HELLRAISER 3: HELL ON EARTH A film review by Ken Johnson Copyright 1992 Ken Johnson
90 min., R, Horror, 1992 Director: Anthony Hickox Cast: Terry Farrell, Doug Bradley, Paula Marshall, Kevin Bernhardt, Ashley Lawrence
The owner of a popular punk club finds a statue with Pinhead's face in the center. He finds out that Pinhead is in the statue and releases him (stupid man). Reporter Farrell is contacted by a ghost and told about the death and destruction that Pinhead will raise (starting with the schmuck that released him). Farrell is the only person who knows enough to stop Pinhead.
I enjoyed HELLRAISER 3: HELL ON EARTH very much and am glad that I saw it in the theater. I felt that it was worth the money to see it on the big screen. The only people who I feel will like this film are big fans of the genre. For those who think that they will enjoy seeing this film, I suggest the big screen. For those who are dubious, may I suggest that you wait for the video cassette. On a scale of zero to five, I give HELLRAISER 3 a four. HELLRAISER 3 is rated R for explicit language, graphic violence, and adult situations.
The special effects for the film are great. The "cenobites" look great. I have heard that HELLRAISER 3 is nothing more than a rehash of HELLRAISER and HELLBOUND - HELLRAISER 2. I have not yet seen either of the earlier films, so I can't confirm it, although I do plan on seeing them when I get a chance. I wanted to see this film before it left the theaters, so I decided that I could watch the earlier ones later. The actors all do a reasonably good job, although that is not hard to do in a horror film. There are a few things in the film that don't make sense to me. However, they may have been explained in parts one or two.
I was a little upset to see that Clive Barker was only the executive producer. I am a fan of his writing and had hoped that he had written this one. He wrote and directed HELLRAISER and he may have written HELLBOUND - HELLRAISER 2, but I am not sure. Oh well, it was still a good movie.
By the way: Did anyone else see the series of six continuing skits during the MTV Music Awards with David Spade, Pinhead, Andrew Dice Clay, and Ringo Starr? If you missed it, you might try to find a friend who taped the awards so that you can see it. It is worth it. There are three skits during the program (the first with Dice, the second with Pinhead, and the third with Starr) and three during the end credits. -------- I also got to see two previews of upcoming horror films that look great. One is INNOCENT BLOOD (which just opened in theaters), by John Landis, and the other is DRACULA (which is going to be released around Thanksgiving), by Francis Ford Coppola.
-------- Ken Johnson blj@mithrandir.cs.unh.edu
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