Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)

Directors:

Kevin Yagher
Alan Smithee

Writer (WGA):

Peter Atkins (written by)

Release Date:

8 March 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Horror | Sci-Fi

Tagline:

This year, the past, the present and the future will all meet at the crossroads of hell.

Plot:

In the 22nd century, a scientist attempts to right the wrong his ancestor created: the puzzle box that opens the gates of Hell and unleashes Pinhead and his Cenobite legions.

Plot Keywords:

Hell | Pinhead | Space | Space Station | Sequel

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

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
Christine Harnos	...	Rimmer
Wren T. Brown	...	Parker (as Wren Brown)

Also Known As:

Hellraiser IV: Bloodline (UK) (wide-release title) (USA) (poster title)
Hellraiser IV (USA) (working title)
Hellraiser IV: Bloodline Story (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong horror violence and gore, and for some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | USA:R (certificate #34416) | Netherlands:16 | France:-12 | Finland:K-15 (uncut) (2005) | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:MA | Canada:18A | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1997) | Germany:18 (video premiere) | Norway:18 | UK:18 (video premiere) | Iceland:(Banned)

Company:

Dimension Films

Trivia:

The last "Hellraiser" movie to get a theatrical release.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): "Air conditioning" is misspelled as "air conditionioning" on the floor plans reviewed by the twin security guards around halfway through the movie.

Quotes:

John Merchant: For God's sake!
Pinhead: Do I look like someone who cares about what God thinks?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Hellraiser: Deader - Winter's Lament (2009)

an incoherent mess

By the time the Hellraiser franchise was reaching it's forth film the premise was wearing a bit thin. Dr. Paul Merchant (Bruce Ramsey) is a scientist in the future, whom while prisoner regales his captor of the story of how his ancestors (all played by Ramsey) had first built the evil Lament Configuration puzzle-box that sets evil upon the world and how his bloodline had subsequent dealing with said box. The film is a awash with lack of continuity in regards to the other films and lack of coherency in this one. Yes, this could be due to a combination of rewrites, massive cuts in the original version of the film, or what have you. But I'm reviewing the film as is, and not what it was or could have been. And as it is now it's a mess. Sure the franchise will go on indefinitely with direct to DVD sequels, but this one was pretty much a death-nail to it's chances of getting a new one released theatrically ever again.

My Grade: D-