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- Tom Wilson
"These days an income is something you can't live without--or within."
- Tom Wilson
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This box set, which is presented in the style of the Lament Configuration Box (or the 'puzzle' box) that features in all of the Hellraiser movies, is a 4-disc special edition set. It is labelled as 'Limited Edition', although I'm not sure what it is that's limited about it, since it has been in shops since 2004 and is still selling in them now - almost 2006.
The box set contains the first three films (The series was originally pegged as a trilogy, and added to later - these first three films are considered by many to be the "main" films in the series), and a fourth bonus disc. Each of the films has extras of its own on the film disc, and the bonus disc includes a few more interviews etc.
♠♠♠Hellraiser♠♠♠
The Hellraiser series was originally a concept by Clive Barker, who is famed for his horror novels and other works, and the original movie, simply entitled 'Hellraiser', was released in England in 1987. This film was directed by Clive Barker, although none of the sequels are.
Hellraiser is somewhat of an anomaly in the horror world - a genuinely chilling movie that has withstood the test of time. Watching it now, fair play - the dress is dated - we're talking carbon dated - but the effects are still believable, even nearly 19 years later, and the plot still has the power to chill you to the bone if you're not used to 'real' horror (as opposed to 'slasher flicks').
When Frank Cotton solves the mystery that is the Lament Configuration box, he is unwittingly plunged into the world of the Cenobites - hellish creatures whose purpose is to inflict untold pain and suffering. Entering this other dimension, Frank is never seen again. Years later, his brother Larry, Larry's wife Julia and daughter Kirsty, move into Frank's old house. When blood is spilled, Frank returns to life - but to regain his former state he must feed of the blood and flesh of others, and he hopes Julia will provide for him.
Not a film for the squeamish, Hellraiser takes the viewer into the unknown - Clive Barker's original film is spectacular
in its originality and flair. The special effects can still make you cringe, and the acting is flawless, despite being slightly dated now, but it is the imagery that sticks in your mind. The cenobites are truly horrific - creatures from your worst nightmares. With deformed, severely wounded bodies and no conscience or human emotion, apart from the enjoyment of suffering, the cenobites are like nothing you have seen in other films.
It has to be said, however, that despite popular belief, this first film is NOT actually based around the cenobites, although they do bring that added dimension and visually terrifying aspect to it. Hellraiser is much more about Frank Cotton and the rest of the Cotton family, and the cenobites only appear to make it even more disturbing. The image often associated with Hellraiser is, of course, Pinhead - the "lead" cenobite (Played by Doug Bradley) - the one with all the pins in his face, and it is not often realised that he actually only appears in the film for a relatively short period of time. Just as a point of note - he is also never named 'Pinhead', except by fans of the film.
~The Extras~
The Hellraiser disc contains the film (pegged as 'uncut', 93 mins, widescreen presentation); Options for sound (DTS, 5.1 or 2.0); Subtitles; an audio commentary (By Clive Barker and Ashley Laurence, who plays Kirsty); a featurette (Hellraiser ressurection); short on-set interviews; a feature named 'under the skin' with Doug Bradley; trailers; TV spots; storyboards; script and stills gallery.
Without going into the obvious 'standard' extras, such as the commentary, stills and trailers, the other features on this disc are worth the money alone. The resurrection featurette is a twenty minute masterpiece, with talking from Clive Barker, along with many others who worked on the film, and it covers just about everything in just enough detail, from the original concepts to the special effects used. The Doug Bradley feature is 12 minutes long, and is an interesting insight into the whole experience as it was, and still is, for him, as the "face" of the series.
In this continuation from the first film, Kirsty Cotton is in a psychiatric hospital run by the strange Dr Channard. Although nobody appears to believe Kirsty's tales of hell, Dr. Channard is intrigued by the configuration box, and manages to unveil its secrets. Drawn into the hellish world within, Dr. Channard assists in the resurrection of Kirsty's stepmother Julia, and hell ensues.
Although much of this film follows the format and story of the first, it is drastically different in many ways too. This second film was released only a year after Hellraiser, in 1988, and in all honesty, it shows. There are many ideas in this film that, as ideas, are good, but the execution of those ideas and the effects just clearly needed a lot more time to be spent on them.
Personally, I think this is the weakest of the films (although many disagree, and dislike the third film). For me, the original story is not in any way enhanced by the release of this second film, and the 'hell dimensions' seem very unrealistic, as opposed to the stark realism of the first. Where the first was terrifying, the second is somewhat bland, but as with every film, it is all a matter of opinion, and I'm sure many will disagree entirely.
I feel that the film is let down by the sci-fi elements that seem prominent over the horror. Although normally I love sci-fi of all kinds, I feel like this series was designed for true horror, and this second installment is much more sci-fi in its feel and imagery.
~The Extras~
As with the first film, there are all of the 'standard' extras. In addition to these, there is a 'Lost in the Labyrinth' featurette, which is nearly 17 minutes long and very interesting to watch (this is very similar in format to the 'resurrection' featurette on the first disc. There is once again an 'under the skin' feature with Doug Bradley, again, very similar to the first, and there are on the set interviews.
Hellraiser 3 begins with young reporter Joey witnessing the horrific death of a teenager, as he is ripped apart in front of her,
Pictures
The box when opened out - pretty!
by chains that seem to have no origin in reality. Determined to find out what happened, she tracks the last known movements of the guy to an exclusive nightclub, The Boiler Room, owned by spoiled 'playboy' J.P. Monroe, and there she discovers the horrors that the hell can bring.
Despite some bad press, this third installment is actually my favourite of the three movies. This is possibly partly to do with the fact that, having been released in 1992, it seems much less dated than its predecessors. What I love about this particular film though, is its unrelenting horror.
After Joey, along with clubber Terri, discovers the configuration box, the action is non-stop. As gruesome as the original film, and just as nerve-wracking, this film really doesn't deserve its bad press in my opinion. Many reviewers of Hell on Earth talk about it being 'inferior' to the first film. I have also read on many an occasion that reviewers often think that to take an 'enclosed' paranoia-inducing horror movie (the original film), and move it to a city, where the cenobites walk the streets, is to take it away from its root horror - and whilst I agree that it is entirely different and not really in the same league - who wants a remake?
Hell on Earth sees exactly that happening - hell coming to Earth and the cenobites roaming the streets, creating torment and davastation where they go. The moment for me that really makes this film is at a point about halfway through where the streets are the epitomy of hell - suffering and pain everywhere, and nothing is stopping it. It's almost frightening, because the film really does get to a point where you are glued to your screen and you can see no way out - it gave me butterflies!
The cenobites in this film come across as much more of a force beyond anything we can know - nothing stops them. The very fact that they walk into churches and laugh at those that think there is refuge there from their hell, takes away that comfort blanket of good vs evil - religion counts for nothing here.
As I have said, many will definitely disagree with my liking for this film, but once again, it is all about opinion and the way each person interprets a film , so I will leave it up to you to decide.
~The Extras~
The same as the other two films, along with more featurettes and interviews, again just as lengthy and interesting as the ones before them.
♠♠♠More About The Box Set♠♠♠
The best, and in contrast, also the worst, thing about this box set is the box itself. Let me explain: On first glance, the box looks great, which is why I bought it in the forst place. I already owned all of these films in their single DVD formats, but gave them away to get this, party because I thought it would look cool on my shelf (and it does), and party because of the added extras, which looked plentiful (and they are).
The problem comes because, although it looks great, the box itself is very flimsy. It is made from very thin cardboard and plastic, and when you open it, you can't help but be a little disappointed, because there is a block of polystyrene in the centre, to hold the square shape, which looks extremely tacky, and at the same time would be easily damaged (See pictures).
In addition to the four discs, the set includes a small booklet with an introduction by Clive Barker and an overview of the series, including a look at the trials and tribulations of the production and distribution of the films. The booklet does not add a great deal to the set, however, it is really just a small bonus.
The DVDs themselves are excellently presented - it's almost frightening to even go into the menus!! The menu systems are littered with creepy sounds and visuals, and in all honesty, they make you feel a little uneasy!
Generally, this box set is well worth the money you pay for it, as long as you're happy to have parts 4 and 5 as separate DVDs. The extras alone make it worth buying.
The 'Lament Configuration Box Set' can be found on Play.com for the excellent price of £29.99, and the others in the series at a mere £5.99 each.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2005 - Horror - Director: Eli Roth - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring: Jay Hernandez, Derek Richardson, Shane Daly, Lenka Vlasakova, Eythor Gudjonsson, Jan Vlasak
Advantages: In a neat box, Totally collectable, Clive barkers classic, Its Pinhead Disadvantages: There seams to be a Hellraiser missing. Not for the easily disturbed.
Advantages: In a neat box, Totally collectable, Clive barkers classic, Its Pinhead Disadvantages: There seams to be a Hellraiser missing. Not for the easily disturbed.
exceptional by (21%):
very helpful by (79%):
