Post by Mr.HoRrOr on Jan 12, 2012 17:09:06 GMT -5
Plot:Pinhead is back and in his chamber of soulless delights, he thought he had two willing participants in STEVEN and NICO. But Nico wants out and decides that a member of Steven's family will serve as proper barter.
Cast:
Fred Tatasciore
Sanny Van Heteren
Steven Brand
Nick Eversman
Jolene Andersen
Jay Gillespie
Stephan Smith Collins
Daniel Buran
Sebastien Roberts
Tracey Fairaway
Adel Marie Ruiz
Devon Sorvari
Camelia Dee
Sue Ann Pien
My Thoughts:Really should be taking place in a dark alley somewhere by now.
Review:2011 was the year where Dimension Films decided to milk a few more bucks out of two dormant franchises. "Children Of The Corn". With "Genesis". And "Hellraiser". With "Revelations". The former was atrocious. So will the latter be any better? "Revelations" begins when two white suburban kids, Steven and Nico, head to Tijuana Mexico for a good time. Which means hookers, booze, the whole nine. While they're there, things get interesting. When they meet a woman at the bar. Then they get tragic, when she turns up dead in the bathroom. After getting it on with Nico.
Nico, the one of the two with more backbone...gets Steven to agree with him to keep the murder hush, hush. But soon, the two are approached by a vagrant who has in his possession, the lament configuration. Once Nico opens the box and solves the puzzle, the nightmare begins! "Revelations" is another excuse to bring back horror icon Pinhead. Plain and simple. Unfortunately, this time around...Doug Bradley doesn't dawn the pins and leather. It's actor Jay Gillespie.
Who also plays Nico. Pulling double duty in this movie because you know, that's how Dimension does their straight to dvd movies! I just hope Jay got "2" checks for this production. Because he actually puts on a pretty damn decent performance as the sociopathic fun-seeker Nico. And in some scenes in the movie, even shows flashes of the infamous "Frank", from "Hellraiser" and "Hellraiser 2". But the films story unfolds nicely also. Not giving us all the details of what happened to Nico and Steven in Mexico right away.
After awhile, the film skips ahead to the home of one of the two boys. Where both their families are set to have dinner. And many of them are mourning the loss of both teens. Some more than others. While the rest are either too disturbed to bring it up. Or are just trying to "move on". But when Steven returns out of the blue, thanks to "the box". The terror that took place in Mexico, is now about to hit the old homestead! "Revelations" is not as super violent and gory as previous installments. But it definitely has many signature "Hellraiser" moments.
Such as those magic hooks! That always seem to just fly out of the darkness when called upon! Flesh ripping, impalement, and The Chatterer cenobite. All also make an appearance in the movie. Really trying to take things back to their roots. Unfortunately, you just cannot look at Pinhead the same here. Without Bradley being behind the makeup. Gillespie's Pinhead or "Pseudo Pinhead" as he's referred to here. Is "ok". But Doug is and forever will be that character. Also as referenced in the "My Thoughts" above.
The usual problems, that have arised in earlier sequels. Are also present here. Yes...a "deal" was made. And payment has not been received. So now, the cenobites are looking to "collect". And with as many sequels as this franchise has. You kind of get the feeling that these "deals", between cenobite and human. Should be happening in a darkened alley or something by now. Or atleast an abandoned seaside warehouse. And to the tune of some "80's cop show" music. Just sayin'. By the way. Why do people keep falling for these "deals" with Pinhead?
Why do the Cenobites, who you'd think with so many years of torment under their belt...would be wise to the human races BS by now. Keep being "cheated" out of their prize? And doublecrossed? And how does the mysterious "vagrant", keep finding so many suckers willing to "play" with the Lament Configuration? All are good questions that I hope will be answered some day. Somehow. And actually, "Revelations" does answer one of them.
But in a whiny, "why me?" kind of way. Which actually comes off as more offputting than informative. And it's too bad that we don't get much cenobite action in this film. The cenobites in this sequel just watch, and shadow Pseudo Pinhead as he talks, threatens, and skins other people. But the biggest problem with Pinhead in this film, is that he doesn't come off as a scary, evil, poetic villain as he did in earlier movies. But instead, comes off as an angry shopkeeper type. Who's mad that some of the local kids lifted a few bags of popcorn from his store.
There's not enough emotion with this Pinhead. But without Bradley in the role, I guess perfection cannot be expected. But mostly I blame the writers. For giving Pinhead some pretty bad dialogue. By the time act 3 of "Revelations" rolls around, some interesting "Revelations" have been made about both families. And you kind of feel like EVERYBODY...should be taken to hell by the time the movie is over.
As they turn out to be such sucky people. "Hellraiser:Revelations" is a nice attempt at making a "Hellraiser" sequel that switches things up a bit. While it lacks a coherent plot at times, and really lacks Bradley in the role of Pinhead. It TOTALLY owns the disasterous "Deader", "Inferno", and "Hellworld". Even Doug as Pinhead couldn't save those babies!
Positives:The story was a good idea overall. The Cenobites looked cool and nasty.
Negatives:The script seems to lose itself very often at times. Also Gillespie as Pinhead is decent. But he's no Doug. Lastly, the other Cenobites should've gotten a chance to get their hands dirty.
Overall:Two stars out of four.