One of the biggest genre films of ’22 was Hellraiser”, reminding us what makes the franchise great — something we forgot after “Bloodline”.
We dive back in to the world of Pinhead with Josh’s choice, Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996). Does the fourth movie in the franchise hold up? Come find out with us!
Hellraiser: Bloodline (also known as Hellraiser IV: Bloodline) is a 1996 American science fiction horror film and the fourth installment in the Hellraiser series. It serves as both a prequel and a sequel. Directed by Kevin Yagher and Joe Chappelle, the film stars Doug Bradley as Pinhead, reprising his role and carrying the distinct honor and curse of being the only remaining original character and cast member.
This was the last Hellraiser film to be released theatrically and the last to have any significant official involvement from series creator Clive Barker — until the wildly successful 2022 reboot and the final installment in the original series chronologically.
Watch the trailer right here. Hellraiser: Bloodline is available to stream on HBO Max.
The plot revolves around an 18th-century toymaker (Bruce Ramsay) who is hired to create his most remarkable work, the Lament Configuration. Unfortunately, he doesn’t realize that it will allow the summoning of the demonic Cenobites, including Pinhead (Doug Bradley) and Angelique (Valentina Vargas).
Hundreds of years later, the toymaker’s descendant (also played by Ramsay), an engineer, has designed a space station that he believes can trap and destroy the Cenobites.
Major themes in the film include time, toys and game-playing, adultery, and slavery. Yeah, it’s a doozy.
HELLRAISER: BLOODLINE was a film plagued by a troubled history that forced the original director to work under a pseudonym and was met with critical panning. Let’s discuss!
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
In case you missed our May 23rd, 2002, episode (109), we discussed the third entry in the Hellraiser franchise. Join us as we open the box and let Pinhead loose for Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth, released in 1992.
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Since 2018, the All-American Spookshow team has reviewed Horror films, Cult classics, and Action flicks, plus, of course, total crap, so you don’t have to — but we encourage you to nonetheless. Every 2 weeks, the gang reviews a Horror movie with spoilers, alternating between older films (1999-back) & newer films (2000-present). Every other week, they alternate between a few different series, Spookshow Spotlight, Cult Corner, and Cannon Fodder.
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