This is a pretty good sequel in this series (my favorites, in order: 1, 2, 6, 4, 5, 3). Bringing back the Kirsty Cotton character was the best thing for this series. Maybe I'm a sucker for female heroes. Let's face it, sequels seem better with more familiar faces; "Halloween" and Jamie Lee Curtis being prime examples (although I thought 'H20' and 'Resurrection' weren't very good, she definitely brought them up a few levels).
This franchise is so strange, it keeps continuity: the building in part 3 returns in part 4; part 4 occurs way in the future, making all other sequels after it flashbacks, but the series never screws the viewer over by trying to pretend the events of the previous films never happened (take that "Halloween", "Friday the 13th", and "A Nightmare on Elm Street"!). But "Hellraiser" does suffer from taking itself too seriously, making 3 & 4 almost laughable. 5 suffered from and unsympathetic character and 6 borders on that same edge. Kirsty ties this movie together so nicely because she brings the past back to the present, and we feel for her because we know her already.
Acting-wise, I think this is the best of the series, followed by the first two. Plot-wise it follows the first two--this is a sequel where you need not watch parts 3-5 before seeing it. The series' advantage over other horror franchises is that it's linear and non-linear at the same time. Watch the first two in order, and the others in any other order you choose--the continuity doesn't suffer. Or you can forget 3-5 and watch 1, 2, and 6 and have your own little Kirsty/Pinhead-trilogy.
But I won't completely sugar-coat this film. Kirsty's not in it much and Pinhead and the Lament Configuration are in it even less. The main character is quasi-unsympathetic, but based on the plot, you're really not supposed to know what to feel for him. I found myself confused a few times, but everything wrapped up at the end. The special-effects are on par with part 5--so it's pretty much the best in the series on that level too. I think the editing could have been a bit better, as it cut from some scenes too quickly or left the viewer lost for a minute or two before catching up, but overall it wasn't that bad and there were some very nice transitions. One or two things are never completely resolved, or are intentionally left to the viewer's imagination and I haven't figured them out yet.
My favorite thing about this film is it's length: it knows when to quit; it's not too long and not too short. If only the series would know when to quit. Coming soon: 'Hellraiser: Deader' and 'Hellraiser: Hellworld' and possibly a 'VS.' film against another franchise villain-that truly will be 'hell on earth.' And not in a good way
This franchise is so strange, it keeps continuity: the building in part 3 returns in part 4; part 4 occurs way in the future, making all other sequels after it flashbacks, but the series never screws the viewer over by trying to pretend the events of the previous films never happened (take that "Halloween", "Friday the 13th", and "A Nightmare on Elm Street"!). But "Hellraiser" does suffer from taking itself too seriously, making 3 & 4 almost laughable. 5 suffered from and unsympathetic character and 6 borders on that same edge. Kirsty ties this movie together so nicely because she brings the past back to the present, and we feel for her because we know her already.
Acting-wise, I think this is the best of the series, followed by the first two. Plot-wise it follows the first two--this is a sequel where you need not watch parts 3-5 before seeing it. The series' advantage over other horror franchises is that it's linear and non-linear at the same time. Watch the first two in order, and the others in any other order you choose--the continuity doesn't suffer. Or you can forget 3-5 and watch 1, 2, and 6 and have your own little Kirsty/Pinhead-trilogy.
But I won't completely sugar-coat this film. Kirsty's not in it much and Pinhead and the Lament Configuration are in it even less. The main character is quasi-unsympathetic, but based on the plot, you're really not supposed to know what to feel for him. I found myself confused a few times, but everything wrapped up at the end. The special-effects are on par with part 5--so it's pretty much the best in the series on that level too. I think the editing could have been a bit better, as it cut from some scenes too quickly or left the viewer lost for a minute or two before catching up, but overall it wasn't that bad and there were some very nice transitions. One or two things are never completely resolved, or are intentionally left to the viewer's imagination and I haven't figured them out yet.
My favorite thing about this film is it's length: it knows when to quit; it's not too long and not too short. If only the series would know when to quit. Coming soon: 'Hellraiser: Deader' and 'Hellraiser: Hellworld' and possibly a 'VS.' film against another franchise villain-that truly will be 'hell on earth.' And not in a good way