Hellraiser VI - Hellseeker
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Movie Reviews of Hellraiser VI - Hellseeker
Movie Review: A Slick, But Slightly Dissapointing New Installment
Summary: 3 Stars
Well for those of you who have followed my reviews on the uk site (if they ever got posted) this is the promised review of the newest Hellraiser entry. Hellseeker.This is a real tough review to do. As most of you will of realised and appreciated by now - the majority of horror films should always be rated on a different scale to that of normal films. There general crassness is something that can be savoured and enjoyed when pulle doff with cetain panache, or compensated for with wonderful characters such as this series Pinhead. The problem here, lies in the fact that it is still a far slicker, smoother, and downright better film than most horror flicks (and especially the poor status of most of this trashy but fun saga). But despite this - the movie lacks any true soul. Or evena r eal sense that the film-makers were really enjoying themselves.
The story itself is the main problem. It would be fine if it wasn't for the fact that it is sooooo damn close to the previous chapter Hellraiser: Inferno. and whether you hate it or love it (personally i found it by far the greatest Hellraiser film up there with the original)Inferno undoubtably boasted originality, style, and a brave sense of direction. This film is handled with the same amount of watchable intrigue, and i never really got bored, but the whole thing should of been made later on...maybe in a couple of sequels time - to distance itself from Inferno.
For Pinhead lovers, beware...he turns up here about as much as in Inferno, but delivers his usual panache in the form of Doug Bradly (starting to get a little too old for the role now maybe?? but hell - i love him). He does seem to be growing slightly less scary with each outing however.
The return of Kirsty Cotton is a welcome one, even if we don't see much of her either....her most enjoyable moment being the obvious set up at the end that leaves the film open to what could be some damn fine sequels (rumours are - they're trying to fiml Hellraiser 7 and 8 back-to-back...so here's hoping they're actually meant to be seen together as a double bill with the return of Kirsty vs Pinhead).
The director (although this is his first feature film) handle sit all finely enough - having worked on manymany good and bad horrorfilms (including the director of photography on the likes of House On Haunted Hill and Valentine) his eye for colours and contrast shines through, and whilst its still all a little untextured , its far better than most of the films he's merely collabarated on.
The DVD is good. With a crisp widescreen presentation and 5.1. surround, a bunch of trailers (though none for the film - as usual...come on dimension !) some pointless alternate takes, a brief look at the special effects and a commentary by the director. Oh - and by far the finest typography design on the front cover of the whole series ! It matter to me !
So then - a mixed bag. For a quick glance to my reviews of the whole series...check out my stared guide below....and until next time....send e-mails to dimension to make them make the double-bill !..
Hellraiser ...1/2 (sheer originality but slightly dated)
Hellraiser 2 : Hellbound ... (crass and tacky)
Hellraiser 3 : Hell On Earth ...(stupid but fun in a daft way)
Hellraiser : Bloodline ... (a mix of good and really,really bad)
Hellraiser : Inferno ...1/2 (a masterfull chapter, fantastic)
Hellraiser : Hellseeker ... (an adept but unoriginal telling)
Movie Review: First Less-Than-Outstanding Entry In The Series
Summary: 3 Stars
Although "Hellraiser: Hellseeker" is certainly watchable, even enjoyable, it's a big step down from the preceding chapters, all of which I felt were phenomenal (including the terribly underappreciated "Hellraiser: Bloodline"). It turns out to be a temporary setback, as "Deader" bounces the series part of the way back up. "Hellseeker" might have come off better if it hadn't had such a legacy to live up to.
This sixth chapter of the saga brings back Kirsty Cotton (played by Ashley Laurence) to the series, and while this, combined with the enigmatic title, would lead one to believe there's something great coming, it's here that we run into trouble, because the character acts completely Out of character. Having seen the earlier movies in which she appeared, nothing about her character strikes me as being consistent with what came previously. Truely, it would have been better - if they were going to go and do it this way - to have that character not be Kirsty at all but someone entirely new. Save Ashley and maybe bring her back for a script that's more in keeping with the way her character was previously? Even Pinhead seems to be different - he's as visually impressive as always and Doug Bradley as always does a great job with the role, but....some of the grandeur has leaked away from the character. And the Kirsty/Pinhead 'relationship' is all wrong. I'm not going to go into details as to the endings of "Hellraiser" 1 & 2, but there has always been something there - definately NOT a romantic or sexual relationship (or any hint thereof that I can see) but the way in which these characters have interacted has had a certain special distinction to it, that would be hard to sum up even if one were trying to put it into words. So again, the movie would have been better served if it had had a different female lead.
I've focused on the negatives first and can now continue on with what was right with the movie, which was actually quite alot. The effects are, as always with this series, top-of-the-line, and some brand new Cennobites appear. If you're a fan of the series, you're going to want to see it just to see what new weird and disturbing forms the latest additions to the Cennobite pantheon have taken on. The plot focuses on the survivor of a car accident that Supposedly killed his wife looking for the answers to the strange happenings he's been experiencing lately, and the truth about the crash. This had potential for a fine "Hellraiser" plot but only partly delivers on it. (Sorry)
This is the 6th of 7 entries thus far, with "Hellworld" (Part 8) on the way September 6, and this is the least of them so far, so I have to say - if this is as low as the series drops it's doing great, because after six or seven installments most (not all but most) series - and not just horror series - have at least one chapter that hits the rocks harder than this; it just seems to be the law of averages catching up. And "Hellseeker" is still a very watchable movie with a lot going for it; the main reason I was let down is the saga fell from such a staggering height, but in the end it didn't land nearly as low as it could have. Definately worth giving it a chance.
Movie Review: In the Inferno vein, but not as good.
Summary: 3 Stars
Hellraiser: Hellseeker is not a departure for the series. It's basically an Inferno-like story but without a number of elements that made the predecessor work on its own terms.I can't not like this movie though, as for one, it brings back Ashley Laurence to the series, and two, it throws a mean twist at us in the end. I'm not sure what I think of the writers turning Kirsty "bad", but I applaud the effort to combine a new story with elements of the prequels.
This movie is patched together from a number of familiar films--Memento, Jacob's Ladder, Angel Heart, Hellraiser. There's not much of Pinhead until the end and there is very, very little of the Cenobites. Of course someone ends up snagged by a bunch of metal hooks and ripped apart, but then we get a bizarre scene. Kirsty meets up with Pinhead and...offers him a deal which he accepts. Ashley Laurence looks even better today, but she still is not much of an actress. "Wait! How about a deal?" And then Pinhead thinks about it and says, "Interesting." Uh, are these the same characters we've seen in other movies?
The Hellraiser story is frustrating, but the rest of the film has a certain gritty appeal in its steely colors and quiet protagnoist. It's nowhere as noirish as Inferno was, but there's still a satisfying style for a low-budget straight-to-DVD release. There's really not much gore; the films have been getting more bloodless since Hell on Earth. And there's hardly any of the Cenobites. Disappointing.
I'm hoping the next installment of this series is better, period. I was looking forward to this and was disappointed, especially since they had Kirsty return and they had some liberty for creating a fresh story (after the one-off story of Inferno). Instead the film seems rushed, like they were running low on cash when making it and a so cut a small corner in every department. I do like the fact that Pinhead is used sparingly once again. After his over-extended onscreen time in Bloodline, they need to cut back. He shows up here longer than in Inferno but it's still a cameo and decent paycheck for Doug "The Entire Hellraiser Franchise" Bradley.
Whatever you think of Clive Barker being removed from the Hellraiser franchise, the folks at Dimension Films (who also own the Halloween franchise and the Leprechaun series) are keeping it going.
The DVD is really nice and features directory commentary, alternate scenes with commentary and a visual effects walkthrough.
Director Rick Bota is a cinematographer and he sets up some nice moody shots. However, he has some further explaining to do after you hear some of his director commentary on the deleted scenes. He decided to remove what would have been perhaps the best scene in the film because it would "only appeal to fans of the series". Huh?! This is a sad case of someone getting a shot at directing and then trying to elevate the genre flick he got into his "work". Did someone tell the guy that this was Hellraiser 6, and that the fans were the reason he was working?
Recommended for Hellraiser diehards since it has very revealing extras and because it's a Hellraiser again. Others might want to rent or peek.
Movie Review: Interesting idea
Summary: 3 Stars
As many have said, this one has not got a hell of a lot to actually do with Pinhead, but he is in it. This one seems to be more a Freddy Kruger adventure, but none the less, I enjoyed this one when it was done.
A man drives his car into a lake, via a Duke boys style jump over the bridge. His wife is trapped inside the car and he can not get her out.
The man then wakes up in the hospital, and seems to be suffering from memory loss. As the movie progress' you discover what is actually happening to him. It takes a few twists and turns, and a few things that make you go, "huh?" but in the end it all ties up and explains itself and it has a very interesting ending that I did not see coming.
the overall plot and story of this is pretty well written and portrayed on screen. Even tho many Hellraiser fans are dismissing it as being a true Hellraiser film, I think they are more unhappy with the fact that Pinhead is not in the movie a heck of a lot.
I think this is a decent sequel, it's different, it's fresh, and it is in no way ever boring during any of the movie like some scenes of the original Hellraisers. It gives the series a new perspective, and if you can just accept that, and see the movie for what it is, you may just enjoy it.
Also, I think anyone who has never seen a Hellraiser film, but enjoys a good suspence/horror movie, then you may just find this one to be pretty good. It's not going to please hardcore fans who would praise a film of Pinhead jumping rope for 2 hours and singing, "i'm a little teapot" nor will it appeal to the fans who care blood & gore in the movies, but I say just give this one a go, you may like it, you may hate it, but keep in mind, it's because it's different and Pinheads not around much, that you see so many Hellraiser fans bash it.
It's in no way a bad movie, and it deserves more credit then fans give it.
Movie Review: Good but no great
Summary: 3 Stars
This film had been generating alot of talk in the cultof Hellraiser for sometime; and understandably so- it
returns Ashely Laurence as Kirsty Cotton, the heroine from
the first two installments of the Hellraiser saga. And it was
rumored that Imogen Boorman was to reprise her Tiffany role, but that was not to be.
Hellraiser VI focuses on Kirsty's husband Trevor, and is
very surreal; it is much in the vein of Jacob's Ladder- it's about a man who doesn't quite know where he is or what has
happened to him.
But this is one of the big flaws with this film, it's too surreal for it's own good. The audience never gets to learn the motives of its main character, which is pretty integal to the whole story; we're never let in on the details of Trevor's and Kirsty's relationship. Alot of things are implied, but there are no clear answers.
Another flaw is that the Kirsty Cotton character was not thought through well. Someone here said that the character was added at the last minute in the script, and it definitely shows. Personally, I have no problems with Kirsty getting so little screen time because the story was not about her. But she did things that were inconsistant with her character. In one sceen where Pinhead confronts her, and tells her he wants her soul, Kirsty replies "Uh... You want my soul?", as if she doesn't know what's instore for her with the cenobites! Knowledge she most definitely should have.
The film does succeed in showing us that heroines do have their flaws, a negative personality trait in this case; and it does change a perspective on the Kirsty Cotton character.
Overall a competant entry in the Hellraiser saga, but not on the level as the first two movies.