POSITIVES
It’s not a Hellraiser movie without the harrowing sense of creepy dread, the disturbing gory imagery, disgusting deaths, suspensefully terrifying sequences, hooked chains flying out from the shadows, leaving the movie thinking “that’s messed up,” plus some sex stuff. Thankfully this one delivers on those fronts.
Two main highlights of this movie are the “Lament Configuration Box” and the “Cenobites.” How they integrate the fascinating puzzle box into the story is great. The overall design, feel, and sound of the scary looking Cenobites are also completely on point. Fantastic stuff.
Third main highlight for me is how this film visualizes the schisms between our earthly dimension and the hellish looking other dimension where the Cenobites appear from. The way this movie creatively moves or opens up the environment to bring in the other dimension is just amazing to look at.
While they are somewhat thankless unremarkable roles that are typically perfect for a horror movie, the cast do a great job with what they are given anyway. So kudos to Odessa A'zion, Drew Starkey, Adam Faison, Goran Visnjic, Aoife Hinds, Brandon Flynn, Selina Lo, and Jamie Clayton.
There are some metaphorical themes that work appropriately well and can be interesting to think about how that all applies to the narrative of this story.
NEGATIVES
This isn’t a pure remake of the 1987 film nor of the original novel, so that might be disappointing to some.
Due to the fact that this does purposefully thread similar grounds, this isn’t going to feel like the freshest horror movie you’ve ever seen. Unfortunately that makes this feel a little unremarkable by today’s standards.
Some typical horror movie tropes of lucky coincidences or stupid decisions which can be eye-rolling to see.
Pacing moves leisurely before it really gets to “the good stuff” which might make some people impatient.
Lead character isn’t exactly the most sympathetic protagonist to follow? Speaking of characters, since this is a reboot, the new Pinhead might also be a debatable contention for some fans of the franchise.
loveditenjoyedit LIKED IT itsokayitsmehitsterrible
