Hellraiser: Bloodline Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
This year, the past, the present and the future will all meet at the crossroads of hell.
Determined to close the gates of hell once and for all, a 22nd-century scientist, whose ancestor originally freed the demonic Pinhead centuries before, tries to reverse the Lament Configuration. Spanning several generations, this final entry in Clive Barker's horror franchise acts as both prequel and sequel to the other installments.
| Bruce Ramsay | Phillip L'Merchant, John Merchant, Dr. Paul Merchant |
| Valentina Vargas | Angelique |
| Doug Bradley | Pinhead |
| Charlotte Chatton | Genevieve L'Merchant |
| Adam Scott | Jacques |
| Kim Myers | Bobbi Merchant |
| Mickey Cottrell | Duc de L'Isle |
| Louis Turenne | Auguste |
| Courtland Mead | Jack Merchant |
| Louis Mustillo | Sharpe |
| Jody St. Michael | The Beast |
| Paul Perri | Edwards |
| Pat Skipper | Carducci |
| Joe Chappelle |
4.40 out of 10 (4499 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Good movie, well worth a view
posted on 18 Aug 2009Once again we are emersed in the wonderful world that is Hellraiser. Unfortunately, they didn't go far enough. Without giving away the movie, I believe that the origins of this entire ordeal could have been explored much further. I urge you to watch it. I am a big fan of the Hellraiser series. I'm still dying to get my hands on a working model of the "Lament Configuration" ("The Box") - minus the demons and the gates to hell !!!I came away from this movie the 1st time saying, "Well, could have been better". The second time that I watched it, it seemed better (don't ask). Oh well, it's a good view, anyway. My favorite is still Hellbound: Hellraiser II. Hellraiser III was good, and Hellraiser I was great as well. Hellraiser V: Oblivion could have been much better. Cheers.
Don't waste your time.
posted on 18 Aug 2009Life is too short for movies like this. In every aspect,Bloodlines is the biggest snooze of the series, even eclipsingthe shameless marketing exercise of Hell on Earth. This onestarts out on a space station, flashes back through a lamehistory of 'the box', and follows a 'past, present, future'framework, which doesn't even contain the logic and complexityof a second-rate comic book. The story doesn't even work in itsown terms, and despite makeup artist cum auteur Kevin Yagherhaving his directorial credit removed, I can't believe thatsomehow a passable film was left on the cutting room floor. Theone thing this movie has going for it is the stalwart DougBradley reprising his role as one of the great contemporaryscreen villains, Pinhead. But unlike the earlier three movies,he is used to little effect, rambling through long monologueswhich don't inspire a fraction of the menace found in earlierepisodes. At one point the hero slips away while Pinhead isbragging about what he's going to do to them. Pinhead was neversuch a ham, more frequently letting his hooks do the talking forhim. And what is he trying to achieve in this movie? Why doesthe toymaker go to the trouble of summoning him to destroy him,instead of just leaving well enough alone? His efforts are agood analogy for the whole movie. A lot of time, money, talent,and technology wasted to destroy something which it seems wasalready finished to begin with.
If not for this, Hellraiser would be a neat little trilogy
posted on 08 May 2009This movie sucked. It was soooooo boring, just talk, talk, talk, with none of the charm or daringness of the first, second, or even THIRD Hellraiser. The cenobites bite, and the humans are insipid and dull. Pinhead is hardly ever around, and when he is, he's just talking. Some boring woman Pinhead calls "Princess" does all the killing, which entails people being tied to chairs and killed. BORING! The one time there's some cenobite-forming action, it's completely predictable (beforehand the future victims say stuff like "Let's stick together" and "Somebody's messin' with our heads").The first two Hellraisers are good, solid horror films, and the third one is passable, a credible effort if not a successful one. This is a boring piece of crap, more suited to being a Sci Fi Channel original movie than a theatrical-release sequel to a beloved Horror series.Pinhead is dead.
Inventive
posted on 24 Mar 2009Bloodline is my personal favorite. This film explains everything from the history to the present then the future. It's quite a masterpiece. I'd never seen so many credits at the end in my life, so quite a lot of work must have been put into it and it was all well worth it. Most of the hellraiser films are'nt so good, they're mainly about bringing on gore and chains, But bloodline was interesting. I thought the special effects were great. Not fake at all. I give it a 10.
Better than it is made out to be
posted on 24 Dec 2008HELLRAISER: BLOODLINE (1996)starring: Bruce Ramsay, Doug Bradley, Valentina Vargas, Kim Myers, Charlotte Chatton, Adam Scott, Mickey Cottel.plot: In the year 2127, Dr. Paul Merchant (Bruce Ramsay) battles Pinhead as did his ancestors in the 1800's and 1996. We also see the birth of the lament configuration.the good: This was a very fun Hellraiser "finale" that explained the birth of the lament configuration, explained the ending of HELL ON EARTH and put an end to Pinhead. It was a great, noble ending for the villain and the film was very dark.I especially loved the 1800's segment, it was dreadfully filmed and had the best little story to it.Doug Bradley is great as Pinhead, as is Bruce Ramsay in three great roles and Valentina Vargas as the beautiful cenobite.the bad: This movie had a very low budget, making some scenes look faker. They did pull off the hell dog thing perfectly, but everything else was sad.It also had some paper-thin characters and an abrupt ending.
Pinhead's Space Adventure
posted on 07 Oct 2008This is actually the story of the Puzzle Box more than a story about Pinhead and as such is a fine addition to the franchise, you may say that it dosn't fit within this franchise and that when you bring an franchise of this age (present Age) into space you give the franchise the death punch, but I don't think that's the case here, sure it dosn't fit anywhere into the story line of the series but I see this as a story more of the Puzzle Box (Lament configuration) than of Pinhead. While there appears to have been quite a few arguments between the director (Kevin Yagher) and the producers, this comes together fairly well if somewhat chaotic at times, but this should probably not be appointed to any failings on Yagher's abilities but rather on the producers lacking understanding of Yagher's ideas. As an sequel, well it stands out due to the fact that it dosn't revolve much around Pinhead or somebody that comes into contact with the Puzzle Box but more on the story and creation of the Puzzle Box itself. And this is in my opinion a nice twist to the franchise and a welcomed one at that (I Can't help it but I'm a sucker for background/story on anything up this alley).The effects is good enough while not being spectacular, they do what they are supposed to and nothing more. The acting is not Oscar worthy or anything close to but works good enough. Doug Bradley is as always when portraying Pinhead splendid although he dosn't do that much here, is more in the background than taking any significant part. Bruce Ramsay does a lot of character jumping in this one and while he acts the roles of Phillip L'Merchant/John Merchant/Paul Merchant with nicely enough passion it comes up somewhat lacking, you just don't feel that much for the different Merchants that you should considering that the Family is the creators of the Lament Configuration. Valentina Vargas is good as Angelique; the princess of Pinhead's Hell; She plays her as a uncaring bitch, as the character should be played. Christine Harnos does a good job playing Rimmer; a soldier interrogating Paul Merchant and being very confused and not quite able to get to grips with what he's saying (I guess pretty much anybody would have trouble doing just that.).All in all I think this is a good addition to the franchise and I give it 7 out of 10.
It had possibilities but...
posted on 22 Sep 2008The Hellraiser-series are now far removed from Clive´s original, unique vision. From what I´ve read, in this case it´s all due to some confused producers who´re too afraid to let artists do their own thing without interfering. Congratulations, your meddling with this film turned it into a sorry excuse for a Hellraiser-movie. From what I´ve read about Peter Atkins original script, and Kevin Yaghers ideas, it had possibilities of turning out well, but...There are some strands of the original good ideas present, but they are unfortunately too buried under a confused, unstructured, comic-book-plot, that they don´t stand a chance of saving this turkey. If this is the way they will go about making future Hellraiser-installments, I won´t bother anymore. Another example of good ideas and intentions being churned to nothingess in the Hollywood-grinder.
not really that good
posted on 01 Sep 2008They should have stopped with the third one. This movie was so bad. Some of the F/X was pretty cool but the movie period isn't worth watching. It just wasnt as good as the frist three movies. And whats the deal with that Princess. Like I dont want to see her, I wanted to see Pinhead. But I guess if you like the Hellraiser movies you might like this one. I recommend this movie to anyone who likes the Hellraiser movie or a horror movie.
one of the worst movies I have ever seen
posted on 13 Apr 2008this movie was sooo terrible. it is not scary at all. my 63 year old grandma was over while i was watching it and she didn't ever get scared. not to mention it was too hard to find out what was happening. it was funnier than anything. like when the twins heads got the twisty thing done to their heads. i started cracking up. it was so dumb. also the thing that got shot through the guys neck, and that thing came out and chopped off
the guys head. and what is it with chains flying out of nowhere to kill people. anyways it is an awful movie, and i would not suggest anyone to watch it.
Possibly the best of the series to date
posted on 14 Mar 2008Although there has been much stick of this film as being more of the same, for me it does it with bells on.For starters, Doug Bradley pulls of his best performance as Pinhead without question. He delivers his lines with conviction. Rimmer is a strong addition to the story line, and I hope the next film creates a connection between her and the toy maker.The effects were impressive considering the budget. Spacial shots were created with much detail, and the dog scared the wits out of me!!All round as a film it was the exact length, the suspense was maintained throughout, and it retained the horror of Clive Barker's original masterpiece.Shame its not available to buy on video in the UK.
I want my ninety minutes back
posted on 01 Feb 2008Some sort of accolades must be given to `Hellraiser: Bloodline'. It's actually out Full-Mooned Full Moon. It bears all the marks of, say, your `Demonic Toys' or `Puppet Master' series, without their dopey, uh, charm? Full Moon can get away with silly product because they know it's silly. These Hellraiser things, man, do they ever take themselves seriously. This increasingly stupid franchise (though not nearly as stupid as I am for having watched it) once made up for its low budgets by being stylish. Now it's just ish.
Bad Bad Bad Bad Bad Bad. Too bad to be taken seriously
posted on 08 Jan 2008No doubt, the worst part of Clive Barker's Hellraiser, which was shamelessly explored 3 times already. Bad story, bad directing by "Alan Smithee", but good make-up effects by Kevin Yagher (Freddy Krueger). You know ,this story with Hellraiser actually has a lot in common with Leprechaun. Exactly like this movie, Hellraiser gets worse and worse with every part. There we do also have Leprechaun in space, and believe me, it's as bad.
Bloodlines compliments the first 3
posted on 18 Nov 2007I've read the comments of this movie and I agree in most of the observations made. I consider Bloodlines an explanation or "origin" of the puzzle box. The first 3 talk about the Cenobites, PinHead and the pleasures and torments the box and the cenobites bring. For me Bloodlines tells the story of the puzzle box and for me as a huge Clive Barker fan it resolves the questions: Where was the puzzle build?, Why was it build? and Who made it?The true Hellraiser movies are 1 and 2, the third one comes like a baseball player sliding in to home plate just inches from being struck out...but it works. And bloodlines totally compliments these, because it's not just about Pinhead, the main character in this one is the Puzzle Box.That's my 2 cents.
Can't be beat!!!
posted on 05 Aug 2007Why does anyone want to see a clive barker Hellraiser movie? I'll tell you why, Blood, Torture, special effects of the sick and nasty kind!! A lot of people can't stomach Pinhead for too long!! There is nothing out there to date as sick as Clive barkers Hellraiser series!!! Three was made for kids though, not enough blood, and corny characters other that Pinhead.. 1 was great, but she is old.. 2 the same.. As long as Pinhead has great lines and torture you simply can't go wrong.. Who need a script with this guy!?! Torture someone!!! But Bloodline does have a script, in fact, if you never have seen a Pinhead movie before, see this one!! This movie covers every basis, anything and everything you want to know about Hellraiser is in this movie!! We find everything out from exactly where the Pandora's box came from, right to how exactly to stop pinhead for ever!! Good thing this move was set in the future, cause they can't make a sequel to this one!!! All they can do is make movies in between 3 and 4.. And they did, Hellraiser: Inferno.. But you must be warned, you do want to see Inferno if you are looking to see Pinhead, or blood, or torture, see it if you want to play the guess who game!!!! Pinhead is in Inferno, but he is not a main character at all.. This movie was done not with good production, but great production, and good acting as well!! Crystal clear picture!! No Hellraiser will ever top this one, and that is because to many people out there had a different things to say, and now they are being made as Independent films.. AKA you won't ever see them at the movies, Unless maybe Clive Barker has something to do with them again.... 8 to 10 on the horror scale, 10 on the sick torture scale!!
No more!
posted on 18 Jul 2007After what was a great trilogy with #3 showing us that Pinhead was dead and gone they had the nerve to release a direct-to-video quickie that has the same feeling of the "teenie bopper" horror films of today. This time we find Pinhead on a space station in the year 2017 where he is after the final descendant of the boxes creator...but who cares? Good effects, and acting, but unoriginal plot and too short. **1/2 out of *****.They better not make a part 5!
One of the worst movies ever.
posted on 15 Jun 2007Sometimes a movie can have lots of killing and entertain you. I loved Rambo movies. But there is something in a killing film that Mr. Alan Smithee (shame nickname for the director) forgot. He forgot to make the kills entertaining. Instead, making every victim seem unpleasantly tortured.I don't want to care about the victims. In Hellraiser III, someone threw sharp CDs at victims. That can be entertaining. Quick death. That's it.In this hump of a Alan Smithee movie (the word film does not apply), you see skin peeled off victims, especially two twins, that insults an audience's view of entertainment. It is a sick dream of trying to upset horror fans. After seeing Pinhead torture kind people, it is ironic how he gets a quick death (escape until part five).I have a feeling that this film could have been the used in A Clockwork Orange to help Alex stop being evil. "Turn it off!" The director didn't deserve the Alan Smithee cover up because he filmed these cruel scenes.
Pinhead phones it in.
posted on 06 Jun 2007Doug Bradley seems to be a little bored in this film. Gone are the dulcet tones and howls of rage. The regal stride through the smokey cracks in the walls is there in a token effort. Some of his lines are wonderfully deranged, but he sounds like he's a little tired of it.For me, that kind of ruins the movie. The story is good and the cast does a decent job. Notable was the performance by the "Angelic"(sp).Movie stays true to the details of the previous movies and builds on them. That was a nice touch.I found Pinhead asleep at the wheel and driving it in to the canyon of forgettable movies.
Overall a decent film despite poor pacing.
posted on 20 Mar 2007This fourth entry in the Hellraiser franchise is set in 2127. Pinhead is aboard a spacecraft orbiting earth, causing all kinds of mischief and mayhem. While "Bloodline" has a number of problems, the most prominent being the slowly-paced first hour of the film, there's a lot to like here too. For one, the creature and make-up effects look great (I loved the canine-like Cenobite), there's lots of gore, decent enough acting (though the twin security guards were easily the worst two actors ever to grace the screen) and a lush musical score by Daniel Licht. This was the directional debut of effects artist Kevin Yagher, who later had creative differences with the producers and left the project before finishing some scenes, and rather than attaching his own name to the film went with the much-abused alias Alan Smithee. Additional scenes were shot by Joe Chappelle, who later went on to direct the excellent 1998 Dean Koontz adaptation, "Phantoms". Yagher has yet to direct another film.Not nearly as bad as you'd expect a fourth entry in a horror franchise to be, "Hellraiser: Bloodline" is worth checking out if you're a horror fan. Watch for actress Kim Meyers, whom horror fans will recognize from Nightmare on Elm Street 2.6/10.
Pinhead Suffers Another Scratch in His Creepiness, This Time Caused By 'Alan Smithee'.
posted on 21 Aug 2009***SPOILERS!*** I sometimes wonder what makes sequel-makers think that they have to explain (and therefore destroy) the mysteries behind iconic Horror films. The original "Hellraiser" of 1987 was an absolute masterpiece and probably one of the scariest films ever made. The 1988 sequel "Hellbound" was also a fantastic Horror film, though I personally didn't like how the viewer got background information on the Cenobites, some of the all-time creepiest Horror-villains in the original. The third part, "Hell on Earth" (1992) was already quite a mess, whose makers obviously thought it necessary to add a dose of humor to the formerly incomparably creepy lead-cenobite Pinhead (a typical 90s stupidity) and therefore destroyed most of his scariness. This fourth part "Hellraiser: Bloodline" (1996) is slightly more atmospheric than the third one, but it lowers this quality by inventing even more silly and completely unnecessary 'background information' about the cenobites and the opening of the gates to hell.Seriously - did we need to know how the mysterious puzzle boxes that open the gates to hell are being made? I think not, and that is not the only mystery about the cenobites that is stupidly destroyed in this film. The setting of "Bloodline" goes back and forth in three different periods. The film begins in a 22nd century space-station, when scientist Dr. Merchant (Bruce Ramsay) attempts to close the gates to hell forever. When government soldiers disrupt his mission he has to explain his reasons. In 18th century Paris, Merchant's ancestor was a toymaker assigned to build a puzzle box by an aristocrat obsessed with the occult. An evoked demon, the princess of hell, took over the body of the beautiful Angelique (Valentina Vargas). Since the only person capable of destroying the gateway to hell is the one who built it, the bloodline of the toymaker would be cursed and his ancestors infested by cenobites throughout the ages... The film, which takes place in the 18th century, the present, and the 22nd century, really is quite a mess. I admit that the part set in the 18th century has a creepy atmosphere and is by far the best part of the film, but its also its smallest part. The parts set in the present and in the future are quite weak, and filled with stupid and unworthy elements. The film's undoubtedly strong points are the terrific make-up and gore-effects, the absolutely ravishing Valentina Varagas as the she-demon, and Pinhead (Doug Bradley), who, in spite of having lost some of his creepiness, still is a menacing villain. It is an almost offensive idea for "Hellraiser" fans, however, that Pinhead is supposed be defeated by a ridiculous light-show. Overall, "Bloodline" is not a complete disaster, but it sure is an unworthy sequel to a series that began so brilliantly. Even director Kevin Yagher was obviously embarrassed about it, as he preferred to be credited as Alan Smithee. Overall, this is only recommendable to hardcore Pinhead-fanatics, and most of them are probably going to be angered by another diminution of their favorite demon's creepiness. All others are well-advised to stick with the brilliant first, and excellent second part of the "Hellraiser" franchise and skip all the others. The makeup effects in "Hellbound" are creepy as hell, but almost everything else is disappointing. My rating: 3.5/10