FRANCHISE ME: HELLRAISER: INFERNO

If anyone read this in the past five minutes since it was first posted, there is now an updated paragraph regarding the Pinhead character that missed the initial publication.

Reading that, it made me think what if it was Vic Mackey that found the Lament Configuration instead of Joe Thorne?

Quote:

Originally Posted by neoolong 

Reading that, it made me think what if it was Vic Mackey that found the Lament Configuration instead of Joe Thorne?

They'd find Pinhead's corpse with a planted gun?

Quote:

Originally Posted by neoolong 

Reading that, it made me think what if it was Vic Mackey that found the Lament Configuration instead of Joe Thorne?

That's pretty much what this film is though.
 

Anyway, I'll pop back in here after I watch it tonight.  Unless my opinion magically changes after my latest viewing, I still stand by this as the best sequel we ever got after Hellbound.

Quote:

Originally Posted by neoolong 

Reading that, it made me think what if it was Vic Mackey that found the Lament Configuration instead of Joe Thorne?

I was thinking we'd get a Lem cenobite that's pierced all over with grenade shrapnel.

I would still rank this one as my third favorite Hellraiser film.  It's no classic, but it is a solid entry in the franchise with a nice cast and story.  Sure, it is basically "Vic Mackey finds the Lament Configuration"...............which is part of what I love about it.  It is also a return to something more in the spirit of the original intention of the series.  Humans are the fucked up ones, not the Cenobites.  It has some strong Christian overtones (hello, Scott Derrickson!) that don't quite gel with the series, but overall it is a FAR better fit with the series than the previous two installments. 

Joseph has created his own hellish life and what follows once he opens the box is the inevitable conclusion to the road he was traveling down anyway.  Frank had no attachment in life, therefore the pains and pleasures of the flesh were the best torment for the Cenobites to inflict upon him.  That was driven home even further when we see his "home" within Hell in the second film.  Frank is forced to be infinitely temped by writhing naked flesh that he can never connect with.  Joseph, however, DOES have people and things that he cares about..........whether he knows it or not.  Does this newfound morality fit the series?  Yes and no.  A bit of fanwank follows.  Given the direction the series took after the fourth film, I've always been of the mind that Pinhead fully took charge of Hell's ranks upon his return.  I always found him as more of an equal with his fellow Cenobites in the original two, whereas later on he seemed in charge of his minions.  Perhaps Hell's leadership and tactics changed once more?  Possibly from the addition of demon Angelique to the squad?  Obviously things were different in her time and they seem different now as well.  Anyway, there is no real point in trying to rationalize the new direction, since it is never really explained within the films themselves.  It's just an observation that I recalled while watching Inferno again and could (and probably will) be easily disproved upon watching/rewatching the remaining entries in the series.

All bullshit aside, here is my current franchise ranking:

1. Hellbound

2. Hellraiser

3. Inferno

4. Hell On Earth/Bloodline (tie)

I'm extremely looking forward to watching the next three.  Not out of love, but out of curiousity.  I have only seen Hellseeker and Deader once.  I barely remember anything about them at all, so these will almost be fresh viewings.  As for Hellworld, I have yet to experience that one.  With my opinions on 3&4 lessening during this session, it will be interesting to see exactly where the next three fall on my list.  As for Revelations?  I have a pretty fucking good idea of what I'm going to think of that one whenever I finally see it.

Got to chat with Tony Randel and Peter Atkins last night. Great guys. Randel had read the HELLBOUND Franchise Me. Now I'm glad I said nice stuff about him! Peter Atkins also has a totally hilarious and fully self-aware perspective on the three films he worked on. He tried to apologize to our crowd for CD Face Cenobite, but we'd have none of that! CD Face is comedy gold.

Fun tidbit, before the producers forced Atkins to add the whole Cenobite creation aspect to HELL ON EARTH, Randel and Atkins had been working on a story that was going to introduce angels into the mythos.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua Miller 

 

Fun tidbit, before the producers forced Atkins to add the whole Cenobite creation aspect to HELL ON EARTH, Randel and Atkins had been working on a story that was going to introduce angels into the mythos.

That's not fun, it's depressing.  I want to see that film!!!  lol.  

Touche.

I wish I could have been there!  Did you mention your recently coined phrase to them...................Cenobitten?  If you didn't, you should have!

I should have. I think Atkins would've laughed.