Hellraiser - Bloodline Reviews

• Puzzle Boxes in Space

  
  By A1M4NJYP0WNL8Q on 2005-06-01
  For all that I like the Hellraiser series it has never set the bar in horror films. There is a lot of imagination behind tham, but more often than not acting or effects have acted as limitations. 'Bloodline' is a bit different though, and while still laboring a bit under a casting shortage (the evil count is one of the worst characterizations I've ever seen) the story is genuinely interesting, there's just enough gruesome and gothic, and the script is sometimes quite intelligent.
  
  The plot focuses on the l'Merchant family (the makers of the original box/doorway to hell). The story starts on what seems to be a derelict space station, where the latest Merchant (played by Bruce Ramsey) is doing something mysterious with the proverbial little puzzle box. He is interrupted by an team come to investigate the apparent hijacking of the station. His efforts to explain the history of the box and the reason for his actions take us first to 18th Century Paris where the box is first made and Angelique (demon #1) invoked. Then we head for 1996 where a young architect nearly makes a monumental box and Pinhead (demon #2) makes his entry.
  
  Finally, we return to the station in 2127, where the latest Merchant is trying to destroy both the box, and the demons it summons. While the Paris episode is mostly just plain bloody, the remaining stories have real plots, and Pinhead (played by Doug Bradley) does a bang up job of being both horrible and intelligent. Thus you get all your basic urges satisfied, learn some of the background story behind all the films, and get a bit of demonic philosophy as well.
  
  I'm tempted to say that this could very easily be the best of the Hellraisers. This is due primarily to Bradley's job as Pinhead. Grotesque, but with an austere nobility, he fascinates and repels at the same time. He delights in his soulless state ("Do I look like someone who cares about what God thinks?"), wielding pain the same way Angelique tries to seduce, but with considerably more effect. Just for a moment you may find yourself tempted by the emptiness he represents.
  
  

• Pinhead: He's Forever

  
  By A363QRXP83K8ZE on 2002-08-09
  You know there's trouble a-brewin' not when Pinhead's on the box, but when you see "Directed by Alan Smithee". This is basically a pseudonym that directors use when they don't want their real name associated with a film due to some creative disagreement, producer changes that offended the director, or if the film is just [not good].

  In this case director Kevin Yagher (a respected makeup effects artist) disowned the film after Dimension made cuts to it. Hellraiser creator and original Hellraiser director Clive Barker has pretty much been written out of the series by now. You only see Clive Barker Presents (since they're his characters) but
  that's it. Apparently Barker is too expensive and he has his own ideas of where the Hellraiser mythos should be going.

  That said, Hellraiser: Bloodline is a weaker effort than the previous three appearances of The Box. (I actually liked Part III a lot).

  This is an ambitious story, as far as horror series go, and certainly as far as Part IVs go in any series. While the first three eventually led to more insight into Pinhead and his origin, including the separation of his human and demon side in Part III, Bloodline tries to trace the history of the famous box. The Lament Configuration, as its known, was designed by a toymaker named Merchant in 18th century France. It was commissioned by a particularly crazy Duke (or Duc) who somehow is able to raise hell with the thing. (It's never made clear why the box has these powers, or, for that matter, what the heck is going on with his Latin incantations and skinning at the beginning).

  The film opens in the year 2127 on a giant spaceship (yes, folks, Pinhead in space). The ship is, in fact, a giant trap designed by Merchant's last descendant in an effort to finally summon Pinhead and destroy him. Then the film flashes back to the 18th century, then forward to 1996 Paris, then to 1996 New York where the Merchant of 2127's father is an architect. Throughout we see a stunning Frenchwoman named Angelique who becomes some kind of demon (I think), though this, like many things in Bloodline, is never made clear.

  If you're a Hellraiser fan, you'll enjoy more Hellraising action. However, you'll be disappointed by the fact that much of the plot makes very little sense. Who is Angelique? Is she a Cenobite? Can you really kill Pinhead? How many boxes are there?

  As for the gore, well, we do get some quality bits. However, this is easily the weakest film as far as Cenobites go. Pinhead takes 2 twin brothers and does something involving drills and twisting their faces together and a lot of blood and screaming and they're joined at the head. Then there's a Cenobite dog, or
  whatever that thing is, which is resigned to only brief shots of it's front or teeth or in shadows since, frankly, the thing looks downright low-budget. And I think that's Angelique in space at the end with her skull exposed under pinned scalp-flesh, which actually looks great, but she's given precious little time in that bloody form.

  There's a lot owed to the Alien films here, including a group of Marines who exist for the sole reason to get whacked out by Pinhead. And speaking of Pinhead, I'm not crazy about him either in this installment. For one, we almost get too much of him(!) We see him brightly lit and walking around and spouting some almost overwhelming Pinhead-isms about human acquiesence, blah blah blah and stroking a pigeon(!). In the earlier films he was resigned to dark, shadowy sets and was, of course, a creepier character. But, give a movie maniac too many sequels and soon enough he'll be the hero, cracking jokes and making far too many appearances (see: Freddy Krueger).

  However, the film is photographed well, and the makeup in general is very good. (I give credit for at least trying something new with the dog).

  All in all, this isn't terrible. I'm a huge fan of the series, so I welcome new additions. I just wish that with the scope of the story and the playing around with the mythos so much that they would have done a better job. I wish we could get a director's cut--the film runs a scant 86 minutes(!) Wonder how much was cut, given that this movie spans a few centuries.

  What else do we get on this DVD? Nothing. Not even a trailer. The picture and sound are both good. Nothing incredible, but certainly fine. Wish they could get a decent transfer of Part III out.

  Recommended for Hellraiser fans simply because it's Hellraiser, and Pinhead, and the Box. But as for others, this is definitely NOT a good starting point for the series and is not indicative of the gothic horror of the original story and 2 films.
  
  

• Even splatter effects look beautiful here

  
  By A3CAB48G11FON7 on 2000-02-16
  Of course, this could have been a much better movie. They had the ideas to make another master-piece for the final installment of the Hellraiser Series. But they failed, because the visions of director Kevin Yagher, producers and the new director Joe Chappelle haven't been the same. What the final cut of the movie is: Sometimes pure genius, sometimes laughable or the story is not enough developed, it often seems to me that some scenes are too short for what they have to tell. Most of the effects are great, make-up is wonderful (Mr. Bradley looks better than ever as Pinhead), and everything is beautifully shot. I'm shure this is enough to recommend this film for everyone who likes original movies.
  
  

• Pinhead is so exquisitely empty

  
  By A3KF4IP2MUS8QQ on 2003-01-19
  When I first watched this movie, I felt the director was quite justified in choosing the Alan Smithee moniker for himself. After a second viewing, I find myself much more favorably inclined toward this fourth film in the Hellraiser series. It's still somewhat disappointing, but it is not unwatchable; if nothing else, Pinhead gets more great lines than ever before. Long before Jason journeyed into space, Pinhead was there. Bloodlines opens in the year 2127; Dr. Merchant, descendant of the man who created the diabolical puzzle box, has hijacked the space station he designed and has just summoned Pinhead and his diabolical minions into his trap when the station is boarded by the military and the doctor taken prisoner. With demons roaming free on the station and time running out for Merchant to complete his plans, he tells the story of his family to a young female soldier named Rimmer in an effort to convince her to let him finish his work.

  We are transported back to what I assume to be 18th century France, where a toy maker named L'Merchant has been commissioned to design a puzzle box for famed magician/occultist M. de L'isle. The toy maker watches from outside as de L'isle and an assistant kill and skin a young woman and use her, in conjunction with the powerful box, to summon a demon. Realizing that he is responsible for creating a means of opening the gates of hell, L'Merchant sets about designing a machine to destroy demons such as the beguilingly beautiful enchantress Angelique. He does not live long enough to succeed, but the curse and the memories of what he has done are imbedded in his bloodline. The story then jumps to 1996, where architect John Merchant has designed a huge room intriguingly similar to the puzzle box. Angelique soon arrives and summons Pinhead. The Merchant bloodline is doubly important to the Cenobites-while it holds the danger of building a machine to defeat the demons, it also holds the secret for opening a permanent doorway to hell. Now things start to get interesting, as Pinhead soon tires of Angelique's reliance on temptation; to him human acquiescence is much more easily obtained by terror. The culmination of this part of the history is quite satisfying; declaring that "I am pain," Pinhead goes about proving the deep truth of his assertion. Finally, we return back to the future space station and watch the ultimate culmination of events set in motion hundreds of years earlier, the final showdown between the L'Merchant bloodline and the demons the family unwittingly invoked.

  Although the story has multiple weak spots, some delectable gore somewhat offsets it. One of the two decapitations here is particularly impressive, as is the blood that flows freely in the home of the mad M. de L'isle. The demon princess Angelique is a captivating counterpart to the familiar Pinhead, although I agree with Pinhead that terror is much more effective (not to mention entertaining) than temptation. Bruce Ramsey plays three members of the Merchant family, but I think the roles would have been better played by three actors. Doug Bradley is, of course, wonderful as Pinhead, and I was quite glad to see him get so many lines this time around. His musings on suffering and pain are music to my horror-attuned ears, none more so than his impassioned reaction to the pitiful pleas for divine mercy of ridiculously cast and incredibly annoying identical twin security guards: "Do I look like someone who cares what God thinks?" One almost feels compelled to applaud when Pinhead states the obvious fact that "I am so exquisitely empty."

  This movie is much less carnally gripping than the first two Hellraiser films, but do not dismiss it out of hand. I actually find it more enjoyable than Hellraiser 3. What initially seemed to me to be quite awful has now become a film I appreciate and take delight in. Just don't take this movie too seriously; after all, it is just a game, and it is most definitely time to play.
  
  

• Best of all Hellraisers

  
  By A3E3NIU0XD9OLR on 2002-02-27
  First of all, I do not agreee with those fools who tell you to forget the plots of Hellraiser 1, 2 and 3. Hellraiser movies were never meant for rocket scientists and it is not hard to follow this plot from the others. Bloodline delves into the history of the LeMerchant Configuration. There are three different stories that all come together in the end. Much gore and much Pinhead is present in Bloodline and that's why it is the best of all the Hellraisers. Also, Valentina Vargas, who plays Angelique, is damn good looking. If she tried to terrorize me, I'd let her! Pinhead(Doug Bradley) has great lines as usual and the new cenobites are great. Also, there is a great decapitation seen that I could watch for hours on end. So like I said, even though this does not deal with Kirsty Cotton or any of her family, you must keep in mind where the LaMerchant configuration has been to know where it is going. Buy it to complete your Hellraiser collection, buy it for hours of gutbusting fun!
  
  
• Mega Watch: Good fun through time
  By A3D2VIUT2HWP0Z on 2005-03-30
  I enjoyed this film immensely. Sometimes the reviews by so called fans of a franchise just make me wonder if I saw the same film.
  Anyways, the wrap around sequence occurs in a space outpost, where a descendent of the creator of the Puzzle box ( the "Gateway") is determined to implement a solution to the gateway box, which was also designed by the creator of the box.
  However, the solution cannot be implemented since the technology does not allow it. It is only when computers come about, that the advent of the solution occurs.
  I am at a loss to understand why people have called this film plotless, since the film has probably the second most complicated film plot in the series next to the second film HELLBOUND.
  This film opens up enough mythos to have a large pool of resources for future stories in many forms. In fact, Clive Barker has said that the franchise is largely in the hands of other people, since it basically has assumed a life of its own. Clive Barker was not unavailable due to costs, but ( as I understand it) for creative reasons.
  The story, I would suggest, maintains a high standard, and maybe it could be improved on some points, but since I find the film very enjoyable, it seems the wrong attitude.
  The "Evil" which is now separate from the original spirit ( as depicted in the third film) ranges through time, and provides a view of hell as it was, and hell as it is. For example, it is shown that Hell was much less ordered in the time of "Angelique"... the demon created in the original time frame of the "birth" of the box. And it is fascinating that the young disciple who assumes command of "Angelique" lives for many centuries up unto the time of the Architect. And the Architect creates what Pinhead calls an Apocalypse waiting to happen. And in the final space sequence, we see Pinheads "essence" exposed in a "death" statement... where Pinhead says " I am so exquisitely empty".
  The structure and demonology of this film is first rate.
  Enjoy.
  
  
  
• Pinhead in space.
  By APCHVFMSQZVY4 on 2006-06-24
  What I don't understand is why horror fans have complained about this sequal when the ones that were released after this were even worse I mean this film is a masterpiece compared to those crappy straight to video sequals Inferno and Hellworld. The film is about the horrifying struggles of a family bloodline who created the puzzle box (thats how I got my nickname hehe) that opens the doors of hell and let the diabolical Pinhead free to wreak havok on earth and then in the 22nd century a scientist in a space station is trying to solve the puzzle and finaly wants to defeat Pinhead and the other cenobites and break the curse that his family has been suffering through. The film shows us the history and background behind the puzzle box that was created by the La Marchant family line beginning in France in the 18th century, the film also introduces a new villian the demonic Angelique which was very nice and interesting it also had a nice amount of gore including a very nasty looking decapatation and the twin cenobites that get there heads screwed on together which was also hilarious so overall the film was not that bad even though it did have some very cheesy and corny moments and some special fx looked bad and outdated I still enjoyed this film alot and I highly recommend this to hellraiser fans.
  
  
• Hellraiser fans - avoid it.
  By on 2000-04-17
  First of all I'd like to say that I am a huge fan of Pinhead and I love the Hellraiser mythos. But this film is really poor. The first three films of the series are probably one of the best splatter horror trilogies, and this sequel should never be made. The plot is silly, the actors (except Doug - Pinhead - Bradley) out of place, the make-up of the other cenobites (the twins, the female, the dog) ridiculous. All in all, this movie is to the Hellraiser series exactly what Batman & Robin (1997) is to the Batman series. A poor homage rather than a real sequel. I just hope that Hellraiser V : Inferno will have the dark magic of the first two films, or the excitement of the third. The single star I gave is for the music score which is pretty good (the Hellraiser films had always a good score). The fact that this film was 'directed' by the 'infamous' Mr. Alan Smithee says it all...
  
  
• Promising concept that never lives up to its potential
  By A1HZ82QCA8Z92P on 2000-03-19
  More like 1.5 stars. I've been a big fan of the Hellraiser series for awhile now. It's unfortunate that "Hellraiser: Bloodline" is the worst of the series. The story of "Bloodline" centers on the creation of the infamous puzzle box bearing the Lament Configuration. We are introduced to Phillip Lemarchand, the 18th century French toy maker responsible for the box's creation, and two of his descendants, one a 20th century architect named John Merchant and the other a 22nd century astrophysicist and space station designer named Paul Merchant. All the members of the Lemarchand bloodline try to destroy the Lament Configuration puzzle box with something known as the Elysium Configuration. The problem I had with this film was its inability to fully develop any of the three stories contained within. If the film makers had centered on a specific time frame and developed the story from there, this film would have been much better. It's still watchable, though not really worth watching. It's really disappointing because when I heard the concept of this film a few years back I thought it had great potential. When one views this film, it becomes apparent why director Kevin Yagher took his name off the picture. Sadder still, screenwriter Peter Atkins says "I received sole writing credit but, in retrospect, should probably have followed Kevin's example and taken refuge behind an invented name."
  
  
• Excellent movie
  By on 1999-10-06
  This movie is by far the second best in the series ( the first being the best of course.) it goes back and explains the mysterious history of lemarchand's puzzlebox and finally brings to an end the reign of the horrible cenobites on earth. a must see for any hellraiser fan.
  
  
• Better than Hell On Earth, but not as good as the first two.
  By A154UNKAA48L0X on 2000-10-11
  This movie was better than Hellraiser III, which did have some good parts, but was definitely lacking something. The biggest problem I have is that the makeup effects for the last two movies, while elaborate, don't look quite as realistic as those for the first two. Sure, some of the stuff in the first two looked a little rubbery, but the coloring wasn't unrealistically bright, and the Cenobites were supposed to look like they were powdered, not plastic and shiny, like their skin was naturally that white.

  The story on this one did NOT come from nowhere. There was a comic series that was released a several years ago called Clive Barker's Book of the Damned (I, II, III, and I think there was a IV), and I believe Clive Barker had some input in some form as to the content. They actually told the backstory for the series, including the origin of the box in III. While the story was twisted a bit in Bloodline, it is still very recognizable. I've heard this movie was originally a lot different, and would like to see an earlier cut, but all of them except the first were changed significantly in post-production.. just listen to the commentary on the Hellbound DVD, at least the one from the boxed set. Some interesting ideas there, too.. :)

  While I don't expect Hellraiser: Inferno to be as good as the first two, I hope it's at least no worse than this one..

  Parting comment.. a friend pointed something interesting out to me. This is Hellraiser IV. I.V... which you might call a "bloodline"..
  
  

• Enough is Enough!
  By A2RNTG686ZATNP on 2002-03-23
  Hellraiser Bloodlines is a prime example of why I do not like sequels. I gave this movie a 1 star rating because it only has 1 star and that is Pinhead(Doug Bradley). He is the only reason I continued to watch this boring drawn out movie. It was neither frightening nor was it entertaining. I have no clue what this movie has to do with the first 3. We learn where the box came from and what it's meaning is. Somehow, the box has ended up in space and I'm just wondering how it got there and where it's creator and family members where in the first 3. There is typical Hellraiser gore which is always a plus but believe me this movie is not worth seeing. I haven't seen Hellraiser 5 (Inferno) yet and after seeing Hellraiser 4(Bloodlines) I don't know if I will. Even if your a fan of Hellraiser I'd say stay clear of this bomb.
  
  
• "I...AM...PAIN"
  By A2V3P1XE33NYC3 on 2004-06-06
  The Hellraiser franchise holds a special place in my heart. I will never forget the first time I saw the opening chapter in the series of films inspired by Clive Barker's nightmarish visions. Watching the original "Hellraiser" now is a mixed bag-some of those special effects look a bit hokey, but others still come across as chillingly effective. Who can forget the glistening visage of Uncle Frank? The lascivious Julia? Or the first appearance of the ominous and verbose Pinhead? The second installment improved on the first, as the film whisked the viewer away to the abode of Pinhead and the Cenobites. A gruesome, perverse picture, "Hellbound: Hellraiser 2" raised the expectations about future entries to a fever pitch. Up next came "Hellraiser 3," a personal favorite of mine even though legions of fans have subsequently disowned it. The series moved into the latter stages of its career from this point forward, taking bold steps in an attempt to expand far beyond what viewers had come to expect. The series continues today with at least two further sequels in the works. Will they find an audience or will the new arrivals fall flat on their faces? Fans will probably grumble even as they queue up to watch.

  "Hellraiser: Bloodline" took the risky step of moving the storyline into space, a cringe inducing idea at first until you actually watch the movie. Who can forget the nightmare that was "Leprechaun 4"? Fortunately, only certain segments take place on a spaceship. The majority of the film heads back to the past to explain the origins of the Lament Configuration, that dreaded box which hundreds of seekers have opened only to find the Cenobites waiting for them. Dr. Paul Merchant (Bruce Ramsey) locked himself away on the spaceship because he wants to destroy this infernal device once and for all. A group of marines arrives on the ship to take the "mad" doctor into custody. During his detainment he tells a dark story about his family's history, about how his ancestor Phillipe Merchant designed the box in the eighteenth century for a decadent French nobleman who wished to plumb the dark depths. The box does its job, horribly so, conjuring up a demon named Angelique (Valentina Vargas) who promptly carves up people left and right. Unfortunately for Merchant, the box somehow curses his bloodline. Every one of his descendants will suffer because of the Lament Configuration.

  The movie moves to the modern day-our modern day, not the year 2127 on the spaceship-to focus on John Merchant (again, Bruce Ramsey; he plays all three Merchants), an architect fascinated with the drawings passed down through the family from Phillipe Merchant. Again, Angelique turns up. But this time so does good old Pinhead, and he's bringing along some reinforcements. A huge battle ensues over the Lament Configuration, with the underworld's minions seemingly banished for good. We, having seen the events on that spaceship, laugh at such optimistic thinking. The finale to "Hellraiser: Bloodline" moves us back to the ship for a final showdown between Merchant, the marines, and the Cenobites. More gooey gore shows up to turn the stomach before the film slides quietly into the credits. Even if you end up hating this movie, you have to admit that the gore quotient reaches nauseating new heights.

  "Hellraiser: Bloodline" is an uneven film anyway you slice it. Director Kevin Yagher withdrew from the production after his studio heavily interfered in the project. Thus, the film carries the dreaded "Alan Smithee" label, a moniker all too familiar to moviegoers in the know. The result of this turmoil behind the scenes set the movie adrift, so someone decided to just slap the whole thing together and dump the final result in the video stores. That's a real shame as "Bloodlines" has at its center an interesting premise for fans of the series: how the box came about and how it was first used to conjure up evil. The movie boasts a few new Cenobites in the form of a clacking toothed dog and a fused pair of security guards (Watch and see how this comes about. Gross.). Pinhead even turns up to toss off a few new witticisms. I especially enjoyed the line that goes something like "Do I look like someone who cares what God thinks?" You can always rely on Pinhead to say something memorable. Unfortunately, he doesn't show up in this movie nearly as much as we would like, a problem that only gets worse in parts five and six. Still, some Pinhead is better than no Pinhead at all, don't you think?

  Give up on the idea of the series ever returning to the original themes so eloquently portrayed in the first and second films. Those days are gone forever as sequel mania long ago destroyed any hope of maintaining Barker's original inspiration. I generally watch new Hellraiser films for the glimpses of Pinhead and the jaw dropping gore effects. I found the "Bloodline" DVD a bit disappointing in the extras department. There aren't any, actually, beyond a trailer for "Children of the Corn 666" (yet another horror series deteriorating into utter banality) and a promo for the "Scream" box set. An Alan Smithee commentary track would have been nice-we could have finally heard from this mysterious man after all these years! Seriously, give "Bloodline" a chance. It's not great cinema, but it sure beats a lot of the dreck floating around out there.
  
  

• Too little Pinhead
  By A15MLF38WROSWU on 2005-01-28
  When I first found out this movie had a space theme to it I cringed and refused to watch the movie. Jason X anyone? Leprechaun 4? Not to mention I hated Hellraiser 3 and vowed I would not torture myself by watching anymore of the series. I finally gave in and watched and turns out this movie is much better then anticipated. Only part of Bloodline takes part in space. The majority of the movie actually gives us the origin of the box. Dr. Paul Merchant is trying to destroy the box before it can cause more damage and continue to curse his bloodline. Some military board the ship to take Merchant into custody. Merchant starts to tell the story of how the box came to be and why he must destroy the box. Turns out this box has been a curse to his family and if the hands of time could be turned back the dreadful box would never had been created. Merchants ancestor Phillipe Merchant designed the box for a decadent of French nobleman who wished to use the box for evil. After the Frenchman does some kind of ceremony, a demon named Angelique appears and starts to kill people. This box becomes the curse of the Merchant bloodline and suffer each descendant of the clan will suffer the consequences.
  
  As the movie progresses we meet John Merchant who is the next to be cursed by the box. Angelique shows up, but so does pinhead. When Angelique tries to showdown with Pinhead she looses and is turned into a cenobite. By the time the movies ends many of the soldiers that boarded the ship are murdered by a dog like cenobite and fused pair of security guards (this effect is amazing!!!) before the final showdown, but I won't give away what happens. Part of the appeal for me with the Hellraiser series is Pinhead and you don't get to see much of him in this film. Hellraiser and Hellraiser 2: Hellbound will always be the best in the series. The most you can hope for watching further installments of the Hellraiser series are peeks of Pinhead, some newer cenobites and the gore.
  
  This movie is better than Hellraiser 3, but not better then Hellraiser or Hellbound. In my opinion Bloodline is a worth a rental, but should not be considered a title you add to your home collection.
  
  
  
• 0 STARS: This is pure nonsense.
  By A3FUBUJAIGM87T on 2006-08-19
  We got Jason in space and we get Pinhead in space. This is pure nonsense. Words of wisdom to the makers of these sequels: when you start putting horror movie villains in space to kill people, it's time to stop making these movies!!
  
  
• Not the best in the series, but still good...
  By APJGMTBEQK2VZ on 2000-04-27
  ....What is up with Space? Why have so many Horror movie characters ended up in space? Let's review. This one has Pinhead in Space, in the future no less, and there is a #5 coming this year...Leprechaun 4 put the little green guy in space. Critters 4 did the same, Jason 10 puts The Camp Blood Killer in orbit...I mean, come on. This, however, was a good movie, like i said in the title, not the best in the series, but certainly not the worst. This one follows the story of the creator of the little wooden box. From its creation in france many years ago...all the way to the future in space. Pinhead has killed each decendant, and will continue to do so.....part 5 doesn't seem to follow this one...but we will see
  
  
• The end of Pinhead?
  By A3S9887MZFNNH1 on 2000-01-18
  This film was clever and entertaining. However it dose'nt relate to the original as the box was supposed to have been made in china where as in this it is a french puzzle box.

  Doug Bradley is ever good as Pinhead and the climax to BLOODLINE is excellent. I recommend this!
  
  

• Great movie
  By on 2000-03-19
  I loved this movie. It had a great cast, memorable phrases, tons of blood and gore. All in all, perfect movie to watch late at night with the lights turned off... as long as you have a strong stomach.
  
  
• put it all on the cutting room floor
  By on 1999-06-13
  No stars. This film Hellraiser 4, like part 3, has strayed from the original idea of what it supposed to be about. The original demons and the fear that they induced was lost. The articulate and commanding "Pinhead" now tells his tale with "sound and fury" trading in his calm for what appears to be rage. Part of what was genuinely terrifying about this character was his tendency to appear to a small number of victims as if he were a specter. To appear with an army ceases to have impact. After all, Pinhead is an otherworldly creature and is best seen by few, that way he is a tale told by only the mad. Another thing that gave the original Hellraiser a fearful quality was the setting. Set in an England town, it gave one the feeling of witnessing the old and the new overlapping. Few regions provide this mood, but when it is done, the impossible and strange seem more genuine and plausible. If there is another Hellraiser film, I'll expect Pinhead to team up with Steven Segal and sport an AK-47 and a gurka knife. Maybe he'll even have a bedroom scene with Jamie Lee Curtis.
  
  
• worst of the series
  By on 1999-06-30
  A very ambitious premise that goes absolutely nowhere. Since the movie tries to deal with three different time periods in only 81 minutes, none of them gets fleshed out very well. The part set in the present could have been skipped entirely. The "twin" cenobites were extremely lame, especially when they kill a guy by squeezing him between themselves. The only worse cenobite was the girl from part III (she burns people with cigarrettes! Scary!) Good to see Pinhead finally get what's coming to him, though.
  
  
• I'm a real big HELLRAISER fan, but please give me a break
  By on 1999-01-18
  The worst "Hellraiser" movie in the series. The Pinhead makeup is terrible, the cenobites are a joke, the plot is hopeless, and even the gore is starting to slack off a bit. It all starts in a futuristic space station, and the man on board is attempting to destroy Pinhead and his evil sidekicks. But the cenobites in this look like clowns, and Pinhead's dog should have been laughed at. Of course, the special effects are good, and the opening credits are entertaining with its haunting music, but the rest is just a sideshow thats a hopeless waist of time. If Clive Barker is looking for a way to end the "Hellraiser" series, he is going the wrong way about it.
  
  
• by far the worst
  By on 1999-07-13
  even the second one had its moments.but this is just ridiclous! far-fetched as ever, this movie has yet an even more confusing plot than the second and goes nowhere. the ending is lame and somewhat predictable. gives the previous chapters(yes even the second one !) and mr. barkers creativity a bad name.
  
  
• the best horror movie series there is
  By on 1999-11-01
  this is the best and most consistant horror movie series I've ever seen. It is rare to see congruent plot lines from the original movie through out the sequals, but hellraiser pulls it off with few exceptions. This movie was excellent and a fiiting ending to a great story.
  
  
• Better than part 3, but not as good as the first 2
  By A3T5CG0QO7259C on 2000-10-14
  This is a big inprovement over the very dull and stupid third installment, but still lacks the greatness of the original and its superior sequel. I mean dont get me wrong, its a great movie, and the background info on the puzzle box and Pinhead are simply brilliant. the whole movie is basically a big prequel leading up to the last blood filled fifteen minutes of the film, where we see the "supposedly" end of Pinhead. To sum it up Bloodline is a Smart and Clever installment into the Hellraiser serious, But I still prefer the Phychological terror of the first 2 films. Bloodline is filled with your standard blood and gore and gives us some excellent background info on the box and pinhead. Rated R for Graphic Violence, Nudity and Sexual Content
  
  
• Underated addition to a great series!!
  By A32VNE7H904UGP on 2001-02-07
  Take this movie for what it is!! Enough about how Pinhead in space ruined this film. The movie was entertaining and there was not a dull moment. Pinhead does make a longer appearance in this one and he does not disappoint. A whole bunch of talk about pain and suffering. I could not get enough. Plus there was an interesting back story about how the box came to be. Very interesting and informative!! I just wanted to say thanks to those responsible for making this movie, even though a lot of people are talking negatively about it. I hope those who did this one, do the sixth installment, and not the ones who did the horrible 5th.
  
  
• A right load of horse's dollop
  By A16RO3A31097EY on 2001-04-28
  This unbelievably cut/edited film is absolutely pathetic.I'm ashamed and embarassed to admit I wasted time and money watching it.A third sequel has always seemed pretty desperate to me,but to some drivel like the Hellraiser series(bar number one)?This film seems to rely on vulgar shock tactics to win audience attention.Never mind how chopped and changed it is,I think the real reason the real director,Kevin Yagher,slapped the humiliating Alan Smithee directorial credit on the film is because of how mind blowingly awful it is.I mean,look at that demon dog.What a mess.Whoever was responsible for the special effects ought to be shot.Pinhead's progression throughout the centurie's is told in an extremely uninvolving fashion.Aside from the Smithee billing,I also think the real reason this went straight to video is because of how poor it is.Please avoid.
  
  
• Alan Smithee
  By A1S9IPUG5H96WC on 2001-05-03
  People,

  This movie is by definition an embarrasment. You must know that The 'Smithee' moniker is applied when the movie is finished and the real director says "This sucks out loud! Take my name off of it. NOW!!!!"

  So movie fans before you start with your Smithee for the Oscars campaign, know this fact.

  TLC

  PS: Did I mention that this was unwatchable? They even tried excessive nudity. Come On....
  
  

• Hell of a movie
  By A1HMAIQN7G8KHH on 2001-07-28
  This movie by far is the best movie of all time. It shows how the box came to form and gives you a look into the heart of the box. This movie has the best cenobites, and the best deathes of the charecters.
  
  
• It was ok
  By A4RG2QJGRRXUF on 2001-12-17
  I agree with the reviewer who recommends forgetting the plot of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Hellraisers. It is necessary to do that in order to enjoy this film. It has plenty of gore and not much scare. It is entertaining nevertheless. For the 8 year old viewer...go to bed. Somebody should slap your parents. Back to the adult viewers...I happen to like the first 3 installments of the Hellraiser films a bit better myself, but like I said...it is not bad when you're bored and have seen the others. Not worth adding to my collection though.
  
  
• 2.5stars- Do I Look Like Someone Who Cares What God Thinks?
  By A21V6GNRI22AV3 on 2002-06-01
  What a great line... but from such a mediocre movie. Bloodline is a confused movie if I have ever seen one and with its whole director issue it is obvious why. The scenes in the past regarding the creation of the box are quite entertaining, but from there this movie looses steam and fast! This film goes through three generations represented by the past the present and then the future which takes place in space. So could we say that Pinhead really dies... but not yet. This is like a prequel a sequel and a series closer all in one. But it should not have been. I would have much rather seen more history and not the idea of putting Pinhead back as a Freddy Krugar type character yet again. Trying to piece this movie together in any logical way will prove to be futile.

  An interesting thing to see here is the relationship between Pinhead and his cohort in the film, Angelique. How they inevitably meet up is unclear to me but boy do they seem to have a lot of stuff to talk about. Mostly worthless stuff that wastes screen time. Pinhead just pops up and says hey somewhere in this movie and goes man I have not talked in a while let me just yap yap until the end, which he does. Basically if he learned to close his mouth he probably would not have been taken out by the good guys.

  One notable thing you see is the building from the end of Hell on Earth that you learn was designed by an ancestor to the creator of the Lament Configuration. This is during the modern time of the story so one could say this is where the Hellraiser story could continue from the third. In the building there are two twin cops who happen to stumble across Pinhead. Yea Pinhead is just chilling you know...they did not open the box and what did he need cenobites for anyway. For this scene they decide just to say hey lets take some time to show some more gore and a creation of a cenobite. My gripe with the third movie is the same with this one. Why is Pinhead making cenobites!? Basically this movie just digs Hellraiser deeper into the mud. I really do not know how Clive Barker could crucify the Hellraiser: Inferno movie and still have his name attatched to the third and fourth movies. At least Inferno goes back to the personal hell and cenobite ideals of the mythology. More mysterious creatures out to explore the further regions of experience.

  So in the end they end up in space. Why must every horror movie go in space nowadays. You have your Leprechauns and now your Jasons and it is getting to be rediculous. This part just exists to add more body counts for Pinhead and to attempt some sort of climax, but having a future battle is a waste of time. It actually really is not a battle just a bunch of guys being chased by Pinhead and a chattering dog cenobite thingy. Lame! Here Pinhead just gets way too carried away with talking as if he had not done enough of that in the modern scenes.

  In conclusion, Bloodline is a separate film from the previously three. It starts off with cool history then turns into Pinhead's revenge. Both this one and Hell on Earth clearly lack the feel and fun of the first two. The series gains some steam again with the next one Inferno where Pinhead's appearance, not his role, is wisely cut down. Tune into that one!
  
  

• Hellraiser VI - Hellseeker
• Hellraiser - Inferno
• Hellbound: Hellraiser 2
• Hellraiser III - Hell on Earth
• Hellraiser