Lacking less imagination than the five films in the “HELLRAISER” series coming before it, “HELLRAISER” should at least please special effects fans. There’ are plenty of gory effects from beginning to end here.  Fans of the series should be delighted to see Ashley Laurence returning, but unfortunately, just like those interesting characters, the Cenobites, she’s in it for too short a time.
The story is about as average at a “FRIDAY the 13th” sequel.  It’s surprising to realize how much depth the first two films in the series had in comparison to this.  We can’t recommend this title to anyone but the most die-hard fans of the series.
BUENA VISTA has provided the original 1.85:1 aspect ratio of the film with 16:9 enhancement.  The color values are actually quite impressive, with a rich look to them in every scene.  There’s surprising depth to the images belonging to a film without depth. Contrast is also impressive, with deep blacks and grays, offering clarity in even the darkest scenes.
BUENA VISTA has offered a DOLBY DIGITAL 5.1 mix which is extremely aggressive, offering a variety of directional effects.  Surrounds are active throughout the film, and the LFE track can really test a subwoofer. Dialogue is always intelligible and free from distortion.
BUENA VISTA has provided a surprising amount of supplements for this release. In truth, these segments are quite entertaining.
A commentary with the film’s director, provides a wealth of information about the filmmaking process, as well as some funny stories about the film’s production. There’s a great featurette focusing on CGI effects, and it’s more entertaining than most featurettes we’ve seen lately. Alternate scenes are also offered, but they were rightly excised, adding nothing to an already troubled film.