Reviews by:
@augustkellerwrites
RATE THIS MOVIE
6
5
4
3
Hellraiser is forgettable. Besides one mild twist, the story is standard. Too much time is spent explaining the obvious plot. Exposition dumps, cannon fodder characters, and blunt dialogue are stale. Hellraiser's strength is its flawed protagonist, but even that is overdramatic and inconsistent. This could've been an interesting metaphor about addiction's destructive allure, but because that humanity is sidelined, the theme is thin. Instead, Hellraiser prioritizes tired suspense that feels disconnected from the character drama. The acting shows decent emotions early on, but once the film gets going everything becomes repetitive. Consequently, Hellraiser is a dull rehash of familiar formulas.
Technically, Hellraiser surrounds strengths with mediocrity. The visceral audio uses layered whispers, chimes, distorted voices, stings, muffling, echoes, and vivid torture sounds to heighten reactions. The designs of the demons and devices are elegant and disturbing. The special effects bring violence, disfigurements, and transforming settings to life. However, Hellraiser is otherwise mundane. Its editing is drawn out and redundant. The visuals add some lighting, focus, and composition, but remain fairly basic. The music is tense but generic, the cast is small-time, and the direction sticks to uninspired genre traits. Overall, Hellraiser is fine for horror fans, but generally indifferent.
Writing: 4/10
Direction: 4/10
Cinematography: 6/10
Acting: 6/10
Editing: 6/10
Sound: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10
Production Design: 8/10
Casting: 3/10
Effects: 8/10
Overall Score: 5.9/10
RATE THIS REVIEW
6
5
4
3
Commentaires