Hell on Earth: The Story of Hellraiser III

The Story of Hellraiser III' This retrospective feature focusing on the genesis, production and reception of Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth is from the same team who produced the Leviathan documentaries. It features input from Ken Carpenter, who plays 'Doc'; Doug Bradley; Kenneth Cranham; publicist Stephen Jones; Christopher Figg, the producer of the first two films; Tony Randel; composer Christopher Young; and writer Peter Atkins. The interviews focus on the centrality of the image of Pinhead for the franchise, and the relationship between the Hellraiser franchise and Nightbreed. Stephen Jones says he was alienated from Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth as 'at that point it was an American film, being filmed in America, by a whole completely different production company'. The collapse of New World and the ways in which the rights for the Hellraiser pictures changed hands owing to this. The interviews here are fascinating, and there's a strong sense of criticism of the third film. Tony Randel says he refused to direct the film because he thought the producers were 'cheapening' the franchise.

This is a special feature on the "Leviathian: The Story of Hellraiser and Hellbound: Hellraiser 2" DVD.

I was hoping to see the main cast members who played Joey, Terri, J.B. and Sandy, but they're not here.

The only cast and crew members are Peter Aktins, Tony Randel (who co- wrote the story), Doug Bradley, the guy who played Camerahead and Bob Keen.

The other people interviewed are the cast and crew of the first two films.

You learn nothing about the making of this movie except how great Pinhead is (UGH! MORE PRAISING!), Tony Randel was going to direct but was replaced, Peter Atkins was glad to be cast as a cenobite, the guy who played the Camerahead Cenobite met children with Down's Syndrome and they were scared of him so he had to tell them "This is fake. It's just a movie", this was the first Hellraiser movie to be shot in America, everyone played snooker together and got on so well........

But do we hear anything about the other Hellraiser 3 cast and crew? No.

Do we get an interview with the actress who played both Terri and the skinless Sandy? No.

My fave part is when the cast and crew of the first two films slag off the third movie.

Also, the pacing _like the actual doc itself) is soooooooooooooo slow and it is so boring.

At least it wasn't 4 hours long, though.

Maybe the rest of the Hellraiser 3 cast and crew didn't want to be interviewed because they hate this film as much as everyone (including myself) do!

The only disappointment with this section is the lack of interviews with Kevin Bernhardt, Lawrence Mortorff , Terry Farrell , Paula Marshall , Lawrence Kuppin , Brent Bolthouse , and Aimée Leigh.

Still it was Great to see Ken Carpenter A.K.A Daniel 'Doc' Fisher / The Camerahead Cenobite being interviewed and giving his time making the film.

Its still a detailed retrospective continuation of leviathan but could could do with a greater deal of exploration, hopefully one day in a longer cut if released on blu ray.

8/10 for effort

Hell on Earth: The Story of Hellraiser III (2015)

*** (out of 4)

Fun thirty-minute documentary on the making of HELLRAISER III. This special features interviews with various cast and crew members including Doug Bradley, Peter Atkins, Ken Carpenter and Bob Keen. This here is a continuation of the LEVIATHAN: THE STORY OF HELLRAISER AND HELLBOUND documentary and for the most part it's entertaining. A lot of the discussion is aimed at the pre-production and how the studio threw a lot more money into the production but with this came the fact that members from the first two films weren't going to be used. We also get some nice stories about the various other changes that were done with this film including the fact that it was shot in America. If you're a fan of the series then you'll certainly enjoy this as there are plenty of good stories and unlike the first two segments, this one here really doesn't overstay its welcome.

The Story of Hellrasier III" offers a half-hour discussion of the overhaul involved in the making of the delayed third film, in which a cult horror format was consciously transformed into a mass- market product with an eye on the teen market and a sense of disappointment from the British crew of the first two films.

A great extension from the Leviathan Story of Hellraiser team, but it could do with being longer and have more interviews with the cast and crew would of been nice to have seem the locations of Hell on Earth and how the nightclub was created and designing the pillar of souls.

Rating 7/10 Still am amazing effort.