Hellraiser: Inferno
Movie, 2000, The original series, Set in A detective
Hellraiser: Inferno is #5 of 11 in release order and #5 of 11 in chronological order in the Hellraiser.
The story
A detective solves the puzzle box that releases the diabolical demon, Pinhead. As those around him begin to meet tragic fates, he sets out to conquer the horrifying villain.
Hellraiser: Inferno recap
Hellraiser: Inferno (2000) follows a corrupt Denver detective who finds the puzzle box at a murder scene and opens it, after which his life comes apart. Scott Derrickson directs his first feature, released straight to video. Joseph Thorne (Craig Sheffer) uses drugs and cheats on his wife while on duty. After solving the box, he has nightmarish visions: two mutilated women seducing him, a legless creature chasing him. He links the case to a killer called the Engineer, who has kidnapped a child and leaves one of the child's fingers at each new crime scene. The Engineer starts killing people close to Thorne, and Thorne's psychiatrist Dr. Paul Gregory (James Remar) tries to help him make sense of it. Pinhead (Doug Bradley) appears only briefly. It stands alone from the earlier films.
Hellraiser: Inferno ending explained
Hellraiser: Inferno ends with Dr. Gregory revealing himself as Pinhead. He tells Thorne he has been in the Cenobites' realm since he opened the box: the Engineer is Thorne's own cruelty, and the child is his innocence, which he has been killing for years. As chains take him, Thorne learns his punishment is to relive this torment forever. Inferno began as an unrelated script and was the first Hellraiser film released straight to video.
Where to watch Hellraiser: Inferno
Hellraiser: Inferno is streaming on fuboTV, Philo, MGM Plus, and Pluto TV in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 5.5/10, Rotten Tomatoes 22%
Where it fits
- Release order: after Hellraiser: Bloodline, before Hellraiser: Hellseeker.
- Chronological order: after Hellraiser: Bloodline, before Hellraiser: Hellseeker.
What to watch before Hellraiser: Inferno
In release order, the essentials before Hellraiser: Inferno (2000) are Hellraiser (1987), Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988), Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth (1992), and Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996). Hellraiser: Inferno itself is optional in the Hellraiser order.
Cast
- Craig Sheffer as Det. Joseph Thorne
- Nicholas Turturro as Det. Tony Nenonen
- James Remar as Dr. Paul Gregory
- Noelle Evans as Melanie Thorne
- Sasha Barrese as Daphne Sharp
- Doug Bradley as Pinhead
- Nicholas Sadler as Bernie
- Lindsay Taylor as Chloe
- Matt George as Leon Gaultier
- Michael Shamus Wiles as Mr. Parmagi
- Kathryn Joosten as Mother
- Carmen Argenziano as Captain
Directed by Scott Derrickson.