Gamers playing a Massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) based on the “Hellraiser” franchise find their lives endangered after being invited to a rave whose host intends to show them the truth behind the Cenobite mythos.
Well the franchise rolls on to number 8 and this time we see the Cenobites enter our computers.
I was VERY surprised to see Rick Bota return to the Directors chair for this film, especially after the abysmal “Hellraiser: Deader”. Who would have thought that this man would be the director of 3 of these films? But you have to give the guy credit he did work well with what he was given, which was re-worked scripts not originally wrote for the series.
Talking of re-worked scripts, the script for this film was adapted from a treatment titled “Dark Can’t Breathe”. I have to admit that I thought this was done very well and it’s one you can’t tell was much of a re-write, it makes me wonder what the actual script was like, whatever it was it did slip well in-to the Hellraiser series.
This time around Pinhead has some serious on-screen competition from the amazing Lance Henriksen, I’ve always been a big fan of his and was quite surprised to see him cast in this film. He does put in a truly great performance as ‘The Host’, let’s be honest he’s always played a great mysterious, dark character and there’s no change here. As for Pinhead he once again is brilliant and his dialogue is great as always, not to take anything away from Doug Bradley’s performance but I did think it was a shame that Pinhead went back to his slasher styler kills than his torturous ways, even though the story calls for it, it’s still a shame.
Once again the film does split fans down the middle, some love it some hate it. Me? I remain in the middle as I thought it had a great concept but didn’t reach it’s full potential, it’s a shame that Doug Bradley’s last performance as Pinhead was in more of a slasher style film than his usual psychological meddling and psychically torturous, demonic ways. Pinhead does suit the hack/slash style but you get the feeling that if the Pinhead from the first film met this one he’d consider his ways lazy and beneath him.
“Hellraiser: Hellworld” is by no means the best in the series but it’s neither the worst. It’s one of those films that a decent watch if you’re bored and don’t want to think too much.
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