Hellraiser: Inferno
Encyclopedia
Hellraiser: Inferno is the fifth installment in the Hellraiser series
and the first Hellraiser film to go straight-to-DVD
. It was directed by Scott Derrickson
and released on October 3, 2000.
Hellraiser: Inferno is a unique psychological thriller
take on the Hellraiser series, as it underplays the high level of gore of the earlier films, and instead focuses on the struggles of the protagonist. Many scenes cut away before the moment of violence.
associated with the crimes, known as the Lament Configuration
, eventually solving the puzzle. Upon solving the box, he becomes obsessed with unmasking the mysterious figure connected to the crimes, known only as "The Engineer". When discovering that "The Engineer" has kidnapped a child, he begins hunting for the figure, who in turn taunts him, killing off many of his friends, leaving one of the child's fingers at every crime scene.
Eventually, he is driven into insanity
while working on the case, and is subjected to various psychological torments for much of the film, such as brutal hallucinations, and soon discovers that this is only the beginning of his punishments for the cruel life he led. The Cenobites
, a race of mutilated demons, eventually appear to him, and the lead Cenobite, "Pinhead
" reveals that all of the events have happened because he has been in The Labyrinth
ever since solving the box. It is also revealed that "The Engineer" is a personification of his cruelty. Pinhead proceeds to wrap chains and hooks around Joseph's face and informs him that this is only the beginning, and that he will have to repeat the events for all eternity, as a consequence of the cruel life he led.
Craig Sheffer, who plays Detective Joseph Thorne, also starred in the lead role of Clive Barker
's 1990 horror film
Nightbreed
.
, as it focuses more on the struggles of the main character, rather than the main villain, who is seldom seen.
Fans of the series have had a more gentle response, however, and some praise the film for introducing the idea that the Cenobites not only focus on torturing people through physical pain, but also tormenting them mentally.
Hellraiser (film series)
Hellraiser is a British horror franchise that consists of nine films, a series of comic books, and merchandise based on the series. The franchise is based on the novella The Hellbound Heart by Clive Barker, who would go on to write and direct the adaptation of his story, titled Hellraiser...
and the first Hellraiser film to go straight-to-DVD
Direct-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
. It was directed by Scott Derrickson
Scott Derrickson
Scott Derrickson is an American screenwriter, producer, and director. He lives in Los Angeles, California.- Biography :Derrickson was born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He graduated from Biola University with a B.A. in Humanities with an emphasis in literature and philosophy, a B.A. in...
and released on October 3, 2000.
Hellraiser: Inferno is a unique psychological thriller
Psychological thriller
Psychological thriller is a specific sub-genre of the broad ranged thriller with heavy focus on characters. However, it often incorporates elements from the mystery and drama genre, along with the typical traits of the thriller genre...
take on the Hellraiser series, as it underplays the high level of gore of the earlier films, and instead focuses on the struggles of the protagonist. Many scenes cut away before the moment of violence.
Plot
Joseph Thorne is an intelligent, yet shady Denver police detective. One day, he comes across a series of bizarre, brutal, and ritualistic murders and is driven into obsession with the puzzle boxPuzzle box
A puzzle box is a box that can only be opened through some obscure or complicated series of manipulations. Some puzzle boxes may require only a simple squeeze in the right spot, whereas others may require the subtle movement of several small parts, to open the box...
associated with the crimes, known as the Lament Configuration
Lemarchand's box
Lemarchand's box is a fictional lock puzzle or puzzle box appearing in horror stories by Clive Barker, or in works based on his original stories. The best known of these boxes is the Lament Configuration, which features prominently throughout the Hellraiser movie series. This was designed and made...
, eventually solving the puzzle. Upon solving the box, he becomes obsessed with unmasking the mysterious figure connected to the crimes, known only as "The Engineer". When discovering that "The Engineer" has kidnapped a child, he begins hunting for the figure, who in turn taunts him, killing off many of his friends, leaving one of the child's fingers at every crime scene.
Eventually, he is driven into insanity
Insanity
Insanity, craziness or madness is a spectrum of behaviors characterized by certain abnormal mental or behavioral patterns. Insanity may manifest as violations of societal norms, including becoming a danger to themselves and others, though not all such acts are considered insanity...
while working on the case, and is subjected to various psychological torments for much of the film, such as brutal hallucinations, and soon discovers that this is only the beginning of his punishments for the cruel life he led. The Cenobites
Cenobite (Hellraiser)
The Cenobites are extradimensional beings who appear in the works of Clive Barker, including the novella The Hellbound Heart and the nine Hellraiser films...
, a race of mutilated demons, eventually appear to him, and the lead Cenobite, "Pinhead
Pinhead (Hellraiser)
Pinhead is a fictional character from the Hellraiser series. Created by Clive Barker and portrayed by Doug Bradley, Pinhead is a prominent figure in the series, mostly featured as the main antagonist....
" reveals that all of the events have happened because he has been in The Labyrinth
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
ever since solving the box. It is also revealed that "The Engineer" is a personification of his cruelty. Pinhead proceeds to wrap chains and hooks around Joseph's face and informs him that this is only the beginning, and that he will have to repeat the events for all eternity, as a consequence of the cruel life he led.
Cast
- Craig ShefferCraig ShefferCraig Eric Sheffer is an American film and television actor. He is known for his leading role as Norman Maclean in the film A River Runs Through It and of Keith Scott on the television series One Tree Hill.-Early life:...
as Detective Joseph Thorne - Nicholas TurturroNicholas TurturroNicholas Turturro, Jr. is an American film, television and prolific on-stage character actor, perhaps best known for his role as James Martinez, on NYPD Blue from 1993 to 2000.-Early life:...
as Detective Tony Nenonen - James RemarJames RemarJames Remar is an American actor and voice artist. He has appeared in movies, video games, and TV shows. He is perhaps best known as Richard, the on-off tycoon boyfriend of Kim Cattrall's character in Sex and the City, as Ajax in The Warriors, as the homicidal maniac Albert Ganz in the 1982...
as Dr. Paul Gregory - Doug BradleyDoug BradleyDouglas William "Doug" Bradley is an English actor best known for his roles in the Hellraiser film series.- Early life :Bradley was born in Liverpool, England...
as PinheadPinhead (Hellraiser)Pinhead is a fictional character from the Hellraiser series. Created by Clive Barker and portrayed by Doug Bradley, Pinhead is a prominent figure in the series, mostly featured as the main antagonist.... - Nicholas SadlerNicholas SadlerNicholas Sadler is an American actor. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, he was raised in Apple Valley, Minnesota where he attended Apple Valley High School. He was accepted into the Juilliard School's Drama Department while a senior in high school....
as Bernie - Noelle Evans as Melanie Thorne
- Lindsay TaylorLindsay TaylorLindsay Corine Taylor is an American professional basketball player and a former college player who has played in the Women's National Basketball Association , Turkish Women's Basketball League, Ligue Féminine de Basketball , the WKBL, Polish Women's League, and the Women's Chinese Basketball...
as Chloe - Matt George as Leon Gaultier
- Michael Shamus Wiles as Mr. Parmagi
- Sasha BarreseSasha BarreseAlexandra "Sasha" Barrese is an American actress known for her roles in The Hangover and The Hangover Part II.-Early life:...
as Daphne Sharp - Kathryn JoostenKathryn JoostenKathryn Joosten is an American television actress best known for her regular role as Karen McCluskey in Desperate Housewives and for her recurring role in The West Wing as Dolores Landingham.-Early life:...
as Mother - Jessica Elliot as Young Joseph's Mother
- Carmen ArgenzianoCarmen ArgenzianoCarmen Antimo Argenziano is an American actor who has appeared in over 50 movies and around 100 television movies or episodes....
as Captain - J B Gaynor as Young Joseph
Craig Sheffer, who plays Detective Joseph Thorne, also starred in the lead role of Clive Barker
Clive Barker
Clive Barker is an English author, film director and visual artist best known for his work in both fantasy and horror fiction. Barker came to prominence in the mid-1980s with a series of short stories which established him as a leading young horror writer...
's 1990 horror film
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
Nightbreed
Nightbreed
Nightbreed is a 1990 American fantasy horror film written and directed by Clive Barker, based on his 1988 novella Cabal. The film features Craig Sheffer, Anne Bobby and David Cronenberg. The story centers in a community of mutant outcasts that hides from humanity, known as the...
.
Reception
The straight-to-DVD/video release suffered from mixed reviews from critics. The film also has the distinction of having given the iconic "Pinhead" character the least amount of screen time of all the movies in the series. This is similar in vein to A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's RevengeA Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge
A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 2: Freddy's Revenge is a 1985 American slasher film and the second film in the Nightmare on Elm Street film series. The film was directed by Jack Sholder and stars Mark Patton, Kim Myers, Robert Rusler and Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger. Despite the film's title,...
, as it focuses more on the struggles of the main character, rather than the main villain, who is seldom seen.
Fans of the series have had a more gentle response, however, and some praise the film for introducing the idea that the Cenobites not only focus on torturing people through physical pain, but also tormenting them mentally.