25. Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth dir. by Anthony Hickox (1992) “Ready for your closeup?” In Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Pinhead got himself trapped inside of some hellish sculpture. Well, that sculpture found it’s way into the hands of a homeless man and that homeless man sold that sculpture to some millionaire playboy/douche bag who keeps it in his weirdly sadistic night club. Naturally, Pinhead wants out, and he wants some new Cenobite pals. Hellraiser III’s heroine, Joanne (Terry Farrell) [1], is an investigative reporter that gets wrapped up in the whole Hellraiser deal when she witnesses a club patron being ripped apart by chains at the local hospital. From there she looks into videotapes of Kirsty Cotton (from the first two Hellraiser films), investigates some strange happenings at J.P. Monroe’s nightclub, befriends J.P.’s ex-girlfriend Terri (Paula Marshall), and eventually has a pretty satisfying encounter with Pinhead and five new Cenobites. I think I like the Cenobites in Hellraiser III the most out of all the movies. They’re just so ridiculous. Descriptions from Wikipedia: Pistonhead: An evil sex fiend that owned “The Boiler Room” club; had a hot, never ending piston shoved through his skull. Camerahead: An expert camera man for the news was killed by Pinhead; and brought back to life with a camera for an eye. Dreamer: A smoking teenager that never had dreams; is now a Cenobite with a cigarette in a throat wound. CD: A deejay from “The Boiler Room”; now Cenobite with the power to throw CDs like a ninja with throwing-stars. Barbie: A bartender from “The Boiler Room”; now Cenobite wrapped in barbed wire; and has the ability to spit out white pus that ignites upon touching air. I know I said that Hellraiser IV was my favorite, but I think I flip around each time I see a new Hellraiser film. If you’re going to watch a Hellraiser movie, watch this one. Watch the trailer | Buy it from Amazon | Rent it form Netflix

25. Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth dir. by Anthony Hickox (1992)

“Ready for your closeup?”

In Hellbound: Hellraiser II, Pinhead got himself trapped inside of some hellish sculpture. Well, that sculpture found it’s way into the hands of a homeless man and that homeless man sold that sculpture to some millionaire playboy/douche bag who keeps it in his weirdly sadistic night club. Naturally, Pinhead wants out, and he wants some new Cenobite pals.

Hellraiser III’s heroine, Joanne (Terry Farrell) [1], is an investigative reporter that gets wrapped up in the whole Hellraiser deal when she witnesses a club patron being ripped apart by chains at the local hospital. From there she looks into videotapes of Kirsty Cotton (from the first two Hellraiser films), investigates some strange happenings at J.P. Monroe’s nightclub, befriends J.P.’s ex-girlfriend Terri (Paula Marshall), and eventually has a pretty satisfying encounter with Pinhead and five new Cenobites.

I think I like the Cenobites in Hellraiser III the most out of all the movies. They’re just so ridiculous. Descriptions from Wikipedia:

  • Pistonhead: An evil sex fiend that owned “The Boiler Room” club; had a hot, never ending piston shoved through his skull.
  • Camerahead: An expert camera man for the news was killed by Pinhead; and brought back to life with a camera for an eye.
  • Dreamer: A smoking teenager that never had dreams; is now a Cenobite with a cigarette in a throat wound.
  • CD: A deejay from “The Boiler Room”; now Cenobite with the power to throw CDs like a ninja with throwing-stars.
  • Barbie: A bartender from “The Boiler Room”; now Cenobite wrapped in barbed wire; and has the ability to spit out white pus that ignites upon touching air.

I know I said that Hellraiser IV was my favorite, but I think I flip around each time I see a new Hellraiser film. If you’re going to watch a Hellraiser movie, watch this one.

Watch the trailer | Buy it from Amazon | Rent it form Netflix

 | Posted at 11:16am  |  5 notes

18. Hellbound: Hellraiser II dir. by Tony Randell (1988) “Your suffering will be legendary, even in hell!” Hellbound: Hellraiser II had the honor of nabbing an X rating back in 1988.  Hellbound picks up where the first Hellraiser left off. Kirsty Cotton is in an insane asylum after her family was murdered by Julia Cotton and the Cenobites. Thinking that the nightmare is finally over, Kirsty confides in Dr. Channard, who just so happens to have been trying to find a doorway to hell for years now. Conveniant! Channard manages to open the gates and release the Cenobites from the first film: Pinhead, Chatterer, Butterball, and Female Cenobite. Kirsty realizes that her father is suffering in hell and she’s the only one that can save him, battling against the four legacy Cenobites, and one new one - Dr. Channard. If there’s anything to say about the Hellraiser series, it’s that these movies are gory. Hellbound features a skinless folks crawling around small rooms, bloodying up the place and Dr. Channard’s phallic case of Cenobite puts a good hurting on some unsuspecting victims as well. I like the Hellraiser series, but it’s probably my least favorite of the major horror franchises. It’s probably best to start off with the first Hellraiser film before watching Hellbound, as this is a direct tie-in - but if you’re just looking for a gore-fest, the film opens with a quick 30-second recap on the Hellraiser of old.  Watch the trailer | Buy it on Amazon | Rent it on Netflix

18. Hellbound: Hellraiser II dir. by Tony Randell (1988)

“Your suffering will be legendary, even in hell!”

Hellbound: Hellraiser II had the honor of nabbing an X rating back in 1988. 

Hellbound picks up where the first Hellraiser left off. Kirsty Cotton is in an insane asylum after her family was murdered by Julia Cotton and the Cenobites. Thinking that the nightmare is finally over, Kirsty confides in Dr. Channard, who just so happens to have been trying to find a doorway to hell for years now. Conveniant!

Channard manages to open the gates and release the Cenobites from the first film: Pinhead, Chatterer, Butterball, and Female Cenobite. Kirsty realizes that her father is suffering in hell and she’s the only one that can save him, battling against the four legacy Cenobites, and one new one - Dr. Channard.

If there’s anything to say about the Hellraiser series, it’s that these movies are gory. Hellbound features a skinless folks crawling around small rooms, bloodying up the place and Dr. Channard’s phallic case of Cenobite puts a good hurting on some unsuspecting victims as well.

I like the Hellraiser series, but it’s probably my least favorite of the major horror franchises. It’s probably best to start off with the first Hellraiser film before watching Hellbound, as this is a direct tie-in - but if you’re just looking for a gore-fest, the film opens with a quick 30-second recap on the Hellraiser of old. 

Watch the trailer | Buy it on Amazon | Rent it on Netflix

 | Posted at 2:15pm  |  8 notes

17. Hellraiser IV: Bloodline dir. by Kevin Yagher, Alan Smithee, and Joe Chappelle (1996) Hellraiser: Bloodline spans a few centuries of Cenobite history. The film opens in outer space in the year 2127, where Dr. Paul Merchant, an ancestor of Philip L’Merchant (the toymaker that created the puzzle box that holds the Cenobites), is trying to close the gates of hell. So that sets the story. Head on back to the 18th century, where Jacques (played by Adam Scott), runs amok as a murderous, sexual deviant in possession of his very own Cenobite - newcomer Angelique. From there we make our way into the present, where John Merchant, his wife, and their son are on the run from Pinhead and the other Cenobites. After a short story arc in the present, the film comes full circle for it’s conclusion in 2127 aboard the spaceship puzzle box. Doug Bradley returns as Pinhead, and three new Cenobites are introduced: Angelique, Chatterer Beast and Siamese Twins. The appeal hear is seeing Adam Scott in a Hellraiser movie. Watch the trailer | Buy it on Amazon | Rent it on Netflix

17. Hellraiser IV: Bloodline dir. by Kevin Yagher, Alan Smithee, and Joe Chappelle (1996)

Hellraiser: Bloodline spans a few centuries of Cenobite history. The film opens in outer space in the year 2127, where Dr. Paul Merchant, an ancestor of Philip L’Merchant (the toymaker that created the puzzle box that holds the Cenobites), is trying to close the gates of hell.

So that sets the story. Head on back to the 18th century, where Jacques (played by Adam Scott), runs amok as a murderous, sexual deviant in possession of his very own Cenobite - newcomer Angelique.

From there we make our way into the present, where John Merchant, his wife, and their son are on the run from Pinhead and the other Cenobites.

After a short story arc in the present, the film comes full circle for it’s conclusion in 2127 aboard the spaceship puzzle box.

Doug Bradley returns as Pinhead, and three new Cenobites are introduced: Angelique, Chatterer Beast and Siamese Twins. The appeal hear is seeing Adam Scott in a Hellraiser movie.

Watch the trailer | Buy it on Amazon | Rent it on Netflix

 | Posted at 12:15pm  |  6 notes