Synopsis :
This is a flick that tries to take place over several centuries, chronicling the entire history of the puzzle box up to that point. There might also be a story in there somewhere, I couldn't tell.
Review :
Ass. Complete, total, utter ass. It is worth noting that this film was directed by Alan Smithee, which used to be secret code for "this film sucks so bad, I don't want credit for it even though I directed it." Rumour has it that it was the special effects dude Kevin Yeagher that helmed this "film." No one goes into directing a film w\o expecting to attach their name to it at the end, so the mere use of the name means something went terribly wrong, mayhaps due to the director's incompetence, mayhaps not. If it ain't the director, then it's most likely the editor or producer. I might hear an argument for the editing in this case. The film jumps between time periods like most flicks jump between shots. But these jumps are confusing, awkward, sudden, & seek to cover up whatever sense & logic one could glean from the scenes. The acting is below crap, particularly from the supporting cast. The writing is pathetic. Even Pinhead seems noticeably less bad-ass. About the only thing this film did right was avoid the stalk-and-slash formula that Hellraiser III tried.
Eight years elapsed between the release of Hellraisers III and IV. I've the odd sensation that someone resurrected this franchise to try to make a cheap buck. That's the death loop the series is caught in to this day. I'd further wager most of the Hellraisers following IV are chief reasons why New Line elected not to pick up Pinhead for a cameo in Freddy v. Jason. There was indeed an idea for a script in which Pinhead shows up at the end. I would've enjoyed seeing that. However, Pinhead was deemed too low budget a villain to acquire rights for, even though he would've fit damn well into the film. This is kind of a shame. Especially when one considers the nontrivial jump in quality the Jason films took when New Line bought ("rescued" might be a better description) his character from Universal.
Verdict : 1 star. & I'm being somewhat generous since Pinhead holds a special place in my personal array of favourite horror villains.
Edited By Malcolm on 1162232818