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Despite appreciating horror very much (with a lot of classic ones out there, such as 'Halloween', 'Nightmare on Elm Street', 'The Texas Chainsaw Massacre', 'Night of the Living Dead' and 'The Exorcist', plus the best of Hammer House of Horror), even if not my favourite genre, it took me a while to get round to watching the 'Hellraiser' franchise. Due to having so much to watch and review, and the list keeps getting longer and longer.
The film that started the franchise off is not only for me by far the best of the 'Hellraiser' films it also for me, and quite a few others it seems, is one of the stronger horror films of the 80s, though not quite of all time. What is meant by being by far the best of the 'Hellraiser' films is that it is the only one to be above very good, the nine sequels were very variable (leaning towards the disappointing) and the latter films particularly are suggestive of the franchise having run its course.
From personal opinion, while a bit of a disappointment 'Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth' is still watchable and one of the better sequels in the series. The same goes for this fourth entry 'Hellraiser: Bloodline', some have said that it is the last watchable film in the franchise and have to agree with this.
Quite a fair few good things here in 'Hellraiser: Bloodline'. The production values were fine, do prefer the nightmarishly Gothic look of the first two films but the film looks very stylish and atmospheric with suitably grotesque visual effects that aren't overused or abused and hold up reasonably well. The space effects are especially good. There are a few imaginative and disturbing moments and the music is fairly haunting.
Pinhead is still interesting and creepy, deserving of his horror icon status. Doug Bradley is genuinely intimidating in the role and gives the only good performance of the film as the only character halfway interesting.
It is hard however to ignore the drawbacks. The creepiness and ambition present before in especially the original 'Hellraiser' is missing, too many parts are too silly and camp and it does undermine any creepiness, mystery or suspense. Like the third film, it just feels completely different tonally compared to its predecessors, Clive Barker's lack of involvement shows loud and clear. The dialogue is toe-curling again like in the previous film and further manages to be convoluted, Pinhead's dialogue also being too rambling, and didn't really see any need for some of the gore, which didn't unnerve that much and came over as cheap and gratuitous instead.
Furthermore, the story is a mess. Nothing is intriguing about the atmosphere and suspense and creepiness are lacking and replaced by silliness. Would have liked more imagination and the kills on the whole would have been more unnerving if the gratuitous elements were used less and if used were there for a reason. The storytelling too is very confused, incoherent at worst, while the second half especially is rushed and far-fetched. The only character one roots for or is interested in is Pinhead, the others are bland and annoying. Excepting Bradley, the acting is even more laughable than in the previous film with no exception.
Altogether, watchable but with a number of issues. 5/10 Bethany Cox
5/10
