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Hellraiser: Inferno
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Wikipedia article
'Hellraiser: Inferno' (also known as 'Hellraiser V: Inferno') is a 2000 American horror film. It is the fifth installment in the 'Hellraiser' series, and the first 'Hellraiser' film to be released direct-to-video. It was directed by Scott Derrickson, in his feature-length directorial debut, and released on October 3, 2000. The film concerns a corrupt detective who discovers Lemarchand's box at a crime scene, which results in his life gradually unraveling. Reviews of the film were mixed, largely because the film was not originally written to be a 'Hellraiser' sequel, and the tone resembles more of a psychological horror film than a body horror film as the first four films were.
Plot
Joseph Thorne is a corrupt Denver police detective who regularly indulges in drug use and infidelity during the course of duty. At the scene of what appears to be a ritual murder, Thorne discovers a strange puzzle box, which he takes home in order to indulge his fascination with puzzles. After solving the box, Thorne begins to experience bizarre hallucinations, such as being seduced by a pair of mutilated women and being chased by a creature with no eyes or legs. Thorne also makes a connection between the murder and a killer known as "The Engineer", who is suspected of having kidnapped a child. Thorne goes in search of the Engineer, who in turn begins murdering Thorne's friends and associates, leaving behind one of the child's fingers at every crime scene.
While undergoing therapy for his hallucinations, Thorne's psychiatrist reveals himself to be "Pinhead", the leader of a group of entities known as the Cenobites, who use the puzzle box as a portal between their realm and the mortal realm. Pinhead informs Thorne that he has in fact been in the Cenobite's realm since opening the box, where they have been subjecting him to psychological torture for the various cruelties he has inflicted on others: The Engineer is a manifestation of Thorne's own cruelty, while the child is a personification of Thorne's innocence, which he has slowly been killing through corruption, hedonism, and violence. As hooked chains appear and begin to ensnare Thorne, Pinhead informs him that he will be subjected to an eternity of torment for his sins.
Cast
* Craig Sheffer as Detective Joseph Thorne
* Nicholas Turturro as Detective Tony Nenonen
* James Remar as Dr. Paul Gregory
* Doug Bradley as Pinhead
* Nicholas Sadler as Bernie
* Noelle Evans as Melanie Thorne
* Lindsay Taylor as Chloe
* Matt George as Leon Gaultier
* Michael Shamus Wiles as Mr. Parmagi
* Sasha Barrese as Daphne Sharp
* Kathryn Joosten as Mary Thorne
* Jessica Elliot as Young Mary Thorne
* Carmen Argenziano as Captain
* J B Gaynor as Young Joseph Thorne
Production
Clive Barker confirmed in an online appearance on AOL in 1996 after the American release of 'Hellraiser: Bloodline' that Dimension Films intended to make a fifth installment in the series, while the film's screenwriter Peter Atkins claimed that there had been reshoots to leave room for at least two more sequels. One concept was a project called 'Hellraiser: Hellfire', a pitch by Stephen Jones and Michael Marshall Smith in which Kirsty Cotton would face a plot by a cult to unleash the Leviathan and the Cenobites into the real world, with a climax involving a large Lament Configuration enclosing London. The pitch was rejected due to budgetary concerns after the film was opted to be released direct-to-video. Although Barker was briefly in negotiations to return as executive producer in 1999 he was ultimately dropped from the production due to creative disagreements with the studio, and was barred from the providing any sort of assistance on the film. Bob and Harvey Weinstein ultimately commissioned a script by Paul Harris Boardman and Scott Derrickson. After giving Derrickson $10,000 to direct a single scene from the film, they hired him as the director. Doug Bradley has since claimed that Boardman's and Derrickson's script was originally not intended as a 'Hellraiser' sequel, and that it was rewritten to provide connections to the series.
Reception
Calum Marsh of 'Esquire' called the film "shockingly good" and said, "'Inferno' feels less like a 'Hellraiser' movie than a follow-up to 'Jacob's Ladder' (or maybe a predecessor to 'Silent Hill'), floating dream-like through hallucinatory David Lynchian visions and downplaying plot in favor of the surreal". 'JoBlo.com's reviewer gave the film a seven out of ten rating, and also felt the film was not very similar to its predecessors, saying, "without a doubt the film's biggest flaw is calling itself 'Hellraiser'". On an interview included on the DVD release, Doug Bradley seemed pleased with how the film turned out. He expressed enjoyment that the film made Pinhead more of a neutral character with the humans serving as the villains of the story, which is far closer to the way the character was portrayed in the original two films.
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 17% based on reviews from 6 critics.
Sequel
References
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