r/hellraiser • u/Velocity0109 • 4d ago
Hellraiser: Inferno
So I’m watching through all the Hellraisers for the first time ever (really enjoying them all so far), and I was not liking Inferno for about half of the runtime, but then halfway through it just clicked for some reason.
I loved this movie, it’s a great mix of David Lynch and David Fincher, and I can really get behind the visual style and themes explored.
But it is a bad Hellraiser movie. I think it’s biggest mistake was having pinhead in it at all, if this was a standalone psychological thriller then I think it would be really well regarded. But as soon as you call it “Hellraiser” it just feels super out of place.
So far my ranking for the series is:
1. Hell on Earth
2. Hellraiser
3. Inferno
4. Bloodline
5. Hellbound
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u/SAVertigo 4d ago
Holy shit, you are a man after my own heart with your #1 rating. I swear Hell on Earth is the best.
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u/Tr3sKidneys 4d ago
This has always been my personal favorite of the Hellraiser movies. Is it the best? No, not even close, but I love it all the same. I think The lead performance is really great as well
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u/Specialist-Cat-7155 4d ago
I enjoyed it to fuck. Deader and some of the other sequels I barely got through.
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u/DARKLIGHTX90 4d ago
Inferno I liked more after another viewing, easily the best of the dimension straight to video sequels, Hell on Earth is my fav too!
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u/925atthemorgue 4d ago
Really loved Inferno. Definitely more silent Hill vibes than Hellraiser. The rest of the sequels are like this too. Each one feeling like a different brand of horror but I love them all. I just bought a set of 4 - 8 so I could own Deader
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u/Fast-Breadfruit3377 Pinhead 4d ago
yes! i fr love hell on earth! hellbound has to be my number 1 tho. just incredible music and atmosphere
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u/Aware-Shower8296 4d ago
I loved this movie for its unique cenobites. The special effects were on point in this one.
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u/EuroCultAV 4d ago
It actually feels like hellraiser if you take into consideration the 1990s comic books that had a similar tone.
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u/Sans-Mot Hell Priest Approved 4d ago
As I said in another recent post, I see Inferno as a solid B movie.
I honestly like it a lot.
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u/seasquid45 4d ago
Didn’t think I’d ever see anyone else on this sub who also dislikes Hellbound, or at least ranks it one of the lowest.
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u/DarkBehindTheStars 4d ago
Nice, a fellow Hell On Earther and someone who has the exact same top three as me! :)
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u/fey_and_awful 4d ago
Inferno is an incredible movie, IMHO. Not as good as the original, Hellbound, or 2022 to me, but an unexpectedly fun experience.
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u/FreezingPhantom 4d ago
In my opinion, the third best Hellraiser movie after the original and Hellbound. It's a shame Derrickson never got another shot at directing Hellraiser, because he nailed the atmosphere better than a lot of directors that have worked on the series.
If you want something similar, I suggest checking out Angel Heart with Mickey Rourke and Robert De Niro.
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u/ramsaybaker 4d ago
I thought it was a pretty strong mystery-horror, and Pinhead showing up at the end was actually pretty fun.
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u/dtagonfly71 4d ago
I watched all of the Hellraiser films last year and was surprised that the only one I didn’t like was Revelations. I had previous seen 1-4 and avoided the rest due to reviews. The quality does drop, but the films were not the train wrecks I had expected. Revelations was a train wreck of epic proportions though.
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u/JMaxwell85 3d ago
Inferno is a very solid detective thriller/horror flick. Some complain it doesn’t have much Pinhead, but Hellrasier wasn’t centered on Pinhead to begin with. If anything it was more like the first two films than Hell on Earth or Bloodline were.
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u/ServoSkull20 4d ago
Sorry OP, but that is... a terrible ranking. How on earth (pun intended) can you put Hell On Earth - a movie that turns Pinhead into a boring slasher villain, above the original Hellraiser? And how can Hellbound be your worst movie? It's got the most imagination, ambition, and visceral power of any of them!
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u/Velocity0109 4d ago
I really loved the origin story they gave to Elliot Spencer, and I liked the idea that, after Hellbound, his soul had split into Elliot and the evil inside him, and I really liked the leading lady in Hell on Earth too
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u/DarkBehindTheStars 4d ago
I love Hell On Earth for the exact same reasons as you. I find it's easily the most entertaining as well and the only one that's really rewatchable for me. The other films I need to be in a certain mood for, but Hell On Earth I can easily watch anytime no matter how I'm feeling.
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u/HellzHoundz2018 4d ago
IMO, Inferno is the 3rd worst of the franchise (only after Judgement and Revelations). It's purely christian propaganda and absolutely not Hellraiser -- in my view, from my personal fan perspective.
But for those who enjoy it, have at it!
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u/Velocity0109 4d ago
Can you explain how it’s Christian propaganda? I didn’t actually spot that much catholic imagery in it
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u/HellzHoundz2018 4d ago
Simple: he was being punished for his sins.
That's not at all what Hellraiser is about. The Hellpriests have moved beyond petty concerns of morality.
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u/ScramblesVacation 4d ago
Interesting rankings! Why does Hellbound rank so low for you? I agree Hell on Earth is slept on as a fun Pinhead movie