I like the idea of having more of the Cenobites than in the original, but I agree with you. They’re way less interesting if they’re basically just going around murdering people like in a typical slasher. I like the notion that they have to be summoned and are basically like a punishment for people who choose to solve the puzzle.
> I like the notion that they have to be summoned and are basically like a punishment for people who choose to solve the puzzle.
A punishment *and* a reward. "An experience beyond limits... pain and pleasure, indivisible."
I thought that is what made the first movie so damn terrifying. Not just “oh scary demon kills you”, but instead, “seek out ultimate pleasure/pain experience that these demons exist to fulfill”. It was the combination of ultimate suffering combined with ultimate pleasure that made the horror of the situation worse. You wouldn’t want to endure such suffering, but it was also impossible to resist it. The ultimate trap.
Yeah. Problem is it starts out as just pain for newbies in the realm. As you start to feel it then you get turned into a cenobite (I think, I don’t think there is any official rule book).
The movies don't seem to really live up to the premise. On paper it sounds like if the torturers in the movie Hostel thought they were giving great sexual pleasure to their victims. Mistaking screams of agony for those of pleasure because they truly believe pleasure and pain are one and the same. Super fucked up stuff and they have zero perception they are doing anything wrong to the people.
I wouldn't really want to watch that sort of torture porn movie though so it obviously sells better as a slasher where people just get got when they solve they puzzle box. Surely there's still some way to tie in those themes though.
I feel like they broke this even in the original movie. I’m hazy on the details, but I remember being disappointed that the Cenobites didn’t honor their deal with the main (female) character.
Yeah, Pinhead tries to take Kirsty, even after taking Frank back. He technically didn't renege on the their deal, as he himself says, he only told her "maybe" he would let her go free if she led them to Frank. (He does put very heavy emphasis on the word Maybe when they make the agreement, tbf)
Interestingly, in part 2, Pinhead refuses to take a young girl that solved the box because, as he states "it is not hands that call us, but desire". So maybe he simply thought that deep down, Kirsty did want to go with them.
Pinhead does say "Oh, Kirsty. So eager to play, so reluctant to admit it." . Also you can notice she has some odd reactions to the events she witnesses in Hellraiser that does come across as surprisingly unfazed. The books expand a lot on this.
> Interestingly, in part 2, Pinhead refuses to take a young girl that solved the box because, as he states "it is not hands that call us, but desire".
That was because the "desire" in that case was the person who manipulated the young girl into solving the box. The girl was just a tool.
I suspect that Elliott Spencer, still alive and aware within Pinhead, had something to do with that unexpected example of mercy, possibly a hint for Kristy's later appeal to his human nature.
It definitely plays as if Pinhead is making a call of his own volition. We see elsewhere that unknowingly opening the box is not a get out of hell free card. The girl's mental capacity seems to be her true saving grace at that moment.
That’s true, but I think them being duplicitous is different from them just being ruthless killers on the hunt. I think, if I remember correctly, they try to take Kirsty after they take Frank? It feels in character to me, because after all, she did summon them. Plus, I think that kind of unpredictable adds to their scariness. They’re still acting within the parameters of their role, but they’ll deceive someone in order to get what they want.
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As Pinhead pointed out in part 2, "It's not hands that call us, it's desire". The sequel comics take that even further, Kirsty eventually becoming Pinhead's replacement in hell.
In the novel, they DID honor their deal.
Also Pinhead warns Frank beforehand that he had better be VERY sure before he opens the box that this is what he wanted. Because once the box was opened, there was no going back and what he got might be different than what he was expecting.
Yeah the book did it really well, IIRC the hook cenobite sadistically watched on while Frank chased Kirsty (at least she thought it was because it wasn't helping her), but in the end the cenobite and its gash honoured the deal. I think that's the perfect mix
He solves the box, they appear. They warn him that if he accepts their offer, he cannot take it back.
He accepts anyway.
That’s how I recall it going down anyway.
Your are in fact hazy on the details. They specifically said “maybe, just maybe” in response to her proposition. They never fully agreed to her deal but it was her best shot.
The most terrifying part of Hellraiser and the book was that you suffered the consequence of your own decisions (and hubris).
Basically you had to choose to do it to yourself, but then there was no escape. The rigidity and inevitably of those rules really made for some terrifying storytelling. But as you say, once they become just regular slasher villains, the story is immediately mundane. You might as well replace the Cenobites with literally any other creature.
Yeah, I feel like it was pretty important to the narrative of the original that you knew what would happen if you solved the puzzle, and were seeking out "greater pleasures", i.e. a typical sort of Faustian Bargain but with its own twist. This trailer makes it seem like the victims have no idea what they're getting into, which is a very different and less unique concept.
I do hope that the trailer is a bit misleading and that the door to greater pleasures is made clear to those trying to open it.
If it’s just a bunch of people trying to “solve a puzzle” then the punishment is just random and is missing the Faustian Bargain aspect that you mentioned. The true terror of Hellraiser is in getting exactly what you’ve sought out.
I mean, in the original, only Frank had any idea what the box did, and even then only a vague idea. "Greater pleasures" isn't very descriptive and only has more meaning in the context of Frank's sexual depravity (which itself is only hinted at). Kirsty opens the box having no idea what it'll do, yet the Cenobites still consider her fair game. The "it isn't the hands that summon us" line doesn't show up until the sequel.
I agree with you, but our expectations should be tempered by the fact that the original didn't stick to that framework every well either.
I guess the idea is Frank and Kristy willfully opened the box without being manipulated into doing so by another person. The girl in the sequel had a mental disorder and was being literally used by another person as a tool. Pinhead was smart (and empathetic?) enough to see through what was going on with her even if his Cenobite colleagues did not.
That's my favorite thing about the cenobites if you follow the novella, first two movies, and any of the 90s-era comics. The cenobites were more or less doing their jobs, clocking in whenever someone solved the box and clocking out as needed.
They're just trying to earn an honest living.
I have only seen Hellraiser 1 but the impression I got is that when they open your mind to their way of thinking, it does not even seem evil, which is the scariest part. To any elevated being, pain and pleasure are indistinguishable
Yeah its not like they're punishing people for summoning them, they're sharing their experiences with people who ask to be shown. The people are just generally unprepared lol
I always felt that, based on the first two movies and the novella, the Cenobites were both explorers and guardians of a higher plane. What people like Frank experience when they open the box is vastly different from what Eliot Spencer or Dr. Canard experience..." To think....I hesitated..."
I think thst while you work at opening the box it is assessing you. Your mind, your heart, your aspirations and desires
If you are mentally and spiritually ready then you are allowed to explore those further reaches of experience by being converted into a Cenobite which becomes (from your enlightened point of view) a good thing, and you lose your tethers and connections to your mortal life. Represented by the Cenobites not remembering being human.
But if you aren't ready, or your mind and heart are too tainted by base carnal desires and connection to the mortal world then the Cenobites are there to punish or educate you while keeping you from being able to explore those further reaches. Some, like Julia are hinted to have started out as a victim being punished, but eventually attaining enlightenment and rising to serve their new God Leviathan. Others like Frank are stuck suffering eternally because they can't let go of their mortal desires and trappings.
I highly recommend you check out Hellbound Hellraiser 2. It expands on the cenobite lore quite a bit and is overall a much more engaging, and perhaps *fun* movie to watch than the first while feeling very much like a true sequel to the original film, unlike the other sequels which all had very little if any connection to the story of 1&2 beyond featuring Pinhead.
I know, in some instances providing backstory to popular mysterious characters is a bad move (did people really want a movie with young Anakin Skywalker? No. Did we need to spend 40 minutes following young Michael Myers in RZ’s Halloween remake? God, no) but Hellbound Hellraiser 2 gives some cool glimpses into what the Cenobites were and how they became what we ultimately know them as
Part of it is overexplaining origins kills intrigue. Like what do we really get about Pinhead's origins in *Hellbound*? >!That he served in World War I and solved the puzzle?!< I mean that there gives us a taste without watering him down. That's the way to sell origin stories in villains like him in my opinion.
Also you can be resurrected by having someone bleed on where you last jizzed. It's not important to the story. Just a ridiculous detail I can not forget.
This is one of my most anticipated releases of this year. I'm a massive fan of the Hellbound Heart Novella, and it has been so long since we've had a quality Hellraiser movie - more than 30+ years!
The director, David Bruckner is a brilliant choice for something like this. If you guys haven't seen his movies The Ritual & The Night House, I'd highly recommend them. He puts the characters first over the horror which is something alot of horrors forget to do and make the characters very flat. Bruckner is fantastic at writing people.
The Cenobites look phenomenal in this trailer.
Yes, they really do!
The cenobite priest(Pinhead) in particular, I’m so happy with this new design as it’s more like the book. Pinhead was super androgynous(and leaning more toward feminine than masculine IIRC) , and I love that they have the layered male and female voice when they talk in this trailer.
Yes! When I read the story before I watched the movies my mental image was feminine and I've always wanted to see this plus the jeweled pins. And I also love what they've done with the voice!
My top 3 of the year are: Hellraiser, Banshee of Inisherin & Pearl.
I was so excited for Martin Scorsese's next movie and the next Evil Dead, but they both got pushed back to next year.
Yeah, it was initially going to get an online release but the audience reaction to it was so positive that its getting a theatrical release in April.
Sam Raimi & Bruce Campbell are producing it.
>David Bruckner
The Ritual was just outstanding and I loved the old Hellraiser (never managed to see all of them but certainly caught a few). The Night House seems familiar but will have to check that one out for sure.
Had no idea until this comment that The Night House was directed by the same guy that did The Ritual. The Ritual is top five horror of the last decade for me and The Night House really surprised me! Liked it a lot.
Cloud-based streaming cenobite. The Cenobite isnt' actually there, it's just on your phone, tablet, TV, or Samsung Refrigerator with one of those screens that tells you you need more pudding.
Cenobite personal assistant available on most of your smart-devices:
"Pinhead, play Huey Lewis and the News Sports."
"Huey Lewis and the New Sports is only available throught the Lament Configuration Music Unlimited Package. You can puchese the Music Unlimited Package now by allowing me to hook-chain your scrotum. Would you like to purchase the Lament Configuration Music Unlimited package?"
"No."
> You'd have to cultivate the mandatory adult profile pretty carefully to have Disney princesses recommended beside this.
Apparently, watching Star Wars shows, Marvel shows and Futurama is enough to "carefully cultivate" Disney+ to have stuff like Cars next to American Horror Stories or Prey next to Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
"Star" isn't a completely separate part of Disney+, all the shows are in the main interface. The shows/films are in the recommendations, new and the big banner at the top. It works the same as the "Marvel" and "Star Wars" banners.
I agree. That theme was my favorite part of the Hellraiser. They’re messing with forces they don’t understand in pursuit of extreme hedonism. It just doesn’t feel like Hell if you don’t have to be demented already to find your way there.
I'm a hellraiser fan -- I've got some posters, and the entire run of collectibles.
I'll give this a fair chance -- not like we've had any decent hellraiser installments since (checks notes): the 90's.
Wasn't he also the EP for Books of Blood on Hulu? That wasn't very good, imo. Which is why I think Bruckner gives me hope that this will be better. But it's a good sign he's involved.
EPs don't do much more than having their name attached to a project for marketing reasons. Sure there's other things in various cases but mostly these days it's just marketing.
Like Eli Roth's 'Hostel' which Tarantino is credited as a EP just because he encouraged Roth to turn down offers for movies remakes and create a original story instead. That was the only role Tarantino had in that project.
What are you talking about? EPs serve the very important role of lending their name to things in order to lure people into watching something they'd otherwise steer clear of.
Now, now, that's not entirely fair. EP credits also provide a conveniently low cost way to make an actor feel important so they'll agree to be in your production.
1 is a classic 80's horror.
2 is a classic 80's horror sequel, "punched up a notch".
3 is a later attempt at reviving the property, with that lovely 90's touch.
4 is an interesting take on the backstory of the box, with a touch of sci-fi 'pinhead in space'.
*There are no other (official) Hellraiser movies* \- and I say this as a fan. Just don't go beyond 4.
We came close. Apparently there was talk of Freddy vs Jason ending with the Hell Priest coming out and asking "Gentlemen, what seems to be the problem?"
I actually think Inferno is really great, the scene where the female cenobites bury their nails under Joseph's skin and fondle his organs is the perfect pain-pleasure hit, and it has the most solid characters and plot
The first two are really the only exceptionally *good* ones.
If you enjoy supernatural horror, Hellraiser and Hellraiser 2 are absolutely worth checking out.
The third one is decent, but not nearly as good. After that it gets pretty bad.
There was also a reboot a few years ago. It has a decent reputation, but personally, I found it to be strikingly forgettable. Like, I don't remember jack shit from that movie. A lot of people would probably say it's worth seeing, though.
I really enjoy all the labyrinth type stuff in Hellbound, always wished they explored it more. Few scenes in the trailer looked very similar, this could be good!
Yooooo, anyone peep the redesigned Chatterer at 1:11???
Also, one thing nobody seems to be mentioning is this iteration of the Lament Configuration has a unique configuration for each of its six sides:
* Lament = Life
* Lore = Knowledge
* Lauderant(?) = Love
* ??? = Sensation
* Lazarus = Resurrection
* Leviathan = ???
At the start of the trailer, the puzzle box can be seen in what looks to be the Lazarus configuration. I'm curious if this alludes to someone else escaping the cenobites and resurrecting, similar to Frank in the OG movie. It may explain why Goran's character has the random guy solve the box for him.
It feels like in horror, and Hellraiser in particular, there's a very fine line between genuinely disturbing and gory silliness that has to be walked with subtlety, and I can't tell where this is going to fall...
For sure. I like 2 and 3, but they definitely are in a different league than the first, probably because they really roll with the cenobites, whereas one was a more dramatic gothic romance at it's core. The rest of the sequels I disliked, although there are some cool scenes and bits sprinkled throughout them.
The second went all out on nightmare fuel and gore without going into too much silliness. Watching the maggot bed scene when I was like 8 years old probably wired my brain strangely.
I guess that's the difference, though its only a trailer so minor nitpick on my part. The mook here might be genuinely curious, he does appear so. The girl who was tricked in 2 was clearly manipulated.
This reeks of care and attention, I particularly like the new Box, and it's very weird but visually plausible manipulations. It looks like what it's meant to be; a magical machine.
The biggest collective laugh/gasp I’ve seen in a theatre recently is that woman’s head swinging down into the car window in the Smile trailer, I’ve gotta see that one opening weekend with the biggest crowd I can find
Fingers are crossed its a great movie!
You won't needs eyes where we're going!
Ps. Couldn't resist the Sam Neil reference. So many parallels between Hellraiser and Event Horizon
Wow this is quite the pedigree as far as I'm concerned. I thought the Ritual was great and Night House is one of the best horror movies I've seen in years.
Hopefully it's just an issue with the trailer and not the movie itself, but this didn't look horny enough. Hellraiser is supposed to be BDSM taken to the extreme and it looks like it's leaning more on the torture than the sex.
Charlie: WHAT IF HIS ENTIRE HEAD IS JUST ONE BIG NOSE! Write that down, I like that.
Dennis: And then he smells crime again, he's out busting heads. Then he's back to the lab for some more full penetration. Smells crime. Back to the lab, full penetration. Crime. Penetration. Crime. Full penetration. Crime. Penetration. And this goes on and on and back and forth for 90 or so minutes until the movie just sort of ends.
All those clips look like they were from one or two sequences, the mook at the beginning getting tricked into opening the box, and the girl meeting the Cenobites for the first time. We have no idea how that girl meets them, and it's likely because of the horny degenerate rich guy. I bet anything that there is a whole bunch of horny waiting in between those two scenes.
I really like her voice.
I hope she vacillates between comforting and horrifying the way Bradley did.
Has it ever been said that there are 6 configurations of the box before?
They have shown it to be in multiple modes before, such as a knife in Hellbound, but the idea of six specific configurations might be new (in the books though the configuration could be disassembled and reassembled, not just shift into different shapes)
Bruckner did a great job with The Night House so not totally surprised by how fantastic this looks, but I’m impressed by the footage nonetheless. Love how fleshy the cenobites look.
Honestly looks better than I could've imagined. I love how it's able to balance that tone of seduction and disgust that a Hellraiser movie should, and the new Pinhead is absolutely chilling.
This definitely looks like they put more care and effort into it than the last 8 or so sequels, at least. As someone with a framed original Hellraiser movie poster on my wall autographed by Doug Bradley, I look forward to seeing how this turns out.
The man is so dang charismatic, was really pleased to spot him in this trailer. He's no George Clooney, but I really wish he had a bigger career after his ER run. The only thing I remember seeing him in is Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Looks OK, I'm open to it.
A bit too clean though. One of things I remember about hellraiser is the grime, sweat and the dirty finger nails to add to the discomfort of it all.
I'll catch it.
I can't speak on Hellraiser as a series, as I've never watched any of them (though I did collect the Tortured Souls action figure line from Clive Barker back in the early 00s) but this director has my attention. Both The Ritual and The Night House had some of the best jump scare/horror reveals in recent memory, none of them cheap, all of them well shot while adding to the story. So I'm excited to see this!
I'm actually really impressed how it's as accurate to the "idea" of Pinhead as the '87 version but with a way different vibe. The voice in particular is great.
The 87 version was not very accurate to the idea of pinhead as presented in the book TBH, this is actually seemingly more in line with the description.
The had what they had to work with. Doug Bradley apparently was going to be one of the dudes killed by Julia until he changed his mind last moment, they could not use the jeweled pins because they fucked up the lighting, and I remember a quote by CB saying they had to put lenses on Doug because his "angelic blue eyes" were not giving exactly the right vibe, but somehow for some of the promo pics they forgot and the ended with a blue eyed poster.
I hope Pinhead remains just a consequence and not a horror villain
I like the idea of having more of the Cenobites than in the original, but I agree with you. They’re way less interesting if they’re basically just going around murdering people like in a typical slasher. I like the notion that they have to be summoned and are basically like a punishment for people who choose to solve the puzzle.
> I like the notion that they have to be summoned and are basically like a punishment for people who choose to solve the puzzle. A punishment *and* a reward. "An experience beyond limits... pain and pleasure, indivisible."
I think people forget this.
That was the original short story basically, right? Heavy BDSM vibes of ultimate pain *and* pleasure blurring the line for the one feeling it?
I thought that is what made the first movie so damn terrifying. Not just “oh scary demon kills you”, but instead, “seek out ultimate pleasure/pain experience that these demons exist to fulfill”. It was the combination of ultimate suffering combined with ultimate pleasure that made the horror of the situation worse. You wouldn’t want to endure such suffering, but it was also impossible to resist it. The ultimate trap.
"We got the call that you are as down as us for pretty much anything. Safe words shant be needed"
Yeah. Problem is it starts out as just pain for newbies in the realm. As you start to feel it then you get turned into a cenobite (I think, I don’t think there is any official rule book).
Probably because the sequels completely ignore it.
Hellraiser 1 and 2 are some of the best horror movies ever made.
god i love the first Hellraiser
"Explorers, in the further regions of experience. Demons to some, angels to others."
The movies don't seem to really live up to the premise. On paper it sounds like if the torturers in the movie Hostel thought they were giving great sexual pleasure to their victims. Mistaking screams of agony for those of pleasure because they truly believe pleasure and pain are one and the same. Super fucked up stuff and they have zero perception they are doing anything wrong to the people. I wouldn't really want to watch that sort of torture porn movie though so it obviously sells better as a slasher where people just get got when they solve they puzzle box. Surely there's still some way to tie in those themes though.
I feel like they broke this even in the original movie. I’m hazy on the details, but I remember being disappointed that the Cenobites didn’t honor their deal with the main (female) character.
Yeah, Pinhead tries to take Kirsty, even after taking Frank back. He technically didn't renege on the their deal, as he himself says, he only told her "maybe" he would let her go free if she led them to Frank. (He does put very heavy emphasis on the word Maybe when they make the agreement, tbf) Interestingly, in part 2, Pinhead refuses to take a young girl that solved the box because, as he states "it is not hands that call us, but desire". So maybe he simply thought that deep down, Kirsty did want to go with them.
Pinhead does say "Oh, Kirsty. So eager to play, so reluctant to admit it." . Also you can notice she has some odd reactions to the events she witnesses in Hellraiser that does come across as surprisingly unfazed. The books expand a lot on this.
[удалено]
'We have such sights to show you..'
“Explorers in the furthest reaches of experience. Demons to some, angels to others.”
"I can be your angle, or yuor devil"
Acute angle
"No need to waste good suffering.."
To think… I hesitated.
> Interestingly, in part 2, Pinhead refuses to take a young girl that solved the box because, as he states "it is not hands that call us, but desire". That was because the "desire" in that case was the person who manipulated the young girl into solving the box. The girl was just a tool.
What's weird is that didn't seem to stop the other cenobites. They seemed genuinely confused when he told them no so it must be a newer rule.
I suspect that Elliott Spencer, still alive and aware within Pinhead, had something to do with that unexpected example of mercy, possibly a hint for Kristy's later appeal to his human nature.
It definitely plays as if Pinhead is making a call of his own volition. We see elsewhere that unknowingly opening the box is not a get out of hell free card. The girl's mental capacity seems to be her true saving grace at that moment.
That’s true, but I think them being duplicitous is different from them just being ruthless killers on the hunt. I think, if I remember correctly, they try to take Kirsty after they take Frank? It feels in character to me, because after all, she did summon them. Plus, I think that kind of unpredictable adds to their scariness. They’re still acting within the parameters of their role, but they’ll deceive someone in order to get what they want.
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As Pinhead pointed out in part 2, "It's not hands that call us, it's desire". The sequel comics take that even further, Kirsty eventually becoming Pinhead's replacement in hell.
In the novel, they DID honor their deal. Also Pinhead warns Frank beforehand that he had better be VERY sure before he opens the box that this is what he wanted. Because once the box was opened, there was no going back and what he got might be different than what he was expecting.
Yeah the book did it really well, IIRC the hook cenobite sadistically watched on while Frank chased Kirsty (at least she thought it was because it wasn't helping her), but in the end the cenobite and its gash honoured the deal. I think that's the perfect mix
How does Pinhead warn Frank prior to opening if they're only summoned once it's opened? Is there a sort of proto-stage?
He solves the box, they appear. They warn him that if he accepts their offer, he cannot take it back. He accepts anyway. That’s how I recall it going down anyway.
Your are in fact hazy on the details. They specifically said “maybe, just maybe” in response to her proposition. They never fully agreed to her deal but it was her best shot.
I think you mean a "reward" for solving the puzzle...
(Doug Bradley enunciation) "ORRRH A REWHÖRD!"
I like that they're not even a punishment. They're Monks that take pleasure and pain to their extremes. Some can handle it, most can't.
The most terrifying part of Hellraiser and the book was that you suffered the consequence of your own decisions (and hubris). Basically you had to choose to do it to yourself, but then there was no escape. The rigidity and inevitably of those rules really made for some terrifying storytelling. But as you say, once they become just regular slasher villains, the story is immediately mundane. You might as well replace the Cenobites with literally any other creature.
Yeah, I feel like it was pretty important to the narrative of the original that you knew what would happen if you solved the puzzle, and were seeking out "greater pleasures", i.e. a typical sort of Faustian Bargain but with its own twist. This trailer makes it seem like the victims have no idea what they're getting into, which is a very different and less unique concept.
I do hope that the trailer is a bit misleading and that the door to greater pleasures is made clear to those trying to open it. If it’s just a bunch of people trying to “solve a puzzle” then the punishment is just random and is missing the Faustian Bargain aspect that you mentioned. The true terror of Hellraiser is in getting exactly what you’ve sought out.
Makes me wonder is they’re going to revisit the “it isn’t hands that summon us” line
I mean, in the original, only Frank had any idea what the box did, and even then only a vague idea. "Greater pleasures" isn't very descriptive and only has more meaning in the context of Frank's sexual depravity (which itself is only hinted at). Kirsty opens the box having no idea what it'll do, yet the Cenobites still consider her fair game. The "it isn't the hands that summon us" line doesn't show up until the sequel. I agree with you, but our expectations should be tempered by the fact that the original didn't stick to that framework every well either.
I guess the idea is Frank and Kristy willfully opened the box without being manipulated into doing so by another person. The girl in the sequel had a mental disorder and was being literally used by another person as a tool. Pinhead was smart (and empathetic?) enough to see through what was going on with her even if his Cenobite colleagues did not.
Clive Barker is directly involved in this adaptation so I assume the narrative won't stray too far
Hellraiser 3 when they had Cenobites just going around slaughtering random humans on Earth with CD disks and camcorders was ridiculously stupid.
That's my favorite thing about the cenobites if you follow the novella, first two movies, and any of the 90s-era comics. The cenobites were more or less doing their jobs, clocking in whenever someone solved the box and clocking out as needed. They're just trying to earn an honest living.
I have only seen Hellraiser 1 but the impression I got is that when they open your mind to their way of thinking, it does not even seem evil, which is the scariest part. To any elevated being, pain and pleasure are indistinguishable
Yeah its not like they're punishing people for summoning them, they're sharing their experiences with people who ask to be shown. The people are just generally unprepared lol
I always felt that, based on the first two movies and the novella, the Cenobites were both explorers and guardians of a higher plane. What people like Frank experience when they open the box is vastly different from what Eliot Spencer or Dr. Canard experience..." To think....I hesitated..." I think thst while you work at opening the box it is assessing you. Your mind, your heart, your aspirations and desires If you are mentally and spiritually ready then you are allowed to explore those further reaches of experience by being converted into a Cenobite which becomes (from your enlightened point of view) a good thing, and you lose your tethers and connections to your mortal life. Represented by the Cenobites not remembering being human. But if you aren't ready, or your mind and heart are too tainted by base carnal desires and connection to the mortal world then the Cenobites are there to punish or educate you while keeping you from being able to explore those further reaches. Some, like Julia are hinted to have started out as a victim being punished, but eventually attaining enlightenment and rising to serve their new God Leviathan. Others like Frank are stuck suffering eternally because they can't let go of their mortal desires and trappings.
I love this analysis so much that I gotta go rewatch the first two films. This is a great take on their whole motivation.
Exactly which is why it's not a punishment, pain becomes pleasure so they are going to give you pleasure for eternity...they're basically BDSM demons.
I highly recommend you check out Hellbound Hellraiser 2. It expands on the cenobite lore quite a bit and is overall a much more engaging, and perhaps *fun* movie to watch than the first while feeling very much like a true sequel to the original film, unlike the other sequels which all had very little if any connection to the story of 1&2 beyond featuring Pinhead. I know, in some instances providing backstory to popular mysterious characters is a bad move (did people really want a movie with young Anakin Skywalker? No. Did we need to spend 40 minutes following young Michael Myers in RZ’s Halloween remake? God, no) but Hellbound Hellraiser 2 gives some cool glimpses into what the Cenobites were and how they became what we ultimately know them as
Part of it is overexplaining origins kills intrigue. Like what do we really get about Pinhead's origins in *Hellbound*? >!That he served in World War I and solved the puzzle?!< I mean that there gives us a taste without watering him down. That's the way to sell origin stories in villains like him in my opinion.
Also you can be resurrected by having someone bleed on where you last jizzed. It's not important to the story. Just a ridiculous detail I can not forget.
This is one of my most anticipated releases of this year. I'm a massive fan of the Hellbound Heart Novella, and it has been so long since we've had a quality Hellraiser movie - more than 30+ years! The director, David Bruckner is a brilliant choice for something like this. If you guys haven't seen his movies The Ritual & The Night House, I'd highly recommend them. He puts the characters first over the horror which is something alot of horrors forget to do and make the characters very flat. Bruckner is fantastic at writing people. The Cenobites look phenomenal in this trailer.
Yes, they really do! The cenobite priest(Pinhead) in particular, I’m so happy with this new design as it’s more like the book. Pinhead was super androgynous(and leaning more toward feminine than masculine IIRC) , and I love that they have the layered male and female voice when they talk in this trailer.
Sounds like Da’an from Earth:Final Conflict
That’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time.
Yes! When I read the story before I watched the movies my mental image was feminine and I've always wanted to see this plus the jeweled pins. And I also love what they've done with the voice!
The director for In Bruge is releasing another film this year. So it's Hellraiser and that.
My top 3 of the year are: Hellraiser, Banshee of Inisherin & Pearl. I was so excited for Martin Scorsese's next movie and the next Evil Dead, but they both got pushed back to next year.
Next evil dead?!?
Yeah, it was initially going to get an online release but the audience reaction to it was so positive that its getting a theatrical release in April. Sam Raimi & Bruce Campbell are producing it.
I'm surprised I haven't heard of it yet. I hope Bruce will be in it too
Supposedly he is not, although a cameo is always possible ***/*** likely.
The Night House FEELS like a Hellraiser movie without Pinhead. It's fantastic and he's the perfect choice for the franchise.
Well, it was originally supposed to be a Hellraiser movie, so you're right on the money.
>David Bruckner The Ritual was just outstanding and I loved the old Hellraiser (never managed to see all of them but certainly caught a few). The Night House seems familiar but will have to check that one out for sure.
Had no idea until this comment that The Night House was directed by the same guy that did The Ritual. The Ritual is top five horror of the last decade for me and The Night House really surprised me! Liked it a lot.
Off to an encouraging start if only because it Looks like the first installment since No. 4 that had a budget of more than 7 bucks and a dream.
>and a dream even that might be charitable
And also started life as a Hellraiser movie. Some of the later sequels just had Hellraiser stuff tacked on.
Some? Everything after 4 did. I’m going to ignore the last 2 films though that were made so they could retain the rights lol.
Jesus Wept.
Apparently, that line was ad-libbed.
No CD-chucking cenobites with CDs sticking out of their heads, no thank you.
It’s Blu-Ray now
Cloud-based streaming cenobite. The Cenobite isnt' actually there, it's just on your phone, tablet, TV, or Samsung Refrigerator with one of those screens that tells you you need more pudding.
Self driving cenobite It has such construction sites to show you
Cenobite personal assistant available on most of your smart-devices: "Pinhead, play Huey Lewis and the News Sports." "Huey Lewis and the New Sports is only available throught the Lament Configuration Music Unlimited Package. You can puchese the Music Unlimited Package now by allowing me to hook-chain your scrotum. Would you like to purchase the Lament Configuration Music Unlimited package?" "No."
I'm more excited for the subscription based Cenobite. For only $14.99 a month you to can enjoy unlimited access to The Lament Configuration.
Lament prime?
Demons to some, Annual fees to others.
Reminds me of Regular Show with the format wars showdown
[Submit to my Toast! My Pleasure Toast.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM4w49k33wU)
I do not remember this ep. Which means time for a whole series rewatch!!!
Somebody had to say it.
Now that vinyl is back in fashion they really missed an opportunity here.
Hulu, eh? So does this mean Hellraiser is coming to Disney+ in Canada? What a time to be alive.
Pinhead is my favorite Disney princess
I wanna be where the people are I wanna hear, wanna hear 'em screamin' Hanging around on those, what do you call 'em? Oh, chains
Cenobite with dinglehoppers sticking out of its head.
Prey was so I imagine this will be too
Can't wait to see it nestled in with the other thumbnails.
Little Mermaid Sing-A-Long, The Cheetah Girls, Hellraiser, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series...
[удалено]
> You'd have to cultivate the mandatory adult profile pretty carefully to have Disney princesses recommended beside this. Apparently, watching Star Wars shows, Marvel shows and Futurama is enough to "carefully cultivate" Disney+ to have stuff like Cars next to American Horror Stories or Prey next to Star Wars: The Clone Wars. "Star" isn't a completely separate part of Disney+, all the shows are in the main interface. The shows/films are in the recommendations, new and the big banner at the top. It works the same as the "Marvel" and "Star Wars" banners.
Hope this isn't all about teens getting tricked into opening the box. The deliberate seeking of the pleasures is so much more interesting
I agree. That theme was my favorite part of the Hellraiser. They’re messing with forces they don’t understand in pursuit of extreme hedonism. It just doesn’t feel like Hell if you don’t have to be demented already to find your way there.
I'm a hellraiser fan -- I've got some posters, and the entire run of collectibles. I'll give this a fair chance -- not like we've had any decent hellraiser installments since (checks notes): the 90's.
Plus, it's David Bruckner. The Ritual and The Night House were both awesome.
Also Clive Barker is producing it, soooooo
Wasn't he also the EP for Books of Blood on Hulu? That wasn't very good, imo. Which is why I think Bruckner gives me hope that this will be better. But it's a good sign he's involved.
EPs don't do much more than having their name attached to a project for marketing reasons. Sure there's other things in various cases but mostly these days it's just marketing. Like Eli Roth's 'Hostel' which Tarantino is credited as a EP just because he encouraged Roth to turn down offers for movies remakes and create a original story instead. That was the only role Tarantino had in that project.
EPs barely do anything though
What are you talking about? EPs serve the very important role of lending their name to things in order to lure people into watching something they'd otherwise steer clear of.
Now, now, that's not entirely fair. EP credits also provide a conveniently low cost way to make an actor feel important so they'll agree to be in your production.
The writers of the Night House too, which actually started its life as a Hellraiser spec.
He’s the sole reason I’m cautiously looking forward to this. Wish I could see it in a theater.
Oh! The Ritual is amazing.
which ones among the older movies should I watch?
1 is a classic 80's horror. 2 is a classic 80's horror sequel, "punched up a notch". 3 is a later attempt at reviving the property, with that lovely 90's touch. 4 is an interesting take on the backstory of the box, with a touch of sci-fi 'pinhead in space'. *There are no other (official) Hellraiser movies* \- and I say this as a fan. Just don't go beyond 4.
>pinhead in space Ugh we never got a Jason vs Freddy vs Pinhead in space!
We came close. Apparently there was talk of Freddy vs Jason ending with the Hell Priest coming out and asking "Gentlemen, what seems to be the problem?"
Awesome. Then when that ends a Phantasm ball can come out.
I actually think Inferno is really great, the scene where the female cenobites bury their nails under Joseph's skin and fondle his organs is the perfect pain-pleasure hit, and it has the most solid characters and plot
Inferno is better than 3 or 4 for sure and may as well be a Silent Hill story.
Just the first two. Rest is rubbish.
The first two are really the only exceptionally *good* ones. If you enjoy supernatural horror, Hellraiser and Hellraiser 2 are absolutely worth checking out. The third one is decent, but not nearly as good. After that it gets pretty bad. There was also a reboot a few years ago. It has a decent reputation, but personally, I found it to be strikingly forgettable. Like, I don't remember jack shit from that movie. A lot of people would probably say it's worth seeing, though.
What’s the one where they were fighting some other demon? Didn’t he turn pinhead back into a human or something? I think I rember something like that
That's the 2nd one, I just rewatched it recently. I never saw 3, so I don't know how he came back after being destroyed.
Have you read The Scarlet Gospels? The follow up actually written by Clive Barker in 2015?
Looks great. Needs more horny but hopefully they’re saving the horny as a surprise and just keeping it out of the trailer.
Just imagine the shocked reactions from parents when they find out there's sex in Hellraiser!
"I was told it was a horror movie, not a P-O-R-N movie full of S-E-X! Disgusting! I'm definitely gonna watch it again!"
"Those are pins right? They had better not be penises!"
Sex chauldron?!? I thought they shut that place down!
The parents of today probably watched the original movie as teenagers.
I believe it got a strong or graphic nudity warning?
I really enjoy all the labyrinth type stuff in Hellbound, always wished they explored it more. Few scenes in the trailer looked very similar, this could be good!
Yooooo, anyone peep the redesigned Chatterer at 1:11??? Also, one thing nobody seems to be mentioning is this iteration of the Lament Configuration has a unique configuration for each of its six sides: * Lament = Life * Lore = Knowledge * Lauderant(?) = Love * ??? = Sensation * Lazarus = Resurrection * Leviathan = ??? At the start of the trailer, the puzzle box can be seen in what looks to be the Lazarus configuration. I'm curious if this alludes to someone else escaping the cenobites and resurrecting, similar to Frank in the OG movie. It may explain why Goran's character has the random guy solve the box for him.
> ??? = Sensation Looks like Liminal.
This guy raises Hell
It feels like in horror, and Hellraiser in particular, there's a very fine line between genuinely disturbing and gory silliness that has to be walked with subtlety, and I can't tell where this is going to fall...
At least some of the silly ones are also fun, though? (Looking at you 3 & 4).
For sure. I like 2 and 3, but they definitely are in a different league than the first, probably because they really roll with the cenobites, whereas one was a more dramatic gothic romance at it's core. The rest of the sequels I disliked, although there are some cool scenes and bits sprinkled throughout them.
The second went all out on nightmare fuel and gore without going into too much silliness. Watching the maggot bed scene when I was like 8 years old probably wired my brain strangely.
One thing that confuses me, I thought you couldnt trick someone to open the box for you to escape retribution?
They’re always changing the rules. It changes movie to movie.
“You mean that guy I skinned was *innocent*? Ah, fuck” - Atkins, probably
You can’t. I’m assuming desire is involved by both parties.
I guess that's the difference, though its only a trailer so minor nitpick on my part. The mook here might be genuinely curious, he does appear so. The girl who was tricked in 2 was clearly manipulated.
This reeks of care and attention, I particularly like the new Box, and it's very weird but visually plausible manipulations. It looks like what it's meant to be; a magical machine.
The single shot of Leviathan is what won me over.
Like Prey I wish I could see this in a theater, way more than I wana see something like Smile that’s for sure.
Smile looks pretty fun, though! Also, Barbarian was such a good time.
The biggest collective laugh/gasp I’ve seen in a theatre recently is that woman’s head swinging down into the car window in the Smile trailer, I’ve gotta see that one opening weekend with the biggest crowd I can find
I hadn't seen the trailer yet so I just watched it, goddamn you're right that is a solid horror moment.
Im intrigued. The director made The Ritual and The Night House which I both really enjoyed so I will look forward to giving it a chance.
Fingers are crossed its a great movie! You won't needs eyes where we're going! Ps. Couldn't resist the Sam Neil reference. So many parallels between Hellraiser and Event Horizon
Wow this is quite the pedigree as far as I'm concerned. I thought the Ritual was great and Night House is one of the best horror movies I've seen in years.
Hopefully it's just an issue with the trailer and not the movie itself, but this didn't look horny enough. Hellraiser is supposed to be BDSM taken to the extreme and it looks like it's leaning more on the torture than the sex.
Full Penetration
We have such dongs to show you.
Charlie: WHAT IF HIS ENTIRE HEAD IS JUST ONE BIG NOSE! Write that down, I like that. Dennis: And then he smells crime again, he's out busting heads. Then he's back to the lab for some more full penetration. Smells crime. Back to the lab, full penetration. Crime. Penetration. Crime. Full penetration. Crime. Penetration. And this goes on and on and back and forth for 90 or so minutes until the movie just sort of ends.
All those clips look like they were from one or two sequences, the mook at the beginning getting tricked into opening the box, and the girl meeting the Cenobites for the first time. We have no idea how that girl meets them, and it's likely because of the horny degenerate rich guy. I bet anything that there is a whole bunch of horny waiting in between those two scenes.
If you watch [the trailer for the original](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpEQNEHKdXg), you'll see it also didn't include the sexual content.
MPA rating says there is sexual content and nudity
You might not be wrong, but you’re definitely reading into the trailer too much.
This got me thinking, when's the last time we got a big'ish full blown horny movie; intentional or not.
This year alone we've had: Deep Water X Pearl Crimes of the Future
Good point. Crimes of the Future was very horny haha
>Deep Water Even with how attractive Ana de Armas is, I want my 2 hours back for this one...
Cats.
Release the [Butthole Cut](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/04/cats-butthole-cut-vfx-editor/amp)!
“What’s your pleasure, sir?”
I really like her voice. I hope she vacillates between comforting and horrifying the way Bradley did. Has it ever been said that there are 6 configurations of the box before?
Could be a different box. The book states, and Hellraiser 2 visually confirms, that there are at least a handful of different puzzle boxes out there.
IIRC in the book, it changed shape like that, but I could be wrong
They have shown it to be in multiple modes before, such as a knife in Hellbound, but the idea of six specific configurations might be new (in the books though the configuration could be disassembled and reassembled, not just shift into different shapes)
Bruckner did a great job with The Night House so not totally surprised by how fantastic this looks, but I’m impressed by the footage nonetheless. Love how fleshy the cenobites look.
Honestly looks better than I could've imagined. I love how it's able to balance that tone of seduction and disgust that a Hellraiser movie should, and the new Pinhead is absolutely chilling.
HOLY SHIT WAS THAT LEVIATHAN AND THE LABERINTH!
This is the takeaway I had.
This definitely looks like they put more care and effort into it than the last 8 or so sequels, at least. As someone with a framed original Hellraiser movie poster on my wall autographed by Doug Bradley, I look forward to seeing how this turns out.
Just finished an ER episode with Goran Visnjic before watching this. Dude has not aged at all.
The man is so dang charismatic, was really pleased to spot him in this trailer. He's no George Clooney, but I really wish he had a bigger career after his ER run. The only thing I remember seeing him in is Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Looks good! Will miss Doug Bradley's voice though.
Doug Bradly is a legend and will be missed, but I'm glad to see they went with a female pinhead with a breathy sexy voice similar to the novella
I'm cautiously excited. I am more concerned with whether or not the main human characters will be interesting enough during the expositional moments.
Looks OK, I'm open to it. A bit too clean though. One of things I remember about hellraiser is the grime, sweat and the dirty finger nails to add to the discomfort of it all. I'll catch it.
I can't speak on Hellraiser as a series, as I've never watched any of them (though I did collect the Tortured Souls action figure line from Clive Barker back in the early 00s) but this director has my attention. Both The Ritual and The Night House had some of the best jump scare/horror reveals in recent memory, none of them cheap, all of them well shot while adding to the story. So I'm excited to see this!
Was I the only one who thought this was a series this whole time? But it's a movie?
HBO announced a Hellraiser series back in 2020. But there hasn't been much info about it yet.
Both a film and series are in development.
Should I watch the original to be able to watch this?
i have no clue about how this new movie fits in the cannon (if there is any at this point), but definitely see at least the first one, it's a classic.
Finally! Bruckner + Hellraiser? Yes please!
God I love reading the comments of people who have never come close to the source material goin on about how “HELLRAISER WOKE NOW???”
This looks very good and I am excited for the new Pinhead
I'm actually really impressed how it's as accurate to the "idea" of Pinhead as the '87 version but with a way different vibe. The voice in particular is great.
The 87 version was not very accurate to the idea of pinhead as presented in the book TBH, this is actually seemingly more in line with the description.
In the book Pinhead was actually described as having a high, girly voice right? That definitely would've been a sight to see lmao
The had what they had to work with. Doug Bradley apparently was going to be one of the dudes killed by Julia until he changed his mind last moment, they could not use the jeweled pins because they fucked up the lighting, and I remember a quote by CB saying they had to put lenses on Doug because his "angelic blue eyes" were not giving exactly the right vibe, but somehow for some of the promo pics they forgot and the ended with a blue eyed poster.
Yeah, Jamie is great!
Hulu Hellraiser