Quick Look: Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992)

Hell on Earth, interesting title and somewhat descriptive considering the product that ended on the screen for the third film of the Hellraiser series.  This movie stars Doug Bradley in a kind of a dual role, and Terry Ferrell; it is directed by Anthony Hickox.  Clive Barker the original creator of Hellraiser had a limited role as an executive producer.  'R' rating is for violence, language, sexuality.

Where the first two films provide insight into the human condition, and portray a realm of dark experience and figures beyond our own limited earthly comprehension, this installment sadly crumbles into horror cliche.  The subtle scares, dark environment, and moderated use of horrific imagery have been replaced with bad dialogue, a cheesy late 80's glam look, and a half-hearted attempt at a splatter film.

**spoiler alert**   

Pinhead (Bradley) has split into two entities - his demon visage which we are all familiar with, the "pure evil" is now trapped in the Pillar of Souls (an approx. 8 foot tall, 2x2 feet stone pillar) we saw appear at the end of the prior film; and his original human soul, Eliot Spencer (Bradley) which we also briefly encountered in the prior movie.  Eliot seems to be in limbo, neither in the living world, nor in the hell dimension, although we do not really know for sure.  The Pillar of Souls is creepy looking - it looks like it has faces and contorted bodies sculpted into its 4 side - including the face of Pinhead.  It is purchased by a sleazy club owner named JP Monroe from an art gallery.  Pinhead, still in the Pillar, tells JP he wants him to help him collect enough victims so he can escape the Pillar, and of course JP agrees.  Pinhead eventually escapes the Pillar and kills some people.

Joey Summerskill (Ferrell) is a sad-sack TV reporter, who begins investigating a story at JP's club, possibly linked to our plot.  Eliot then starts communicating with Joey in her dreams, telling her about his evil half - now separated from his human soul as described - is basically attempting to run around earth killing people, like most evil demons tend to do.  It is up to Joey to stop Pinhead.  She, with Eliot's help and a lame whimper "go to hell", stops him.

I want point out that the element of introducing us to Eliot's prior human existence was an entertaining idea, but it was not executed in a way that gave us any better attachment to him as a character, or develop the history of Pinhead in the Hellraiser mythology.  So basically it was a waste, other than to see Doug Bradley without the Pinhead make-up on.

Having Pinhead degenerate in a cliche spewing, mass-murdering, evil-laugher is probably what ruined this film for me.  The Cenobites were originally dispassionate beings who only acted as they were called upon, to do.  Bradley just happened to the be one that had an awesome sounding voice that lent itself to being the "leader".  The idea that Pinhead was evil all along, but being "balanced" internally by his former human soul, was ludicrous, and basically spits on the prior history.

The bottom line is that this film offered nothing entertaining in my opinion; and very little plot-wise or element wise, towards future installments in the Hellraiser mythology.  This is my least favorite of the Hellraiser sequels, and I suggest not bothering to waste your time with it.     

Extras:

- The Pinhead character was supposed to have been ended in number 2; his popularity is what led to his continued existence.