Nick Rocco Scalia

Then there's 2000's Inferno, a smaller but MUCH more coherent and complete film that shows how versatile this franchise can be, genre-wise (this one is as much noir as it is horror). GREAT new cenobites, striking visuals, solid direction from a young @ScottDerrickson. #Cenovember

Back to #Cenovember: Hellraiser: Bloodline is an absolute mess, but I'll admit, I kinda loved it. An ambitious and creative attempt to broaden the series' scope, hamstrung by acting, plot, and budget issues, but a fun watch nonetheless. And, hey, Pinhead's got a doggie, now!

...And then, we have Hellraiser III, which is where things take a serious turn for the silly. Tonally VERY different from 1 & 2, and far, far dumber. BUT: Doug Bradley is excellent, and he's worth the price of admission alone. #Hellraiser #Cenovember

My take on Hellbound: Hellraiser 2, as #Cenovember continues: Decent follow-up to HR1, kind of like two sequels in one -- the first half is a clever retread of the original, while the second half takes the fantasy/worldbuilding into interesting, over-the-top places. I dug it!

This is, flat-out, my favorite film of 2022 thus far, and it was also one of the most gratifying and enjoyable review assignments I've ever had. If you love film, have a sense of humor, and care (or used to) about Star Wars, I can't recommend this one enough.

OK, let's get this #Cenovember thing started with the O.G., Clive Barker's Hellraiser (1987). Simply put, it's a near-perfect horror film, grim and gruesome but also deliciously dark-humored and sexy. Killer performances, outstanding practical FX, and a lovely score, to boot.

As I promised/threatened on the Halloween episode of @ShudderingPod, I'm going to spend the next month watching EVERY film in the long-running #Hellraiser franchise. I'll post short capsule reviews and eventually do a complete ranking. #Cenovember begins!