INSIDE THE CASE: Hellbound: Hellraiser II

The following is the full-length essay that accompanied the Anchor Bay Entertainment DVD re-release of HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II in 2000. This DVD remains in print, though it is due to be supplanted by a new 20th Anniversary DVD in late 2008, which features all new cast & crew interviews produced by Red Shirt Pictures. This essay will not be included in the 20th Anniversary DVD.

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It didn't take long for New World Pictures to decide.

Upon viewing the early footage from the London shoot of Clive Barker's 1987 directorial debut HELLRAISER, it became apparent to New World Pictures' executives that their investment was destined to continue into another picture. The material was strong. There were dozens of potential ideas lying in the hidden corners of Barker's universe that could support a second film. Long before the original HELLRAISER opened to strong theatrical business, the genesis for a sequel had already begun. As a result of these early discussions, HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II opened in theaters in late 1988, barely a year after its predecessor. Although many of the creative elements (both in front of & behind the cameras) returned for this second cinematic sojourn into Barker's hellish fantasy world, there would be a few crucial changes that would help HELLBOUND achieve a rarity in sequeldom: A film that both respects and elaborates on its source material, while creating its own successfully defined identity.

It was decided early on that the hellish Cenobites (led by the increasingly popular "Pinhead") would be the primary focus of the next film. With Pinhead's nail-encrusted face plastered all over posters and video covers around the world, it was only logical that this character become a more prominent element in any future HELLRAISER installments. Clive Barker was a affirmed proponent of exploring the Cenobites' twisted histories, and expanding into their world, However, Barker decided early on that he would not be returning to write or direct, but instead would serve as Executive Producer. Barker submitted his ideas and outlines to the production, while his longtime friend and fellow writer Peter Atkins shaped the concepts into a new script, which would shed light on the myriad labyrinths and demons of Hell itself.

Selecting a director for such a daunting task was a thankfully easy task. Tony Randel had been a longtime fixture at New World Pictures during both the newly reformed company and during Roger Corman's regime. After working as a special effects assistant, and in various other departments, he graduated to HELLRAISER as an unofficial editor during post-production. With early support from Clive Barker, New World placed in-house production manager Tony Randel at the reigns of HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II.

HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II is often a powerful and illuminating expansion of the HELLRAISER universe. Starting with a quick montage of the final moments of the first film, HELLBOUND quickly delves into Pinhead's origins as we see a WWII soldier toying with the dreaded Lament Configuration and suffering the consequences as he is transformed into the infamous Cenobite. The action then shifts to the Channard Mental Institution, in which our heroine Kirsty (Ashley Laurence) has been confined following the events of HELLRAISER. We meet Dr. Channard (Kenneth Cranham), the sinister operator of the hospital who is later revealed to be an obsessed collector of all things Hell, and inmate Tiffany (Imogen Boorman) a young mute girl who has a natural ability at solving complex puzzles. The addition of the Channard character provides HELLBOUND with a delicious opportunity to blur the line between pain and pleasure. Channard, who desperately wants passage into the dark beyond, allows one of his more self-destructive patients to slash himself repeatedly with a straight razor, which provides the necessary carnage to resurrect the slain Julia (Clare Higgins). It is a remarkably intense and unflinching sequence that helps give way to an even more bizarre and twisted romantic pairing between Julia and Channard. The film takes great delight in moving Julia into the role of "skinless seductor" previously held by her former paramour Frank. It's a clever and enjoyable twist that is one of the many novel conceits that this sequel brings to the forefront.

Along with Ashley Laurence and Clare Higgins' reprisals, Pinhead portrayer Doug Bradley is provided with several key opportunities to enrich his character. Near the end of the film, Bradley humanizes a former monster with a simple smile and creates a layer of almost Shakespearean tragedy to his grand messenger of pain. Behind the camera, several important HELLRAISER veterans returned as well. Director of Photography Robin Vidgeon, Editor Richard Marden, and Composer Chirstopher Young all provide invaluable continuity between the two films with a rich visual and aural tapestry that envelopes the viewer immediately. Also returning from the original were Bob Keen and Geoff Portass of Image Animation who were called on not only to provide the gruesome effects for the Cenobites' slaughter scenes but to literally show the creation of one, with Channard's grisly transformation sequence.

HELLBOUND: HELLRAISER II was released in 1988 by New World Pictures to solid business and provided an exemplary amount of elaboration upon Barker's themes while giving fans of the first HELLRAISER something fresh…an expansive new universe to explore, and new pains to be enjoyed!

Trivia Note: A picture of Pinhead and his fellow Cenobites dressed up in surgical scrubs appeared on the back of the box cover of the original video release. This sequence does not appear in any completed version of the film, and was removed by the director prior to release.

The Return: 2008

So...I haven't been on here in a while have I?

Well I have certainly proven to be the most unreliable of bloggers, that is for sure. And I apologize for that.

To say that I have been busy this year is an understatement. Nearly a dozen projects and even more on the way. Usually this time of year I am getting ready to wrap things up for the year and take a breather to some extent, but not this year. The next few months promise to be as packed as all that has come before.

However I should never be too busy to update this site. At least with a few words now and then...that's not too much to ask.

I also had an idea. Over the years, I've written countless liner note essays for a variety of DVD releases, especially during the 5 years I spent with Anchor Bay Entertainment. Many of these DVDs are now out-of-print or are currently unavailable for various reasons. I think I'd to post some of my old essays on here to create a sort-of archive. Not that these are the Dead Sea Scrolls or anything, but I'm proud of a lot of them, and they might be fun to revisit. Plus many of them were edited down from their original length to fit the space of the various booklets, so I'd be able to unleash them in their fully extended glory!

Hmm...intriguing sentence. Let me know what you think. Talk to you soon!

MRF

CREEPSHOW Details and more!

So it has been a reeedeekulosslee long time since my last blog update. Apparently nothing has happened to me in 2007 worth posting here, but of course that's about as far from the truth as it could possibly be.

It will take some time to really go into the madness of 2007 which has seen an enormous amount of work come my way and some significant releases that have been rewarding in numerous ways.

As I write this, I am but mere days away from attending the world premiere of DIARY OF THE DEAD which will bring to a close (of sorts) one of the most important and wonderful experiences of my life. For anyone attending the Midnight Madness screening this Saturday at the Toronto Film Festival...say hi if you see me.

Now, I have other updates coming in the next few weeks, but the main purpose of this posting is to help clarify some details about the upcoming CREEPSHOW 2 DISC SPECIAL EDITION DVD that is coming out this October from Universal in the United Kingdom.

Some information about the DVD has been released on various websites including the cover art (pictured to the right) and it would seem that this cover has not been widely hailed by the fans, which is understandable. It's not exactly the most attractive thing in the world, though I do kinda like the spareness of it all with the old familiar title treatment being used. And could they have more logos at the bottom? What's what that? Anyway...I've gotten off-point. Although, yes, this cover is what you will see on your local shelves, if you live in the U.K. that is, I must make one point very clear.

This is not exactly the cover for the DVD.

We have one of those situations where the outer slipsleeve case is actually quite different that the cover design adorning the DVD case itself. The DVD itself comes in the standard plastic DVD keepcase with its own unique cover design. This isn't going to be one of those situations where the slipcase and DVD insert have the exact same artwork, which is something I've always found bizarre and quite frankly an enormous waste of money. What's the point of having two covers if they are identical? Whatever.

So here's what you will see once the black slipcase has been removed from the package. Now I happen to love this cover, and hopefully you guys will too. Of all the releases I've worked on lately, this is one of the rare times where I have felt the DVD cover art was EXACTLY what I was hoping would be used. Kudos to Universal for deciding on the slipcase/slipsleeve approach...and also to hiring a designer friend of mine for the DVD slipsleeve cover. I think he knocked it out of the park. A little trivia note, this same designer friend also designed the cover for the recent Anchor Bay UK Special Edition of CREEPSHOW 2. They'll look good on the shelf next to each other don't you think?

Anyway on to the disc's contents which have also been a subject of discussion.

Here's what you need to know. This is a two-disc set that contains the following....

A Widescreen transfer of the film that is brand-new, having been downconverted from a new HD master that was completed last year.

An all-new 5.1 Surround Sound track in addition to the original stereo mix.

An audio commentary track with George Romero and Tom Savini, with myself as moderator.
We recorded it in George's living room and it was a very loose and entertaining affair. One funny thing...we tried to point out all the times that the "Father's Day" ashtray appears in the film, but we kept missing it. Provoked multiple discussions.

Just Desserts: The Making of Creepshow, which is a seven part 90 minute documentary that goes into virtually all aspects of the film's production and release. Included in the documentary are rare behind-the-scenes photos, footage, and a couple of bloopers for good measure. I am very anxious to hear what people think of this doc. It was a long journey to get this one done, but I feel it was worth it.

Deleted Scenes, of which there were around 12-15 minutes worth. Not the greatest quality, but they are broken down by episode and are pretty entertaining

Tom Savini's Behind-The Scenes Footage. Although I used a lot of it in the documentary, I also compiled almost a half-hours worth of his video footage into this highlight reel which is presented separately. It, like the deleted scenes, is broken down by episode.

Theatrical Trailer & Still Galleries

There you go...hopefully this is a set everyone will consider getting this October, and maybe one day we will see it on these shores. But in the end, at least somewhere there is a DVD of CREEPSHOW that finally treats the movie with some respect. I sincerely thank Universal UK for jumping on board with this project.

See you later kiddies...

MRF

AND SO THE ENGINES OF 2006 BEGIN TO WIND DOWN...

Well once again my efforts at maintaining a regular blog presence have come to roadkill.

Sorry about that.

Basically since the 10/15 update, I've been busy as hell. Which is good, but it leaves me enjoying the current holiday season to a somewhat lesser degree than I normally do. Which is bad, since I tend not to enjoy the holidays anyway.

Well where have I been? In Toronto of course! I spent an incredible (and exhausting) four weeks up in the Great White North working on the set of George Romero's impending zombie film, DIARY OF THE DEAD. I don't normally subscribe the idea of "dream jobs", but how I can view that experience as anything else? It was hard work, but the cast & crew were fantastic folks, and the shoot ran extremely smooth with only a couple of the expected roadbumps encountered along the way.

I think the film is going to surprise people. It's as different from the other Living Dead films as you would expect. George has never made two films in the series that feel even remotely alike in terms of plot or tone, and DIARY will be no exception. It's a very experimental piece and based on the footage I've seen so far...I think we have a winner here.

Basically my job was to supervise all the videotaping of the behind-the-scenes action and conducting formal interviews for the eventual DVD release. I was blessed with a great cameraman, Graeme Potts, who gave it his all and provided me with over 20 plus hours of great footage from the shoot. Also working closely with executive producer John Harrison was a great experience as well. Those of you who read this blog, or know my history, know that my relationship with John has been a very rewarding one both personally and creatively since working on AFTEREFFECTS for him two years ago, and it was great to hang with him on the set and watch his interaction with George and the crew.

That interaction amongst the crew was one of the most rewarding aspects of being there. Everyone felt they were there to work with one of the best filmmakers alive, and the amount of respect everyone had for George was inspiring and very satisfying to see.

So over the next several months look for some short video segments to appear on the MySpace page for DIARY OF THE DEAD that will chronicle some of my time on the set. The first one (uncreatively titled "The First Week") is already up and in just over a week has logged over 11,000 views. That is both encouraging and a little scary. I enjoy doing on-camera work, but it can be a little scary putting yourself out there for the world to comment on. So far the feedback has been 99% positive, so it's looking good so far.

The next DIARY Diary will be up early next year. The film is just now entering post-production and the hunt for a North American distributor will begin soon enough. So there's plenty of time for more of my shennanigans in 2007. Hope you continue to enjoy them.

So what now? Well I have several projects in development at the moment and by Christmas I should have contracts in place, so I will be able to discuss them then. Until that time, have a happy holiday season, and look for another update from me before the year ends. That much I can promise!

And now for the next chapter...

Hello all,

I am writing to you from the production offices of George A. Romero's DIARY OF THE DEAD up in beautiful Toronto, Ontario. Tomorrow brings the first day of shooting on the film, and I am here to document all the behind-the-scenes goings on that I can.

To say I'm happy to be here would be an understatement. If you read the previous blog entry, you can be assured that this was one of the two jobs I was waiting for news on back a few weeks ago. The other one? Well it has also come to pass, and more words on that one later!

It's been an interesting couple of weeks. Getting ready to spend a month up here was pretty stressful but now I'm settling in. And after six long months since I began work on it, THE TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE 2: GRUESOME EDITION hit stores on October 10th. I sincerely hope you all have been enjoying it. It's nice to have my work out there for all to see...finally.

Coupled with the critical success of "Flesh Wounds" from the first CHAIN SAW disc from MPI that was just released, I feel pretty good right about now. Things are looking up.

I'll be posting some blog updates while I am up here working on DIARY, and look for some video clips of my time on the set to be posted on MySpace in the near future. I would give more details on that, but I have to keep quiet for now.

The zombies are about to invade Canada, and I'm glad to be right in the middle of it all.

MRF