horror is my primary genre. i play video games (sort of, very scary), watch video essays, shows, movies, even music with horror concepts. ive been watching it since i was little and have just always enjoyed dark concepts and themes.
recently, ive been revisiting the hellraiser series. ive only rewatched the first two so far, having seen the first 4(?) when i was far too young to understand what was actually going on LOL. so, now armed with my amazing adult comprehension skills, i wanted to watch these moves again. i have many thoughts, but starting with the first movie, i LOVED it. im a total sucker for practical effects, not to mention the glaring factor that its extremely nostalgic for me.
to some, kirsty can be an annoying or frustrating main character, but i personally love her so much. she cares about her father above anyone else and BARELY gives julia the time of day (as she shouldnt, i fucking hate julia). shes also just extremely brave. in situations where most people's minds would be corrupted beyond recognition after experiencing the lament configuration and the cenobites, she was fearless asf. kirsty literally bargained her way out of being sent to the labyrinth i feel like we gloss over this fact...
"ITS JUST A PUZZLE BOX!!!!"
the cenobites are absolutely iconic. their names are a tad lackluster but ill let it slide since their designs and makeup is top tier. pinhead was originally named "the priest" which is SOOO much cooler imo. and the only feminine cenobite is straight up just "female cenobite" are we kidding wth. chatterer is self explanatory but like... lowkey feels like a joke. not nearly as much of a joke as BUTTERBALL though. imagine gettin ur shit TORN APART by a cenobite named butterball im ending it all myself LMAOO
frank... amazing characterization which is why i feel great saying that i absolutely hate him. him and julia are a match made in hell and should stay in hell to match <3 i also get he's a hedonist but like... why are u all up on kirsty UR NIECE like that... back up bruh u slimey. on some level i understand both frank and julia, both of them being so blinded by the endless chase for pleasure that they go too far but like... idc how well frank put it down DO NOTTTT KILL ANYONE FOR THIS FREAK. holy fuck i do not get how julia was so automatically convinced- girl he was DISGUSTING when u found him, not to mention weak, u did NOT have to do ANYTHING he asked, u could've killed him again right then and there ty.
i digress . the first movie is an absolute gem. iconic, insane body horror, and a super relevant and powerful underlying take on limitations and the fine line between pain and pleasure. ugh i ate that underlying message UP i love horror that MEANS something.
with that being said.... the second movie (which picks up RIGHT where the first movie left off) definitely lost the plot a little i fear. I STILL HAD A GREAT TIME WATCHING IT. i loved the expansion on the place the cenobites come from, as well as what the cenobites themselves actually are... but dr. channard AND the return of julia? u lost me. specifically dr. channard bc yall what is this cenobite design...
ts is FOUL and not in a good way. and i get why he said dr. stuff with a sadistic twist but did he have to? good god no he did not... it added a level of camp to the movie that i wasnt entirely here for- just because the first movie was so amazing and had such a cool premise and message- now not only is the air of mystery taken away but you give me bad dr. puns 💔 just spit in my face why dont u- also kirsty made the ULTIMATE sacrifice making out with cenobite dr. channard (wearing julia's skin suit) to distract him long enough so tiffany could solve the lament configuration... kirsty u better than me i could NOT have done that.
thats pretty much all i have to say, at least until i watch the other movies... i dont plan on watching the newer ones, just the "main" series. if u like hellraiser pls talk to me abt it im soooo obsessed.
