A reporter known for going deep under cover to get the best out of her stories is assigned to investigate a cult in Romania that goes by the nickname of "The Deaders." While researching it overseas, she finds herself drawn into their world and their connection with the mysterious Lament Configuration.
We're on the seventh film in this franchise, and things are almost starting to look (slightly) up again. Hellraiser: Deader, like its predecessors, wasn't originally conceived as an entry in the Hellraiser mythos, but was altered by the screenwriter to include the cenobites, the puzzle box, and a pretty surprising revelation towards the end that harkens back to Hellraiser: Bloodline. It also brings back director Rick Bota, who directed the previous entry, which as you can see by a quick search, I didn't particularly care for.
Kari Wuhrer (MTV's Remote Control) is our lead actress here, and she isn't too shabby. She's got a certain charm (and a decent horror scream), and is our first female lead we've had since Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth. She's given some pretty atrocious dialogue and co-stars to have to deal with, but she at least manages to make the most of it. There's actually a relatively good scene involving her and potential claustrophobia, but it is nearly ruined by the dreaded "Flashcinations" that were abundant in the previous films. Seriously, does Dimension have a boner for this stuff? It certainly would explain why EVERY entry post-theatrical releases has been riddled with these. This film also seemed to have a real problem with casting people from Romania, as apparently everyone in the country is British, not Romanian. C'mon folks, it couldn't have been THAT difficult to train a few actors to pull off an accent.
This one had promise, but I think just turns out to be sort of "so-so" in the end (though I'll admit to liking the actual ending quite a bit). It is very apparent that in the beginning it wasn't based on anything affiliated with Clive Barker, but I think with some tweaks to the script (or rather, additional tweaks), this could have turned into a neat little horror film. And don't let the fact that Stan Winston Productions is involved sway you either, it isn't noticeable whatsoever. It is infinitely better than the absolutely awful Hellseeker and the frustrating Inferno, but I wouldn't recommend seeking it out unless you have a few dollars to spare.
Two years after a friend's suicide, a group of teenagers receive an invitation to a private gathering inspired by the massively popular online game "Hellworld," which itself has been inspired by the even more popular "Hellraiser" franchise (and was partially blamed for their friend's demise). Soon, they find their lives are in great danger when they discover the truth about the party's host and the game itself.
"LIKE A BAD HORROR MOVIE, ISN'T IT?"
Hellraiser: Hellworld on the other hand, they should pay YOU for having to sit through. This one could have been subtitled "When Hellraiser goes Meta!" Hellworld was filmed back-to-back with Deader, and of course, shares the same director. And yet again, this was unrelated to the Hellraiser franchise in the beginning, but the script was altered for a release because...well, probably just because. Somehow, this one ends up being a complete mess that will make you increase your rating of the previous entry by default.
This one boasts Henry Cavill (the next Superman) and Lance "I'll say yes to any script you throw my way" Henriksen, but they're as disposable as the rest of the cast (not in terms of actual screen time though). And good god this thing is badly assembled. It feels like a late 1990s slasher, complete with gratuitous nudity, teen heroes played by folks in their mid to late 20s, and an obnoxious nu-metal/industrial metal soundtrack that SOOOO screams "Disturbed British Horror." Oh yeah, and some cenobites pop up once in a while. Did we forget them? Well, the writer seemed to. This script could have used ANY horror franchise, or even an original creation, and it still wouldn't have made any difference. Hell, it doesn't even seem to remember continuity ten minutes after certain scenes take place!
To make matters worse, this could have the most ridiculous, nonsensical plot twist I've seen since in quite some time. It literally ruins the entire film (not that there was much to ruin), and opens up gaping plot holes that shouldn't have been there to begin with. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Come to think of it, ALL of these four films I've reviewed in the last two days have essentially the same plot twists!
If you're looking for good meta horror films, just stick with Wes Craven's New Nightmare or Scream, or even the recently released Cabin in the Woods. Those are a lot more clever, they're better acted, they're funnier, and they're genuinely scary at times. This doesn't even deserve to be a cheap coaster.
Tomorrow, we mercifully wrap up the Hellraiser franchise with the much maligned (but does it deserve to be?) HELLRAISER: REVELATIONS.
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