Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996)

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.

Director:

Kevin Yagher (as Alan Smithee)

Writer:

Peter Atkins

Stars:

Bruce Ramsay, Valentina Vargas, Doug Bradley

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bruce Ramsay	...	Phillip L'Merchant / John Merchant / Dr. Paul Merchant
Valentina Vargas	...	Angelique / Peasant Girl
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 / Skinless Parker
Pat Skipper	...	Carducci
Christine Harnos	...	Rimmer
Wren T. Brown	...	Parker (as Wren Brown)

Storyline

It's the year 2127. Pinhead, the evil cenobite of the series, has found himself on board a space station in outer space, run by scientist Dr.Merchant. Dr. Merchant's mission is to close the gates to hell forever. Because his ancestor, a toymaker in the 18th century, built the evil puzzlebox that opens the gates to hell. And through the generations, the family of the bloodline has tried to stop it. But now, Dr.Merchant has built the reverse box. The box that will close the gates to hell instead of opening it.

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Plot Keywords:

22nd century | sequel | puzzle box | outer space | heart in hand | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Horror | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 March 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hellraiser IV

Filming Locations:

Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$16,675,000

Company Credits

Production Co:

Dimension Films,Hellraiser IV Partners,Miramax

Technical Specs

Runtime:

85 min 78 min (workprint)

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gary J.Tunnicliffe of Image Animation, who had previously worked on Hellraiser III:Hell on Earth (1992) was recruited to perform special effects. Tunnicliffe was worried that director Kevin Yagher would want to perform the effects himself, but Yagher wanted to collaborate with Image Animation and believe their experience with prior films in the series would be valuable. Kevin Yagher only contributed to the Chatterer Beast.

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Goofs

When Le Merchant is offended by his wife's comments and puts the Lament Box into the travel chest, a section of the gold veneer on it has bent upwards

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Quotes

[the Angelique and Twins Cenobites appear behind Edwards]
Edwards: Oh, no. He told me it could protect me. He told me what to do!
Angelique Cenobite: Please, go ahead.
[Edwards tries to solve it, but can't]
Edwards: It's a box! It's just a box!
[Angelique summons the box to her]
Angelique Cenobite: Thank God for men of reason.

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Crazy Credits

The end credits have the "Filmed in Panavision" moniker, suggesting the film was shot in cinema-scope (2.35:1), however the film was shot in flat (1.85:1) ratio. The end credit was more than likely meant to read "Filmed with Panavision cameras and lenses".

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Connections

Followed by Hellraiser: Inferno (2000)

User Reviews

In Space, Um, No One, Um, Nevermind

In this fourth gripping installment of the Hellraiser series, we are treated to the story of the Lament Configuration (or Lemarchand's Box or whatever you call it). It involves demons, Pinhead, some French people, architecture and outer space. Pretty good deal.

This film is my favorite in the Hellraiser series. By itself, there is not much going on. I can understand why many think this film is weak. If I just watched it without the entire series, I would be like, "what the heck?" But I think this really ties the first four films together, explaining how everything fits.

I have read reviews that say the film is inconsistent and that it does not line up with the other films. I say hogwash. The film makes perfect sense. And it lines up with the others just fine. I guess you could say things like "how did the box get from x to y", but I think it is pretty clear. The French guy had it, then it went into circulation, then the Cottons had it in parts 1 and 2, then the news reporter in part 3, and she buried it in the cement where it was pulled out this time. What is not to understand?

I could say the space aspect was cheesy. Leprechaun has been to space, and later Jason Voorhees went to space. Others probably did, too, that I cannot think of offhand. But unlike Leprechaun, this made sense... it was actually central to the plot and could not have been done on Earth in any conceivable manner. So the space thing is not so bad.

As I mentioned in my review for "Hellraiser 3", I dislike how writer Peter Atkins introduced new cenobites. This movie has more, including twins and a former demon (which really makes no sense to me). What determines who becomes a cenobite? Pinhead? Maybe this will be explained in a later film, but probably not, and it is not really explained here.

The director disowned this film due to massive re-shoots he had no part in. I, for one, would love to see his version. While I have already said this is my favorite, perhaps the other is something worth checking out. Also, it would stifle some of those critics who think it was reassembled as a senseless pile of bangers and mash. I disagree with those critics and would love to see them eat their words.

After seeing parts 1 and 2 (and presumably 3), watch this. Do not listen to the nay-sayers. If you want to know how the whole Pinhead, box and whatnot started, this is the film to explain it to you. (You might ask how Pinhead got out before the box was created, but you would be silly, because he was not born yet.) I support this one and you should, too.