't scary one bit.it wasin't scary no gore no blood not tarrifying no nothing.I think every one would hate this movie.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: This is a great horror movie!
Review: While this movie may not be used as an example for film students on "how to", it is indeed a very good, very scary movie. One of the intrigues for me, was that I didn't have to know all of the other 'Hellraiser' movies to follow the story in 'Bloodlines'. I first saw this movie late at night on Showtime and couldn't avert my eyes from it.


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